Virtuoso’s 34th annual Travel Week welcomed over 4,000 of luxury travel’s top professionals in person to Las Vegas this week and another 700 joined virtually. With attendees from over 100 countries, including a contingent from MTA-Mobile Travel Agents, the event is held across Bellagio Resort & Casino, ARIA Resort & Casino and Vdara Hotel & Spa. More than 180,000 one-to-one networking appointments between advisors and travel suppliers have taken place this week as professionals are keen to make sure they have the latest luxury product knowledge with many changes taking place since the last time they all met pre-pandemic.
Virtuoso Week’s Opening Ceremony, themed “We Believe,” featured keynote speaker, Alison Levine, renowned polar explorer, expedition leader and author, who delivered a message that inspired a standing ovation and resonated with the audience: “Backing up is not the same as backing down.” Levine’s emphasis on leaning in to continuously assess and reassess the environment versus being fixed to a set game plan inspired the audience to rethink setbacks in a new light: “backing up is not backing down” encapsulating what she learned while leading two all-female expeditions to climb Mount Everest.
Mathew Upchurch, CEO and Chairman of Virtuoso, shared with the audience key developments for the Virtuoso network which include innovations in the way travellers work with their advisors digitally. Virtuoso’s Wanderlist® has been integrated with Virtuoso.com and can now be widely shared through published lists that don’t require an account or sign-up.
While business is booming for much of the network, Virtuoso’s focus is on taking this unique opportunity to expand and grow the luxury-advised market globally – targeting those who prioritise travel and value advice from an experienced professional – in line with the customers that MTA values that most.