EVENT - VIRTUOSO TRAVEL WEEK AND THE POWER OF CONNECTIONS (États-Unis)
A gathering for luxury travel professionals to forge partnerships, strengthen relationships and get all the hottest trends.Catégorie : Amérique du Nord et Antilles - États-Unis - Tendances, avis d'expert Événements
Article rédigé par Sonia Taourghi le 21-08-2025
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 The eight themed Globetrotting pavilions showcase the latest luxury travel offerings - Virtuoso Travel Week, Las Vegas
The event's press conference revealed strong recovery figures, with leisure sales reaching 282% of 2019 levels, significantly outpacing the broader industry's 130% benchmark. This performance reflects not just market recovery but genuine growth in luxury travel demand, setting the stage for a week when every conversation carried weight and every connection held potential for future collaboration.
Discovery and strategic partnerships
These impressive numbers came to life through Globetrotting's eight specialised pavilions – spread across Adventure, Cruise, Culinary, Family + Celebration, Sustainability, Ultraluxe, Virtuoso Collection, and Wellness – which created a marketplace of ideas where suppliers showcased their latest offerings.
It would be a stretch to mention the more than a hundred names taking part, but here’s a few that caught my attention. Family Twist founder Magali Déchelette shared insights on multigenerational experiences upon winning the Family and Celebration prize, while Leonidas Travel showcased its Croatian offerings to an audience hungry for Balkan discoveries.
Abercrombie & Kent presented their private jet programme, now fully operational and catering to the ultra-luxury segment seeking seamless global mobility. Micato India highlighted a different safari experience focused on discovering Bengal tigers, offering a fresh perspective on wildlife encounters beyond traditional African safaris. Alizés Private founder Karim Fehry Fassy captivated audiences – listening to him is a captivating experience of its own, as he weaves stories of bespoke travel that blur the lines between adventure and luxury.
The Ritz-Carlton Cayman Islands brought its general manager, Marc Langevin, to celebrate the property's 20th anniversary, demonstrating how milestone moments become relationship-building opportunities in this industry.
Strategic conversations and private gatherings
The one-to-one sessions proved equally productive, facilitating deeper strategic conversations that shaped business directions for the coming year. IC Bellagio's Andrea Grisdale discussed epicurean travel trends while accepting the Culinary Community partner award, exemplifying Italy's continued appeal for luxury food experiences. Martina Bienenfeld, CEO of Zagreb Tourist Board, outlined how Balkan destinations are systematically courting American travellers, positioning Croatia's capital as a sophisticated alternative to over-touristed European cities.
Georgia Harman and Chris Allison from Tourism Australia detailed their accessibility initiatives, showcasing how destinations are increasingly prioritising inclusive travel offerings. Between formal meetings, corridor conversations with Ryan Powell, COO of andBeyond, revealed safari industry innovations focused on conservation impact. At the same time, tourism boards from Los Cabos to Malta presented their latest initiatives. These encounters represent just a fraction of the networking opportunities available throughout the week.
Beyond formal appointments, many brands organised private gatherings to deepen relationships. Barbara Muckermann from Kempinski Hotels organised a private lunch with a dozen general managers, during which she reaffirmed the renewed energy the leadership is injecting into both teams and portfolio, with each property leader sharing market-specific insights and challenges.
Similarly, Four Seasons gathered travel advisors and journalists to meet with general managers from across the globe, with the Barbados region particularly keen to welcome a wider array of travellers, notably from Africa, representing a conscious effort to diversify their guest demographics. Ben Trodd of Four Seasons Yachts offered an overview of their luxury vessel concepts, explaining how ultra-high-net-worth individuals are seeking yacht experiences that combine the privacy of private travel with the service standards of luxury hospitality.
There's a genuine pleasure in connecting with industry leaders, journalists and travel advisors in what feels like informal conversations rather than marketing speeches. At least most of the time.
Emerging trends and market evolution
These conversations revealed several key focuses. Group travel dynamics are undergoing a significant transformation, with villa options increasingly appealing to friends travelling together – a marked shift from luxury travel's traditional focus on family groups. This evolution reflects changing social patterns where friendship circles are maintaining stronger bonds into later life, creating demand for shared experiences that accommodate multiple couples or friend groups in private settings.
Expedition-style "travelling to learn" experiences have moved decisively to the forefront of marketing efforts compared to previous years, reflecting travellers' growing desire for transformative journeys that offer intellectual and emotional enrichment beyond traditional leisure experiences. Operators reported increased interest in archaeological expeditions, conservation projects, and cultural immersion programmes where travellers actively participate rather than merely observe.
Accessibility is taking the front seat in diversity conversations, whether through brand campaigns, discovery platforms, or hotels' dedicated efforts, representing a significant evolution in how the industry approaches inclusive luxury travel. This isn't merely about compliance or corporate responsibility – it's driven by recognition that accessible luxury travel represents an underserved market with substantial spending power.
The digital transformation theme permeated discussions throughout the week. Virtuoso's social media content centre represents a significant industry shift, with 2,800 advisors now reaching 2.7 million luxury travellers across 18 languages, transforming individual travel professionals into digital influencers with authentic voices and local expertise. Early results show 24% booking increases and 27% production growth for participating properties, proving that authentic advisor endorsements carry more weight than traditional marketing approaches.
Yet survey data revealed varying levels of optimism across sectors, with cruise professionals showing 87% confidence compared to the 56% industry average, while hotel representatives demonstrated a more measured outlook. These differences reflect varying recovery patterns and market conditions across travel segments, with cruise lines benefiting from pent-up demand and limited capacity. Meanwhile, hotels face more complex challenges around staffing, sustainability investments, and changing guest expectations.
The conversations also revealed growing sophistication in how luxury travel brands approach sustainability, moving beyond surface-level initiatives to integrated programmes that genuinely impact local communities and environments. Properties shared examples of coral reef restoration, wildlife conservation funding, and local artisan support programmes that create authentic connections between travellers and destinations, generating measurable positive impact.
Future outlook and industry connections
The week concluded with clear evidence that luxury travel has evolved beyond traditional definitions, with sustainability, wellness, and authentic cultural experiences now driving purchasing decisions as much as thread counts and champagne service. This evolution reflects a maturing market where affluent travellers seek offerings that align with their values and contribute positively to the places they visit.
The conversations revealed an industry increasingly confident in its ability to deliver these complex, multi-layered experiences, still maintaining the service excellence that defines luxury travel. For an industry built on relationships and trust, Virtuoso Travel Week continues delivering the face-to-face connections that make those relationships possible – which explains why this Las Vegas gathering has become such a fixture in so many calendars.
Ultimately, the combination of packed schedules, discoveries, and the infectious energy of an industry in motion makes it clear why attendees return year after year, creating a community that extends far beyond the conference rooms and continues to carry the travel industry and innovate long after the last meeting concludes.
 Over 114,000 appointments facilitate strategic connections during the global week - Virtuoso Travel Week, Las Vegas
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