Virtuoso recognised International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month by honouring women who have paved the way within the travel advisor profession. The listing includes the great Valerie Wilson of Valerie Wilson Travel in New York and Cher Roscoe, former owner of Travelcall in Melbourne, Australia.

Generations of Impact: Matriarchs Who Shaped a Profession is an ongoing series celebrating the women who have helped shape the Virtuoso network and the broader luxury travel industry. The project features one-to-one interviews with seven travel trailblazers who launched their careers in a male-dominated profession during the dawn of the leisure travel industry.

At a time when there were few women-owned businesses, these successful entrepreneurs saw opportunity and a future in the luxury travel space, and are among a select group of female professionals who would go on to set the bar for future generations to follow.

Their influence can be felt in myriad ways today across luxury travel, including their imprint on Virtuoso and in cultivating new generations of travel experts within the industry.

“There was no blueprint to follow; it was through grit, perseverance and passion that these incredible women built some of the most respected and successful businesses in luxury travel,” said Virtuoso Chairman and CEO Matthew D. Upchurch.

“Not only did they blaze a trail for other women to follow, but they also set an example for all in how to lead with equal parts empathy and strength.”

“I learned firsthand early in my own career that you could count on them for guidance as well as to tell you straight-up how it really was, and I am grateful for how they’ve helped shape the Virtuoso network.

Upchurch continued, “I wanted to produce these videos to preserve their history and inspire future generations of travel advisors, as well as to show my gratitude for all that they have given to this industry and me, personally.”

Valerie Ann Wilson of Valerie Wilson Travel said of the partnership with Virtuoso: “Matthew and I have helped elevate travel to a level that it’s not just taking a trip.”

Having acquired Travelcall and moving from Sydney to Melbourne to operate that the agency, Cher Roscoe said she saw an opportunity to capitalise on the booming luxury market.

“And then Virtuoso came along and that was just like Christmas to me, because it gave me the tools to reality,” Roscoe said.

View the videos honouring the matriarchs on the below links.

• Cher Roscoe – Travelcall, Melbourne, Australia
• Ange Wallace – Wallace Pierson Travel, Amelia Island, Florida
• Mary Ann Ramsey – Betty Maclean Travel, Inc., Naples, Florida
• Nancy Strong – Strong Travel Services, Dallas, Texas
• Phoebe Weinberg – Greatways Travel, Inc., Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan
• Ruth Turpin – Cruises Etc. Travel LLC, Fort Worth, Texas
• Valerie Ann Wilson – Valerie Wilson Travel, Inc., New York