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WHERE THE WEALTHY WANT TO PLAY: VIRTUOSO LIFE MAGAZINE POLLS ITS READERS TO DETERMINE THE NEXT HOT SPOTS FOR LUXURY TRAVEL
NEW YORK – (July 25, 2007) – When leading luxury travel network, Virtuoso, wanted to find out what is on the horizon for the world’s best travelers, they turned to their own readers for the inside scoop. VIRTUOSO LIFE, the network’s own lifestyle magazine that counts some of the most discerning travelers in North America among its readers, launched the first-ever Travel Dreams Sweepstakes earlier this year to find out where the wealthy want to play.
From frolicking on the Greek Isles to launching into space aboard a Virgin Galactic flight, these well-heeled travelers offered up insights on where their travel aspirations lie for 2008. The round-up of 15 questions asked the magazine’s more than 250,000 upscale readers about everything from their dream destinations and alluring cruise itineraries to cultural happenings and best cities for dining out, shopping and more. Forward-thinking by design, the survey also serves to assist Virtuoso travel consultants as they turn their clients’ travel dreams into real itineraries.
The Travel Dreams Sweepstakes, which included a $25,000 prize pool sponsored by MasterCard®, resulted in an impressive 10,500-plus entries and 12 winners. Virtuoso awarded ten participants with a $1,000 prize, while one received $5,000 and one lucky winner claimed a $10,000 award, presumably a good start toward their own “dream” vacation.
Virtuoso promoted the sweepstakes in the magazine earlier this year and via email to the network’s affluent clientele with the point of entry being the magazine’s website, www.virtuosolife.com. The top five answers for each category are below.
To find special offers for any of these dream destinations visit our Exclusive Offers section.
Top Dream Destinations For 2008:
- Italy
- New Zealand
- French Polynesia
- China
- Antarctica
Top Island Escapes For 2008:
- Greek Isles
- Hawaiian Islands
- Tahiti
- Bora-Bora
- Galapagos Islands
Hottest Cultural Happenings In 2008:
- Sydney Festival, Sydney, Australia (January 2008) Cunard’s
- Queen Victoria Maiden World Cruise, New York City (January 2008)
- Cannes Film Festival, Cannes, France (May 2008)
- Edinburgh Festival Fringle, Edinburgh, Scotland (August 2008)
- Quebec City’s 400-Year Anniversary Festivities (July 2008)
Most Desirable 2008 Sporting Events:
- Summer Olympic Games, Beijing, China (August 2008)
- Super Bowl, Glendale, Arizona (February 2008)
- Wimbledon Championships, London, England (June 2008)
- Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky (May 2008)
- Masters Golf Tournament, Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia (April 2008)
Most Alluring Cruise Itineraries For 2008:
- Mediterranean
- Australia/New Zealand
- Alaska
- European River
- Nile River
Perfect Family Vacation Destinations For 2008:
- Hawaiian Islands
- Australia
- Ireland
- Costa Rica
- Galápagos Islands
Most Romantic Destinations For 2008:
- Paris
- Venice
- Hawaii
- Santorini, Greece
- French Polynesia
Great Adventures For 2008:
- On safari in Serengeti National Park
- Sailing in the Caribbean
- Biking in the French countryside
- White-water rafting on the Colorado River
- Scuba diving in Belize
Most Desirable Wildlife Sightings For 2008:
- Tortoises in the Galápagos Islands
- Elephants on the Okavango Delta, Botswana
- Penguins at Snow Hill, Antarctica
- Gray whales off Baja California, Mexico
- Birds in Costa Rica
Best Cities For Shopping For 2008:
- New York City
- Paris
- Hong Kong
- London
- Milan
Best Gourmet Cities For 2008:
- Paris
- Florence
- Genoa, Italy
- New York City
- New Orleans
Most Beautiful City Architecture For 2008:
- Rome
- Saint Petersburg, Russia
- Barcelona
- Florence
- Prague
Top Wine Regions To Visit In 2008:
- Tuscany, Italy
- Bordeaux, France
- Napa Valley, California
- Loire Valley, France
- Champagne, France
Top Educational Travel Experiences For 2008:
- Cooking school
- Archaeological exploration
- Foreign language immersion
- Tracing family lineage
- Sports lessons
Trips of a Lifetime For 2008:
- Chartering a private jet for a trip around the world
- Photographing wildlife on a South African safari
- Renting a private island
- Celebrating Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro
- Blasting off into suborbital space aboard a Virgin Galactic flight
VIRTUOSO LIFE is the official lifestyle magazine of Virtuoso, its member travel consultants and World Elite™ MasterCard®. It features luxury cruising, top vacation destinations, hotel and resort stays, cultural tours, spa retreats, private jet charters and more, and is distributed to the homes of Virtuoso travel consultants’ top clients and to World Elite™ MasterCard® cardholders bi-monthly. For more information about VIRTUOSO LIFE, log on to www.virtuosolife.com.
Virtuoso is the industry’s leading luxury travel network. This by-invitation-only organization comprises over 300 agencies with more than 6,000 elite travel specialists in 22 countries in North and South America, the Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand, as well as over 1,000 of the world’s best travel providers and premier destinations. Independent travel agencies receive sales, marketing and technology support, as well as exclusive services and products, as a result of their membership in Virtuoso. The network’s member agencies generate over $4.2 billion annually in travel sales, making the group the most powerful in the luxury travel segment. Their relationships with the finest travel companies provide the network’s affluent clientele with exclusive amenities, rare experiences and privileged access. Virtuoso is the exclusive luxury travel network provider for World Elite™ MasterCard®.
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Press Contacts:
Misty Ewing
Director – Public Relations, Virtuoso
Phone: 212.588.8242
Email: mewing@virtuoso.com
Robyn Fuchs
Manager – Public Relations, Virtuoso
Phone: 212.588.8281
Email: rfuchs@virtuoso.com
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