Virtuoso best-of-the-best awards honour standout performers

Virtuoso also took the opportunity to honour some of the standout performers within its network of 391 travel agencies with 743 offices throughout 40 countries, and their 11,400 travel advisors, with its awards ceremonies.

Key production awards

Joining Upchurch on stage during the Opening Ceremony was David Kolner, Virtuoso’s Senior Vice President of Global Member Partnerships, who announced Virtuoso’s key production awards:

Top Virtuoso Network Production: Protravel International – New York, New York
Top Latin America Production: ITG (International Travel Group) – Mexico City, Mexico
Top Australia/New Zealand Production: Goldman Travel Corporation – Bondi Junction, Australia
Top Europe/Asia/Middle East Production: Colletts Travel – London, United Kingdom
Highest Production per Advisor: Northstar Cruises – Montclair, New Jersey
Top Year-Over-Year Growth (Per Cent): Judy Perl Worldwide Travel – New York, New York
Top Year-Over-Year Growth (Revenue): Travel Experts, Inc. – Raleigh, North Carolina
Virtuoso Network Engagement: Travelworld of Coronado – Coronado, California
Top Virtuoso Air Production: Travel Experts, Inc. – Raleigh, North Carolina
Outstanding Mentoring & Talent Development by an Agency: Brownell Travel – Birmingham, Alabama
Outstanding Customer Service by an Advisor: Gabrielle Thackray, Wentworth Travel – Sydney, Australia

Best of the Best awards

This year marked a truly exciting milestone at Virtuoso Travel Week – the 10th Annual Best of the Best Awards. The awards include 10 distinct categories that honour and recognise Virtuoso Hotels & Resorts partners. The awards ceremony took place on Wednesday 10 August at the Hotels & Resorts Dinner.

Best Achievement in Design: Faena Hotel Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
Best Culinary Experience: The Farmhouse Restaurant – Farmhouse Inn, California, U.S.
Best Bar: Gold Bar – The New York EDITION, New York, U.S.
Best Family Programme: Rosewood San Miguel de Allende, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Best Spa: Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Lake Como, Italy
Most Innovative Guest Experience: Belmond Hotel das Cataratas, Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil
Sustainable Tourism Leadership: andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
One to Watch: Hotel Eden Rome, Dorchester Collection, Rome, Italy
Hotelier of the Year: José Silva – Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris, Paris, France
Hotel of the Year: Borgo Egnazia, Savelletri Di Fasano, Italy

2016 Peer-to-Peer Awards

The ultimate compliment — being recognised by your peers for tremendous service and contributions. Here’s a look at this year’s distinguished Member and Preferred Partner Peer to Peer Awards.

Most Hospitable Agency: The Accomplished Traveler – New York, New York
Virtuoso Rising Star: Emily Prentiss – Valerie Wilson Travel
Most Innovative Advisor: Sandie Wiesenthal – Protravel International
Most Admired Advisor – Asia/Pacific: Carol Morgan – Voyage Affaires
Most Admired Advisor – Canada: David Lowy – Renshaw Travel
Most Admired Advisor – Europe/Middle East/Africa: Tina Rose – Protravel International – UK
Most Admired Advisor – Latin America/Caribbean: Anita Besson – Matuete Worldwide
Most Admired Advisor – United States: Rudi Steele – Rudi Steele Travel

2016 Mauricio Leyton Spirit of Virtuoso Award

The Mauricio Leyton Spirit of Virtuoso Award was established to recognise Virtuoso travel advisors, owners or managers in Latin American and the Caribbean. This award honours those members who are an inspiration to others by realising Matthew Upchurch’s vision of what it means to be a part of the Virtuoso network – community, connections, interaction, collaboration and passion for travel.

This award was established in memory of Mauricio Leyton, Virtuoso’s long-time friend and travel professional whose career spanned more than 25 years. Those who were lucky enough to know Mauricio would agree that his kindness, creativity and compassion will be with Virtuoso forever. His passion for blazing new trails in the travel industry still remains an influence throughout the world.

The award was announced on Saturday 6 August at the LAC Members Welcome Reception at Virtuoso Travel Week.

Congratulations to this year’s nominees and winner: Richa Rubinstein – Viajes Excelsior, Mexico City, Mexico

Destination Showcase Dinner & Awards

Virtuoso honoured six of its key partners for overall excellence at its Destination Showcase Dinner & Awards during this year’s Travel Week. The ceremony, which attracted close to 1400 travel agency members and preferred partners, was one of many events at the 28th annual Virtuoso Travel Week conference, held from 6 to 12 August at Bellagio Resort & Casino, ARIA Resort & Casino and Vdara Hotel & Spa in Las Vegas. Hosted by Virtuoso Chairman and CEO Matthew D. Upchurch, and Albert Herrera, Virtuoso’s SVP of Global Product Partnerships, the Destination Showcase celebrated partners that offer exceptional experiences globally to Virtuoso clients, while providing outstanding expertise to Virtuoso travel advisors.

“Each of these honoured companies embodies Virtuoso’s commitment to innovation and passion for delighting clients,” said Herrera. “As a network, we are incredibly selective, only admitting partners with a strong heritage of knowledge, offerings, service and relationships. Given our rigorous requirements, these six partners are truly the crème de la crème of a very impressive Virtuoso portfolio. We applaud their excellence and ability to inspire the entire network.”

Each of the Destination Showcase Awards corresponds to an elected committee of Virtuoso advisors.

Those committees designate a list of finalists for each award, then all network advisors vote to determine the winners. This year’s Destination Showcase Award nominees received more than 5300 votes altogether.

The winners are all part of the network’s lauded land excursions programme, Virtuoso Destinations & Experiences. It consists of more than 60 tour operators, 160 On-Site in-country specialists and 11 specialty partners in over 140 countries. The fast-growing portfolio features close to 15,000 tours from more than 200 land operators. As well, Virtuoso’s tourism board partners were honoured at the dinner, with the year’s best selected from among the network’s 73 preferred destinations.

The 2016 Virtuoso Destination Showcase Award winners are:

Best Destinations & Experiences – FIT/Custom Partner: Micato Safaris
Best Destinations & Experiences – Escorted Tour Partner: Tauck
Best Destinations & Experiences – In-Country Partner: Journey Mexico
Best Virtuoso Active & Specialty Travel Partner (VAST): Lindblad Expeditions
Best Voyager Club Experience: Abercrombie & Kent Hong Kong | Shanghai Highlights with Lunch at the Whampoa Club
Tourism Board of the Year: Tourism New Zealand

Awards announced at the Virtuoso Awards Gala Dinner: