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Virtuoso – How It Works, Travel Advisors, Upgrades & Benefits

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What Is Virtuoso?

Virtuoso benefits, fees to use virtuoso, virtuoso hotel properties, earning points on a virtuoso rate, virtuoso travel advisors, other programs like virtuoso, virtuoso vs. amex fine hotels & resorts, final thoughts.

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If you routinely focus on luxury travel, you might have heard of Virtuoso , an incredible network of travel agencies that deliver huge added value to your hotel stay.

With tens of thousands of travel advisors worldwide capable of delivering extra perks to thousands of luxury hotels in the world, you’ll want to keep this company in your back pocket.

Sure, we pride ourselves on being able to use points for luxury hotel stays, but what if you want to save your points for a different trip? What if you don’t have enough points? Or what if wherever you’re traveling to doesn’t have points hotels?

That’s where Virtuoso can come in. In this guide, we’ll show you how Virtuoso can fit into your travel plans. We’ll walk you through the A to Z of what Virtuoso is, what benefits you can get, and how you can book Virtuoso rates.

Let’s get started!

Everything You Need To Know About Virtuoso

So what exactly is Virtuoso? Virtuoso is a worldwide network of travel agencies with specializations in luxury and experiential travel.

Virtuoso’s network consists of more than 20,000 travel advisors, each of which falls under a larger member agency.

Its travel advisors bring personalized travel recommendations and bookings to the table, whether you’re looking for hotels, cruises, or tours.

Importantly, though, bookings made through Virtuoso come with value-added perks for no additional cost to the traveler.

In almost all cases, hotel stays booked through Virtuoso come with the following benefits:

• Daily breakfast for 2 guests per room
• Room upgrade (subject to availability)
• Early check-in (subject to availability)
• Late checkout (subject to availability)
• A special Virtuoso amenity (typically a $100 property credit or other amenity valued at a minimum of $100, like a free massage or round-trip car transfer)

Virtuoso rates almost always cost the same exact price as the best available flexible rate .

This isn’t the same as a prepaid, advance purchase, non-refundable rate, corporate rate, or member-only rate.

However, if you usually book the best available flexible rates, you’ll literally get hundreds of dollars in added value just by going through a Virtuoso advisor .

In addition, Virtuoso advisors generally don’t charge you any commissions for hotel bookings — they get a commission on the back-end, but that cost won’t be passed on to you most of the time.

This isn’t the same as a planning fee — if you’re booking a complicated trip, you might be quoted for this extra fee depending on the travel advisor.

Hot Tip: Get in touch with Leigh, a next-level Virtuoso agent. UP’s very own Leigh Rowan has deep connections with some of the best hotels and hoteliers in the world. Reach out to him about your upcoming luxury hotel trip, and watch how he’ll upgrade your next stay. Submit your Virtuoso booking request to [email protected] .

The complete catalog of Virtuoso hotels includes name-brand luxury chains like:

• Aman Resorts
• Conrad Hotels & Resorts
• Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts
• Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts
• Mandarin Oriental
• Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
• The Peninsula Hotels
• The Ritz-Carlton
• Rocco Forte Hotels
• Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts
• St. Regis Hotels & Resorts
• Viceroy Hotels & Resorts
• Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts

As you can see, this more or less encompasses all luxury hotel chains . In addition, you can book luxury boutique properties that may not have multiple locations. These properties are incredibly helpful if you’re looking to book a more exotic vacation where there aren’t many luxury hotel options.

Booking Virtuoso rates is a lot like stacking benefits! Because a Virtuoso hotel rate still goes through the hotel’s internal system, you can earn hotel points, elite night credits/stays, and even enjoy hotel elite benefits when booking through a Virtuoso travel advisor.

For example, if you’re a Marriott Bonvoy Titanium member and you’re booking a Virtuoso hotel stay at an eligible Marriott property, you will earn Marriott Bonvoy points and enjoy Titanium benefits on your hotel stay.

The reason this works is that your travel advisor will also enter your loyalty number when booking your stays.

The first thing you’ll need to do is have a stay in mind. You can view the rates for hotels by visiting the hotel search catalog , but you will need to contact a Virtuoso travel advisor (such as Leigh Rowan from our team)  to enjoy these benefits.

Hot Tip: You can even browse Virtuoso travel advisors by their destination specialties or travel interests!

Virtuoso is the largest consortium with thousands of luxury hotels and resorts within its purview.

However, other programs offer similar benefits, including Four Seasons Preferred Partner , Belmond Bellini, Dorchester Diamond Club, Hilton Impresario , Rosewood Elite, Marriott STARS, Marriott Luminous , and Mandarin Oriental Fan Club.

Virtuoso actually includes all of the brands above and offers similar benefits — as a result, Virtuoso offers a “one-stop-shop” for booking luxury hotel stays and getting benefits regardless of which exact chain you stay at.

Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts is similar to Virtuoso in the sense that it offers perks like free breakfast and room upgrades. However, Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts offers a guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout .

Virtuoso is bookable without a specific credit card, while Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts requires a premium Amex card like The Platinum Card ® from American Express .

However, you need to have a Virtuoso travel advisor to help make your booking for you ( online or over the phone). On the flip side, you’ll also get a human who can offer recommendations and advice based on your destination and travel style.

Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts and Virtuoso both have overlapping hotels — that’s not terribly surprising when you consider that these luxury hotels are worldwide chains.

One thing you might notice is a significant markup on Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts rates . For example, if you look at The Ritz-Carlton Osaka stay searched through Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts and compare it to a Virtuoso search, you’ll see a big difference in rates:

Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts is charging $568 per night before taxes and fees, while Virtuoso’s rates are $511 per night. In this case, booking through Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts would cost 11% more than booking through Virtuoso.

Sometimes, the 2 programs have the same rates — however, in many cases, Virtuoso’s prices will beat out Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts.

On the other hand, Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts may have special offers such as a fifth-night free benefit, so you’ll need to evaluate the economics on a case-by-case basis.

Virtuoso is the secret tool that luxury travelers use to get hundreds of dollars worth of extra value on their bookings, especially hotel stays.

Some of the world’s most prestigious hotel brands like Four Seasons, Aman, Rosewood, and The Peninsula are available to book through Virtuoso. It also includes small luxury boutique hotels that aren’t a part of a larger hotel brand, so you can enjoy a boutique experience as desired.

With this program, you’ll enjoy benefits like free breakfast, room upgrades, early check-in, late checkout, and so much more — all for the same price as the best available flexible rate. Virtuoso rates are also often cheaper than Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts rates, so it’s definitely a no-brainer to consider Virtuoso!

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here .

Frequently Asked Questions

How does virtuoso travel work.

Virtuoso is essentially a travel agency network focused on luxury accommodations. With tens of thousands of approved travel advisors worldwide, Virtuoso allows you to enjoy extra elite-like benefits and perks when staying at thousands of luxury hotels and resorts around the world… but the real gem is you won’t need to pay extra to enjoy these benefits.

How much does it cost to join Virtuoso?

Virtuoso doesn’t hire travel advisors, but they recruit advisors for its member agencies. You can join Virtuoso as a travel advisor via a member agency or  join Virtuoso as a member agency .

What are Virtuoso amenities?

Virtuoso amenities may vary by hotel and property, but they usually include preferred rates at hotels, room upgrades upon arrival subject to availability, property credits like spa and shopping credits, daily breakfast for 2, and early check-in/late checkout subject to availability.

How do I join Virtuoso?

Travel agents can join Virtuoso via its website, but if you’re looking to book a stay with Virtuoso, you’ll want to book directly with a Virtuoso travel advisor.

Who owns Virtuoso Travel?

Virtuoso was founded by Jesse Upchurch in 1986, but it’s currently helmed by his son Matthew D. Upchurch. Virtuoso is a private company and has hundreds of employees.

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Meet the New Travel Agents (a.k.a. Travel Networks)

How do these networks stack up against each other, and what does it cost to take advantage of their perks?

By Shivani Vora

Why would travelers ever plan a vacation on their own when their money will go a lot further with the help of a travel agent? At a time when booking trips online seems to be the norm, it’s a message that several travel networks, each with their own group of travel agents, are increasingly pushing.

With more than 16,000 agents globally, Virtuoso is one of the largest networks. That scale can benefit the traveler: Book a trip with a Virtuoso agent, said Albert Herrera, the company’s senior vice president of global product partnerships, and you will get hotel perks such as free breakfast, room upgrades and spa treatments; these extras are worth up to $450 a property. “If you’re staying at three hotels on one trip, you’re looking at more than $1,300 of amenities that you’re not paying for,” he said.

Signature Travel Network has more than 7,000 agents. Ignacio Maza, the company’s executive vice president, said that the network’s agents can get clients benefits valued at up to $500 at hotels; on cruises, more than $1,000.

Smaller networks also offer amenities for their clients: Andrew Harper Travel , for example, began in the 1970s as a hotel review company but expanded around 15 years ago to offer travel planning services; currently, the company has around 20 agents.

How do these networks stack up against each other, and what does it cost travelers, if anything, to take advantage of their perks? Here is a breakdown of some of the top networks.

Signature Travel Network

HOW TO FIND AN AGENT signaturetravelnetwork.com

NUMBER OF AFFILIATED HOTELS More than 1,030, both large chains and boutique properties; the collection includes four- and five-star hotels.

THE COST Signature doesn’t charge a membership fee to use its agents, but some charge fees of up to several hundred dollars.

CRUISES? Yes, 30 lines. Benefits vary by sailing, but could include onboard credits, prepaid gratuities and shore excursions. Also, on a select 200 a year, travelers get a private guide and driver for a day at selected ports — a perk valued at up to $900, according to Mr. Maza.

HOTEL PERKS Up to $500 of amenities at hotels, including daily breakfast for two, an extra amenity such as a $100 dining credit, room upgrades and early check-in and checkout, when available. Some properties, like the Ritz Paris , offer additional benefits including round-trip airport transfers.

HOW TO FIND AN AGENT virtuoso.com/advisors

NUMBER OF AFFILIATED HOTELS More than 1,250 luxury hotels, both large chains and boutique properties; 900 of those can be booked through virtuoso.com .

THE COST Virtuoso doesn’t charge a membership fee to use its agents, but some charge trip-planning fees; depending on the complexity of the trip, fees can range from $50 to several hundred dollars.

CRUISES? Yes, 31 lines, with more than 500 select sailings a year. Travelers get an $800 credit to use one of three ways: onboard, for a private car and driver at a port of their choice, or for a tailor-made excursion.

HOTEL PERKS Up to $450 of amenities at hotels, including daily breakfast for two, room upgrades (either guaranteed at the time of booking or on a space available basis) and early check-in and late checkout, when available. All affiliated hotels also offer extras for their Virtuoso guests which vary by property. Examples include a six-course dinner at Casa Gangotena in Quito, Ecuador and a horse-drawn carriage tour with a stay at Alpaga Megève in Megève, France.

Ensemble Travel Group

HOW TO FIND AN AGENT ensembletravel.com

NUMBER OF AFFILIATED HOTELS Around 700, both large chains and boutique properties; the collection includes four- and five-star hotels.

THE COST Ensemble doesn’t charge a membership fee to use agents, but some charge trip-planning fees.

CRUISES? Yes, 26 lines. On more than 1,500 select cruises a year, travelers receive various benefits such as room upgrades, onboard credits and shore excursions.

HOTEL PERKS Benefits vary by property, but could include room upgrades, daily breakfast, spa treatments, and food and wine welcome baskets. The Raffles Makati in the Philippines, for example, offers daily breakfast, afternoon tea, evening cocktails and 50-minute massages for two.

American Express Travel

HOW TO FIND AN AGENT AmexTravel.com

NUMBER OF AFFILIATED HOTELS More than 1,000 affiliated luxury properties.

THE COST Several network benefits are exclusively for American Express Platinum and Centurion cardholders — the annual fee for a Platinum card is $550. (The company doesn’t reveal the cost of the Centurion card.) In addition, some agents charge small trip-planning fees.

CRUISES? Yes, 15 lines. On sailings of five nights or more, travelers receive an onboard credit of between $100 to $300.

HOTEL PERKS The average value of benefits travelers receive at each hotel is $550, according to Tom Stein, the vice president of American Express Travel. These include a space-available room upgrade, daily breakfast for two, noon check-in, when available, and a guaranteed 4 p.m. checkout, as well as an additional amenity that varies by property — examples include a spa treatment, a meal or a bottle of wine.

Andrew Harper Travel

HOW TO FIND AN AGENT andrewharper.com

NUMBER OF AFFILIATED HOTELS 500. The majority are 40 rooms or less.

THE COST $395 a year. In addition, advisers charge a $250 “commitment” fee which is applied to the cost of the trip once travelers book.

CRUISES? Yes, around a dozen lines. Travelers receive $100 onboard credit on every sailing.

HOTEL PERKS Benefits include daily breakfast, room upgrades upon availability or at the time of booking and an additional amenity valued at $100 that varies by property — examples include a dining credit or a cooking class.

An earlier version of this article, using information provided by a company publicist, misstated the name of a travel network. It is American Express Travel, not Fine Hotels & Resorts.

A picture caption with an earlier version of this article misidentified a building in Quito, Ecuador. It is the San Francisco Cathedral, not the Casa Gangotena hotel.

How we handle corrections

The Secret Tool That Gets You EXTRA Value on Hotel Stays

While it’s true that we can choose to use points for luxury hotel stays, maybe that’s not always the best choice. After all, points don’t just drop out of the sky and into our accounts, right? Maybe we’re saving our points stash for another travel adventure. Or maybe we’ve spent our points and simply don’t have enough for an upcoming hotel stay. Or what if your travel plans take you to a destination that doesn’t have hotels you can book on points.

That’s where Virtuoso can come in. Let’s dig in and see how Virtuoso can work for you, what Virtuoso is, what benefits you can get, and how you can book Virtuoso rates.

Access Luxury Perks & Upgrades : If you’re looking to book a luxury hotel stay via Virtuoso —Katie, a member of our PointMe team, is a Virtuoso agent. She can help get you complimentary room upgrades , daily breakfast for 2, late checkouts and more (for no extra cost). Contact Katie for a fast reply to access these special perks.

Everything You Need To Know About Virtuoso

What is virtuoso.

What exactly is Virtuoso? Virtuoso is a worldwide network of travel agencies with specializations in luxury and experiential travel.

Virtuoso’s network consists of more than 20,000 travel advisors, each of which falls under a larger member agency.

Its travel advisors bring personalized travel recommendations and bookings to the clients. They have expertise when you’re looking for hotels, cruises, or tours.

Bookings made through Virtuoso come with value-added perks for no additional cost to the traveler.

What Are Virtuoso Benefits?

In almost all cases, hotel stays booked through Virtuoso come with the following benefits:

• Daily breakfast for 2 guests per room
• Room upgrade (subject to availability)
• Early check-in (subject to availability)
• Late checkout (subject to availability)
• A special Virtuoso amenity (typically a $100 property credit or other amenity valued at a minimum of $100, like a free massage or round-trip car transfer)

Are There Fees To Use Virtuoso?

Virtuoso rates almost always cost the same exact price as the best available flexible rate.

This isn’t the same as a prepaid, advance purchase, non-refundable rate, corporate rate, or member-only rate.

However, if you usually book the best available flexible rates, you’ll literally get hundreds of dollars in added value just by going through a Virtuoso advisor.

In addition, Virtuoso advisors generally don’t charge you any commissions for hotel bookings. This does vary from advisor to advisor though so check with them upfront. They get a commission on the back-end, but that cost won’t be passed on to you most of the time.

This isn’t the same as a planning fee. If you’re booking a complicated trip, you might be quoted for this extra fee depending on the travel advisor.

Virtuoso Travel Hotel Properties

The complete catalog of Virtuoso hotels includes name-brand luxury chains like:

• Aman Resorts
• Conrad Hotels & Resorts
• Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts
• Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts
• Mandarin Oriental
• Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
• The Peninsula Hotels
• The Ritz-Carlton
• Rocco Forte Hotels
• Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts
• St. Regis Hotels & Resorts
• Viceroy Hotels & Resorts
• Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts

This list just about covers all luxury hotel chains . You can book luxury boutique properties that may not have multiple locations or be part of a hotel group.

• Do you find it difficult to book award flights with your miles and points? I do! That’s why I turn to Point.me. They get me great deals and save me money and time.

Can I Earn Points on a Virtuoso Rate?

Booking Virtuoso rates is a lot like stacking benefits!

Because a Virtuoso hotel rate still goes through the hotel’s internal system, you can earn hotel points, elite night credits/stays, and even enjoy hotel elite benefits when booking through a Virtuoso travel advisor. If that’s not a win-win, then what is?

For example, if you’re a Hyatt Globalist member and you’re booking a Virtuoso hotel stay at an eligible Hyatt property, you will earn Hyatt points and enjoy Globalist benefits on your hotel stay.

Your Virtuoso travel advisor will also enter your loyalty number when booking your hotel stays, so you’ll be good to go earning hotel points on stays.

How Do I Find Virtuoso Hotels and Virtuoso Travel Advisors?

Do you have a stay in mind? Good. That’s the first step.

You can view the rates for hotels by visiting the hotel search option here , but you will need to contact a Virtuoso travel advisor (such as Katie ) to enjoy these benefits. You can even browse Virtuoso travel advisors by their destination specialties or travel interests!

Are There Other Programs Like Virtuoso?

Virtuoso is the largest group offering thousands of luxury hotels and resorts to choose from. Virtuoso was founded by Jesse Upchurch in 1986, but it’s currently lead by his son Matthew D. Upchurch. Virtuoso is a private company and has hundreds of employees.

However, other programs offer similar benefits, including Four Seasons Preferred Partner, Belmond Bellini, Dorchester Diamond Club, Hilton Impresario, Rosewood Elite, Marriott STARS, Marriott Luminous, and Mandarin Oriental Fan Club.

Virtuoso actually includes all of the brands above and offers similar benefits.  Virtuoso offers a “one-stop-shop” for booking luxury hotel stays and getting benefits regardless of which of these hotel chains you prefer.

Pro Tip: Do you Pruvo all your hotels stays? If not, do what I do and let Pruvo monitor your reservations for price drops. It’s  free and it’s the easiest way to save money on all your hotel rooms.

Virtuoso Travel vs. Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts

Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts is similar to Virtuoso in the sense that it offers perks like free breakfast and room upgrades. However, Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts offers a guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout.

Virtuoso is bookable without a specific credit card, while Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts requires a premium Amex card like The Platinum Card® from American Express. However, you need to have a Virtuoso travel advisor to help make your booking for you (online or over the phone).

Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts and Virtuoso both have overlapping hotels.

Sometimes, both programs have the same rates. But sometimes not. Best to check both programs to see if there are price differences even at the same properties.

Don’t MISS OUT on the BEST current travel credit card offers!

Final Thoughts on Virtuoso Travel

Virtuoso is the secret tool that luxury travelers use to get hundreds of dollars worth of extra value on their bookings, especially hotel stays. The best part is you won’t need to pay extra to enjoy these benefits.

Some of the world’s most prestigious hotel brands like Four Seasons, Aman, Rosewood, and The Peninsula are available to book through Virtuoso. It also includes small luxury boutique hotels that aren’t a part of a larger hotel brand, so you can enjoy a boutique experience as well.

With this program, you’ll enjoy benefits like free breakfast, room upgrades, early check-in, late checkout, and more all for the same price as the best available flexible rate.

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• Don’t miss out on the BEST current travel credit card offers!

The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

Shelli Stein

Shelli Stein is a travel writer, personal development coach , and story teller. She has come to realize writing as a way of sharing travel experiences brings her a lot of pleasure! Her areas of expertise are: all things  Southwest Airlines ,  hotel reviews , and what to do, see, and eat in destinations around the world. She sees travel as an adventure, trying to somehow get inside and experience a different way of life, a different cultural heritage. Maybe she can  show you something  you’ve never seen.  Inspire you with new ideas  for your next vacation. Attempt to  put a smile on your face . Help you learn from her mistakes . Or challenge your  assumptions about the world . She lives life with humor, gratitude, and humility and always sees the coffee cup as half full!

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What is Virtuoso? Unraveling Luxury Travel’s Finest

Travel transcends beyond being a mere pastime to being an immersive experience that stitches together unforgettable memories. It unlocks doors to unparalleled adventures, culinary delights, cultural treasures, and heartwarming encounters. To truly accentuate and customize these experiences, a knowledgeable guide is essential. That’s where Virtuoso steps in.

What is Virtuoso?

Virtuoso is an elite, invitation-only consortium consisting of top-tier travel agencies worldwide. Specializing in luxury and experiential travel, Virtuoso has carved out a niche for itself in the travel industry. With more than 20,000 advisors, Virtuoso is the key to unlocking an array of unique travel experiences. Its expansive network spans across 50 countries and includes the finest travel agencies, tour operators, cruise lines, and hospitality entities. This colossal network’s main aim is to design, curate, and execute experiences that echo the client’s dreams and desires.

The Unmatched Expertise of Virtuoso Travel Advisors

The heart of Virtuoso’s service is its travel advisors. These advisors are not merely booking agents; they are architects who design your dreams into a tangible itinerary. A Virtuoso advisor is your confidante who knows your travel aspirations, style, and preferences. They work tirelessly, drawing from their vast resources and insider knowledge to tailor a travel experience that caters to your every need and fancy.

Whether you want a luxury cruise down the Mediterranean, a cultural escapade in Southeast Asia, or a culinary adventure in Europe, your Virtuoso advisor is your concierge, guide, and troubleshooter. They align with the best cruise lines, luxury accommodations, and local tour operators to plan your journey, ensuring a seamless, unforgettable travel experience.

Unique Experiences and VIP Treatment: The Virtuoso Promise

What sets Virtuoso apart is its relentless pursuit of unique, experiential travel journeys. Its extensive alliance with premium hospitality entities and service providers across the globe ensures clients enjoy VIP treatment throughout their journey. This includes exclusive upgrades, flexible check-ins and check-outs, customized welcome amenities, and access to experiences typically off-limits to the average traveler.

Imagine enjoying a private, after-hour tour of the Louvre or a close-up encounter with African elephants in a conservation field. Perhaps a masterclass in Italian cuisine in a Tuscan villa? Virtuoso makes these experiences possible, crafting a travel story that’s as unique as you are.

Deep Diving into Luxury: Virtuoso’s Extensive Network

Virtuoso’s vast network connects you with over 1,800 premier hotels and resorts, the finest cruise lines, the most sought-after tour operators, and in-destination experts. This robust network lays the canvas for the travel masterpiece that your advisor paints, keeping your preferences at the forefront. Be it the rustic charm of a private island, the opulence of a heritage hotel, or the adventure of a luxury cruise, Virtuoso connects you to the finest experiences the world has to offer.

Final Thoughts: The Virtuoso Difference

Luxury travel with Virtuoso goes beyond the norms of high-end accommodations and premium amenities. It’s about sculpting unique, cultural experiences that resonate with your personal travel style. It’s about journeying beyond the destination, diving deeper into the local culture, history, and ethos.

Scott and Thomas strive to give our clients a personalized travel experience. We fuse our commitment, expertise, and the exclusive resources offered by Virtuoso to craft your perfect journey. So why wait? Reach out to us today and embark on your dream voyage with Scott and Thomas. Enjoy the Virtuoso difference – it’s luxury travel, personalized.

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Three Agency Groups Combine To Form Travel Leaders Network

A new Travel Leaders Network logo will represent the combined three groups.  In a move that at least a few in the industry had been predicting for years, three major travel agency groups, all owned by Travel Leaders Group, have combined to form one giant travel organization under the Travel Leaders Network brand.

Vacation.com, the largest travel agency consortium; Travel Leaders Associates (also known as Travel Leaders Franchise Group), a leading agency franchise group; and Results! Travel, a smaller franchise group, will be merged to form a mega-travel agency group with nearly 7,000 locations, 35,000 individual agencies and $17 billion in annual sales, including $6.5 billion in cruise and tour sales alone.

The merger will be effective Jan. 1, 2017.

The newly combined Travel Leaders Network (TLN) represents roughly 33% of all agency locations in the U.S. and Canada. TLN will offer common marketing and technology solutions to both associates and affiliates. It also will have one combined annual meeting, the first set for April 29-May 5, 2017, at Loews Pacific Hotel at Universal Orlando.

All existing Travel Leaders associates (franchisees) will retain sole licensing rights for the use of the Travel Leaders brand name. In addition, all members of both Results!  and Vacation.com will automatically become affiliate members of Travel Leaders Network, while those who qualify will be offered the option of becoming Travel Leaders associates in order to get a higher level of service. Travel agencies can now join TLN as associate members (franchisees) or as affiliate members.

TLN will remain part of Travel Leaders Group, the travel holding company led by CEO Ninan Chacko, which also owns such mega-travel agencies as Protravel International and Tzell Travel Group, as well as Travel Leaders Corporate, among other travel companies. Other Travel Leaders Group owned agencies, such as host agency Nexion and Cruise Specialists, will become TLN members (they are currently Vacation.com members). Protravel will continue as a member of Virtuoso, the luxury travel network, while Tzell will remain a member of Signature Travel Network, the travel agency cooperative.

TLN will continue to have headquarters offices in Alexandria, VA, and Plymouth, MN. The same team that currently oversees the three existing groups being combined will now oversee the new organization. John Lovell, currently president of Vacation.com and president of Travel Leaders Leisure Group, will serve as president of Travel Leaders Network and Leisure Group, and Roger Block, formerly president of Travel Leaders Franchise Group, will serve as TLN president, reporting to Lovell. TLN marketing will continue to be led by Stephen McGillivray, who remains chief marketing officer of Travel Leaders Group.

Jose Ferreira, chief technology officer for Travel Leaders Group, will head up TLN’s technology. Bernadette Stark, who has served as vice president of conference, events and training for Travel Leaders Leisure Group and Vacation.com, will be in charge of meetings and conferences. Gloria Stock Mickelson, currently senior manager of education and training for Travel Leaders Franchise Group, will head up TLN’s training and education. Nicole Galowin, senior director of member services for Vacation, will have now have a similar role for TLN.

“This is the dawn of a new day,” said Lovell. “We have long been recognized as a world-class organization, offering the industry’s most innovative and honored travel agency solutions. But as our industry’s landscape continues to evolve and consolidate, so must we. Simply put, we must come together to create one powerful force that helps each of our agencies compete even more effectively for the hearts and minds of the traveling public.”

What the new combination also represents, however, is an end to Vacation.com and Results! names as a travel agency brands. Vacation.com was formed in 1999 by the merger of two competing consortia buyout groups. In 2000 it was sold to Amadeus, which then sold it to Travel Leaders Group in 2008. Travel Leaders Network has tentative plans to continue to use the Vacation.com name for lead generation. The Results! franchise brand, which was formed in 2008 as a franchise group for those agencies that did not want to operate under the Travel Leaders brand, will fade away.

Our industry recognizes and rewards size and volume. I'm also a big believer in collaboration and the more creative, intelligent people we can put together, the better all the members will be.

Travel Leaders Group itself was formed in 2008 when Carlson Companies sold Carlson Leisure Group to its management team led by Michael Batt, president and CEO, who remains chairman of Travel Leaders Group. The name Travel Leaders was adopted because the group needed to replace the Carlson Wagonlit name for its agency franchisees. It came from a Florida travel agency that was purchased by the buyout group.

Among the changes for associates and affiliates migrating to the combined TLN: By 2017, the online bios from all qualifying travel agents from Results! Travel and Vacation.com will added to the existing Agent Profiler directory on TravelLeaders.com. TLN’s first conference next April will have one combined day for both associates and affiliates, but will also have separate sets of sessions, training and networking tailored for the specific needs of associates and affiliates.

All TLN associates and affiliates will have access to the technology currently offered to the three original agency groups, such as the CruisePro cruise booking platform and AgentMate travel agency management system. In addition, by 2017 all existing agency extranets will migrate to one Agent Universe platform, though content will be geared to individual agency participation agreements. Finally, a new website, TravelLeadersNetwork.com, has been launched to provide information about TLN.

Initial reaction to the TLN combined group has been positive from agents who are members of Vacation.com, Travel Leaders Franchise Group and Results! “I see it as a very positive move,” said Kate Murphy, president and CEO at Wings Travel Group in Blue Bell, PA, which is currently Vacation.com member. “Our industry recognizes and rewards size and volume. I'm also a big believer in collaboration and the more creative, intelligent people we can put together, the better all the members will be.”

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A travel advisor is an expert in crafting personalized, seamless, and extraordinary travel experiences. As a travel advisor, you will be the architect of dream vacations. the trusted guide to exotic destinations, and the curator of lifelong memories.  

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Are you a creative problem solver? Do you have an insatiable curiosity for the world's wonders? Are you a master at planning and building relationships? If you crave the excitement of discovery, the joy of exceeding expectations, and the satisfaction of making dreams come true, travel advising could be your ideal career. 

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Virtuoso agencies have been carefully vetted to provide best-in-class experiences through our 2,300+ global Preferred Partners. Luxury travel advising with high-net-worth clients takes luxury-level white-glove service. If you're looking for a career focused on luxury leisure travel, a Virtuoso agency is the right fit for you.

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How to apply  , what to expect, questions about getting started we have the answers..

• Curate travel experiences that weave together the finest details with highly organized logistics
• Design and document itineraries
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• Invoice and track payments

Many of our most successful advisors employ assistants to help with these tasks.

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• Growth is based on the number of clients you start with, how you build a client base, and the trip volume.
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• Virtuoso’s Core Training and Virtuoso Certified Travel Advisor program can help you ramp up your career more quickly.

A host agency works with independent contractors to help them grow their travel business. The agency:

• Provides access to products and services that will help them grow their business and earn more revenue.
• Usually charges a commission split or a monthly fee depending on the sales volume and the needs of the advisor.

Interview several different types of agencies to determine the right fit for your business. Consider the products and services they offer, as well as the agency culture.

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