VIRTUOSO® HONORS TOP PERFORMERS AND
INDUSTRY STANDOUTS IN GRAND FASHION

Travel Advisors, Agencies and Suppliers Recognized for their Outstanding Achievements at
Virtuoso’s 22nd Annual Travel Mart Gala

LAS VEGAS (August 26, 2010) – Leading luxury travel network, Virtuoso®, announced the recipients of its annual Virtuoso Performance Awards recently at the network’s 22nd Anniversary Awards Gala. More than 2,000 attendees, many dressed in festive cultural attire to keep with the “Travel Unites” theme, gathered at the stunning new Bristlecone Ballroom at Aria Resort and Casino in Las Vegas to witness the awards presentation. The gala finale marked the close of Virtuoso’s 2010 Travel Mart conference, the largest event in the industry dedicated to luxury travel, which took place at the Bellagio hotel from August 15-20, 2010.

Honorees included top-performing travel advisors from North America, Latin America, the Caribbean and Australia/New Zealand. Additionally, outstanding hotels and resorts, cruise lines, airlines, specialty services, on-sites and tour operators were also recognized. Virtuoso CEO, Matthew D. Upchurch, CTC, and President, Kristi Jones, CTC, hosted the special awards ceremony.

The awards were based on two criteria whereby advisors and suppliers received honors: minimum production requirements evaluated throughout 2009; as well as peer-to-peer assessment within the network. A record number of votes from 966 advisors and 518 suppliers determined the 20 award winners who garnered this coveted recognition from their peers (advisors voted for suppliers, suppliers voted for advisors).
Virtuoso Performance Awards winners and categories are listed below.

2010 Virtuoso Peer-to-Peer Awards – Member Category:
(In this category, Virtuoso Preferred Suppliers vote for Virtuoso advisors)

Virtuoso ‘Most Admired Advisor’ Award
(Recognizes the travel advisor who exemplifies the highest standards of the profession in skill, performance and conduct.)

Most Admired Advisor – Australia/New Zealand:
Claudia Rossi Hudson – Mary Rossi Travel, North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Most Admired Advisor – Latin America/Caribbean/Bermuda:
Vera Gattaz – L'Espace Viagens E Turismo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

Most Admired Advisor – USA/Canada:
Mollie Fitzgerald – Frontiers - Elegant Journeys Division, Wexford, Pennsylvania, USA


Virtuoso ‘Most Innovative Advisor’ Award
(Recognizes the travel advisor who has demonstrated the most innovative, imaginative and out-of-the-box thinking in selling travel.)
Jack Ezon – Ovation Vacations, New York, New York, USA

Virtuoso ‘Most Hospitable Agency’ Award
(Recognizes the travel agency location that makes Suppliers feel at home when making agency sales calls.)
Valerie Wilson Travel – New York, New York, USA

Virtuoso ‘Rising Star’ Award
Shelby Donley – Camelback Odyssey Travel, Phoenix, Arizona, USA


2010 Virtuoso Peer-to-Peer Awards – Supplier Category:
(In this category, Virtuoso Members vote on Preferred Suppliers)

Virtuoso ‘Best Small Ship/Specialty Cruise Company’ (under 500 passengers)
Silversea Cruises

Virtuoso ‘Best Large Ship Line’ (500 passengers or more)
Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Virtuoso ‘Best Voyager Club Event’
Buenos Aires – Voyager Club 20th Anniversary - Gala Tango Evening (Mai 10)

Virtuoso ‘Best FIT/Custom Tour Operator’
Classic Vacations

Virtuoso ‘Best Escorted Tour Operator’
Micato Safaris

Virtuoso ‘Best On-Site Supplier’
IC Bellagio

Virtuoso ‘Best VAST Supplier’
Lindblad Expeditions

Virtuoso ‘Best Airline’
Lufthansa German Airlines

Virtuoso ‘Best Specialty Supplier’
Travelex Insurance Services

2010 Virtuoso Performance Awards:

‘Top Virtuoso Production’
Protravel International Inc. (New York)

‘Top Virtuoso Production – Latin America Division’
Teresa Perez, Teresa Perez Tours, Brazil

‘Top Virtuoso Production – Australia/New Zealand Division’
Mary Rossi Travel

‘Top Virtuoso Production on a Per Advisor Basis’
Personalized Travel Consultants

‘Top Virtuoso Production Percentage, Year-Over-Year Growth’
Tangerine Travel

About Virtuoso
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. The network’s member agencies generate over $5.1 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 network of travel services and benefits provided by MasterCard® for participating World Elite MasterCard® programs. 

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For further information & high resolution images, please contact:

Misty Ewing | Virtuoso – Director, Public Relations | 212.588.8242 | mewing@virtuoso.com

Jami Gordon-Smith / Kelsey Paquin | The Brandman Agency | 212.683.2442 | firstname@brandmanpr.com