Virtuoso, the U.S.-based international network of expert luxury travel consultants, will play a more active role in International Luxury Travel Market…
Virtuoso, the U.S.-based international network of expert luxury travel consultants, will play a more active role in International Luxury Travel Market.
ILTM Media Ltd, organiser of International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) – taking place in Cannes from 8th to 11th December 2003 – has announced a new marketing association with Virtuoso, the US based international network of luxury travel consultants.
Virtuoso will take an active part in ILTM`s Hosted Buyer programme by selecting and bringing 40 of their best luxury travel experts from the North and Latin America to the show. The organisers of ILTM will roll out the red carpet for the Virtuoso experts by providing a complimentary VIP Service for each member. This will include their flights to Nice, transfers – by helicopter or limousine – Nice to Cannes, accommodation in one of the famous Cannes Palaces, invitation to many exclusive functions and pre-arranged face-to-face appointments with exhibitors.
Serge Dive, Chief Executive Officer of ILTM said, We are delighted to have Virtuoso associated with the ILTM Hosted Buyer Programme. Our commitment to our exhibitors is simply to bring the best buyers and vacation planning experts from all over the world to International Luxury Travel Market. To achieve this, we are reliant on collaboration with the world`s most influential partners. The Virtuoso network belongs to that category of partners: their members are carefully selected – less than 266 travel agencies are Virtuoso members out of 26,000 travel agencies in the USA and 40 travel agencies in Latin America – and represent a multi-billion-dollar buying power in the luxury travel market. And with their average 15 years experience in the luxury travel business they represent an example of the very best type of buyer that ILTM will deliver to our worldwide luxury suppliers.
Matthew Upchurch, Chief Executive Officer of Virtuoso said As we increase our global presence as the World`s most powerful network of luxury travel specialists, we are delighted to have been invited to contribute to the success of ILTM, which, like Virtuoso`s by-invitation-only industry events, will bring together luxury travel buyers with luxury travel suppliers from all over the world. Through our own exclusive conferences and symposiums, Virtuoso has proven experience in bringing together buyers and sellers operating in the luxury travel market. By involving our best luxury travel consultants in ILTM we`ll be able to further promote the professionalism and strength of our network to a global audience.
ILTM has become one of the best ways to promote any luxury travel product or services towards a global audience the show is virtually sold outsays David Hammond, Exhibtion Director. This year ILTM will see its number of exhibitors and delegates double.
To the already very impressive list of clients of last year edition that included luxury hotels such as Small Luxury Hotels, Orient Express Hotels, Concorde Hotels, Relais et Chateaux, Starwood International, destinations such as South Africa, Dubai or Mauritius, cruising companies such as Crystal Cruises or Radisson Seven Seas Cruises, out of this world experiences such as Space Adventure (a trip into space for 20 million dollars) or Quark Expeditions (cruises in Antarctica), will be joined by new exhibitors such as One and Only Resorts, Dorchester Group of Hotels, Inter-Continental Hotels, Namibia Tourism, Qatar Tourism Authority, Kempinski Hotels and Resorts, The Peninsula Group and Cavendish White Yacht Charter. Many will follow but those who will wake up in September and try to apply for participation, will dearly be disappointed as the show should be completely sold out by then. A waiting list has already been established for certain geographical sections of the show, comments Ronan McCarthy, Director of Sales.
The show, which has now become a genuine Festival of Cannes of luxury travel, will once again attract stars and celebrities operating in the luxury travel industry. Our conference taking place on Monday December 8th will be welcoming some of them as speakers, adds Mr. Hammond. Speakers will include Matthew Upchurch, CEO of Virtuoso, Grace Leo Andrieu CEO and Chairman of GLA International, Vikram Oberoi, Owner and President of Oberoi Hotels and Resorts, Tyler Brule CEO of Winkorp and Jean Claude Baumgarten, President of the World Travel and Tourism Council.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
