What Happens in Vegas…
Did you miss my newsletter last Sunday? Sorry I wasn’t able to send. I’ve just completed the week long marathon that is Virtuoso Travel Week, and I’m here to tell you that what happens in Vegas doesn’t stay in Vegas – and I’m telling everyone (a la comic, Dane Cook.)
I had an epic first day to start Virtuoso Travel Week 2024. And the best day of all – Globetrotting! I attended 2 trade show sessions with elaborately decorated booth set ups at Aria for Adventure Travel.
Each of the 12 adventure partners featured gave whimsical and fun updates on their travel experiences around the globe! I met with partners like Lindblad Expeditions, Tourism Australia, Tourism New Zealand, Silversea, Natural Habitat, A&K, & Beyond, Micato Safaris, Rocky Mountaineer, Intrepid and G Adventures.
A terrific lunch focused on sustainability by the Los Cabos Tourism Board fed my mind and tummy, and a nomination for me for top sustainability advisor, plus time to reconnect with travel friends.
And then it was time for another trade show by the first of my amazing cruise partners like Oceania, Crystal, Azamara, Explora, Uniworld, and Avalon.
With barely a moment to change, I popped in to the opening reception of Virtuoso Travel Week at the Bellagio, where I met Sven Lindblad, and many of my Direct Travel colleagues from across North America.
And then I hoofed it back to the Aria to head to Mastros Ocean Club with Windstar Cruises . Thank god I got some steps in. The seafood platter was insane, the steak like butter, and the “chocolate sin cake” did live up to its name.
Did I mention still keeping up with clients, helping resolve a travel issue or two, and even booking an Ama cruise on the fly?!
Phew, day 1 was gigantic! Wheaties were ordered for day 2.
As a travel professional attending the world’s largest luxury travel conference at the Bellagio and Aria’s convention centers in Las Vegas, Day 2 did not disappoint.
The day kicked off with exceptional trade show presentations from esteemed cruise partners like Ama Waterways, Aqua Expeditions, Cunard, and Seabourn. These insights allow me to offer you the latest and most exclusive options for your next cruise adventure.
Following the trade show, I participated in enlightening professional development sessions focusing on branding and media led by Misty Belles, luxury mindset strategies with Neen James, and maximizing LinkedIn for networking with Vanessa McGovern. These sessions equip me with innovative tools to enhance your travel experiences and elevate the service I provide.
A delightful surprise from my partners at Grand Velas—a rejuvenating pedicure—added a personal touch to the day, reminding me of the importance of self-care while planning luxury experiences for my clients.
Later, I joined the Direct Travel Vacations Canada team for a celebratory reception hosted by Accor Hotels, strengthening our relationships with global partners. This gathering is instrumental in ensuring that I have direct access to the best offerings for you.
A brief visit to a few cabanas allowed me to catch up with our hotelier partners from around the world, further solidifying our connections and the exclusive benefits I can bring to your travels.
The opening session featured inspiring performances and insightful updates from industry leaders Jennifer Campbell, @David Kolner, Helen McCabe, and Matthew Upchurch, who shared current travel trends, sales insights, and the future of sustainability in travel.
Simon Sinek captivated the audience, reaffirming the value of travel advisors and the importance of building lasting relationships. His advice to ask friends for “8 minutes” for a meaningful conversation resonates with my approach to nurturing connections for your benefit. We were also honored by a powerful message from Martin Luther King III about pursuing dreams.
I then visited my partners at Tourism Australia in their luxurious Presidential suite at the Bellagio, reconnecting with key Australian contacts, which means I can provide clients with exclusive access to the best experiences down under.
A quick stop at the Barbershop speakeasy allowed me to catch up with friends from IHG Hotels, ensuring I’m always in touch with top-tier accommodations for your next getaway.
The day concluded with the Cruise Icon special dinner at LPM, the hottest restaurant in Vegas, exclusively reserved for us by Virtuoso. It was a pleasure to reconnect with friends from Tahiti and meet industry icons who didn’t make it to the conference, all while brainstorming exciting business opportunities with Windstar Cruises, our host for the evening.
Each connection I make here translates directly into enhanced offerings for my clients, ensuring that your luxury travel experiences are unparalleled. And that’s just a snapshot of the work I did during the first two days of VIrtuoso Travel Week in Vegas.
Next week, I’ll share a little about the matched appointments and one-on-one meetings I had with luxury travel supplier partners from around the globe.
Let me know if I can help you travel the world better!