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Virtuoso has named its 2024 global Award Nominees of travel advisors, agencies and partners across various communities and categories. This year’s Virtuoso nominees includes one sole Australian advisor – Ben Chidgzey from Bicton Travel in Western Australia, who has been nominated for the Rising Star category. Chidgzey joined the Perth-based Bicton Travel after completing his Diploma of Travel and Tourism. In the Rising Star category, he is up against Billy Springer of Avenue Two Travel in Washington DC; Eli Wagner of Coastline Travel Advisors in Santa Monica; Kristina Watkins from SmartFlyer in San Francisco and Lucila Quintana from NUBA which is located in Miami.

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To be presented during Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas, the 2024 Nominees include the inaugural Sustainability Awards, which were launched at last year’s ‘Fashion Show of Travel’. The Nominees in their respective communities and categories are: 2024 Member Awards nominees are:

Respected Achievement (Advisor)

David Petlin | Flair Travel / 1000 Mile Travel Group Gaby Galvez | NUBA Lila Fox | Lila Fox Travel Co. Melissa Wu | First In Service Travel Susan Green | Susan’s Travel Services 2024 Community Awards nominees are:

Respected Agency Culture

Brownell Travel CADENCE Gifted Travel Network Largay Travel NUBA

Adventure Community

Top Adventure Community Advisor

Becky Craft | Travel Experts, Inc. Josh Friedman | Travel Experts, Inc. Margaret Larkin | Universal Travel – Houston Rhona Wendler | McCabe World Travel, Inc. Tim Burke | Travel Experts, Inc.

Best Adventure Community Partner

Backroads Big Five Tours & Expeditions, Inc G Adventures Lindblad Expeditions Swain Destinations

Cruise Community

Top Cruise Community Advisor

Becky Robinson | Departure Lounge David Porter | The Roaming Boomers, an independent affiliate of CADENCE Jonathon Phillips | Cassis Travel Services, Inc. Kristin Bodin | Acadiana Travel, an independent affiliate of CADENCE Ralph Bias | Amazing Cruises, Inc.

Best Cruise Community Partner

AmaWaterways Explora Journeys Regent Seven Seas Cruises Seabourn Silversea

Culinary Community

Top Culinary Community Advisor

Debra Clark | Provident Travel Corporation Denise Shorthouse | Coastline Travel Advisors John Skelton | Departure Lounge Sandy Miller | The Travel Society LLC Shawn Kilner | Direct Travel – Victoria

Best Culinary Community Partner

Calvados Club Luxury Travel – Croatia Decouvertes Inc & Sarl – France IC Bellagio – Italy Oceania Cruises We travel France

Family + Celebration Community Partner

Top Family + Celebration Community Advisor

Becky Robinson | Departure Lounge Kristin Bodin | Acadiana Travel, an independent affiliate of CADENCE Lisa Rubin Reich | Gifted Travel Network Mary Ann Ramsey | Betty Maclean Travel, Inc. Tim Burke | Travel Experts, Inc.

Best Family + Celebration Community Partner

Backroads Costa Rican Trails Family Twist Made for Spain and Portugal Royal Caribbean International

Sustainability Community

Top Sustainability Community Advisor

Angela W Pierson | Wallace Pierson Travel Beth Washington | Smartflyer Jennifer Hicks | Four Seasons Travel Mary Levine | Paul Klein Travel Sheila Gallant-Halloran | Direct Travel Toronto – HQ

Best Sustainability Community Partner

Destination Canada Explora Journeys Lindblad Expeditions Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam Wilderness

Ultraluxe Community

Top Ultraluxe Community Advisor

David Porter | The Roaming Boomers, an independent affiliate of CADENCE Kristin Bodin | Acadiana Travel, an independent affiliate of CADENCE Laura Madrid | Travel Experts, Inc. Laura Wallace | Herff Travel, Inc. Margaret Larkin | Universal Travel – Houston

Best Ultraluxe Community Partner

Abercrombie & Kent USA, LLC Explora Journeys Micato Safaris Norwegian Adventures As – Norway The Brando

Wellness Community

Top Wellness Community Advisor

Carol Minker | Sanders Travel Centre Christina Buaas | CSB Travel Diane Wilkinson | Travel Experts, Inc. Josie Schiavone | SmartFlyer Marissa Grad | SmartFlyer

Best Wellness Community Partner

Cloister at The Boca Raton Grand Hotel Victoria Concept & Spa Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Resorts Collection Miraval Arizona Resort & Spa SHA Wellness ClinicIn the Partner Awards categories, the 2024 Virtuoso Nominees were:

Best Expedition Cruise Line

Lindblad Expeditions PONANT Quark Expeditions (2023 winner) Seabourn Silversea Cruises

Best River Cruise Line

AmaWaterways Aqua Expeditions Tauck River Cruising Uniworld Boutique River Cruises (2023 winner) Viking River Cruises

Best Hotel

Bulgari Hotel Roma Hotel Hassler J.K. Place Capri Passalacqua The Dewberry Charleston

Hotelier of the Year

Allen Highfield | Montage Healdsburg Andrew Pike | The Milestone Hotel and Residences Conor O’Leary | Gleneagles, Scotland Richard Rooney | Wharekauhau Country Estate Simone Giorgi | Park Hyatt Milano

Best Specialty or Insurance

Allianz Partners Axus Travel App EmpireCLS Worldwide Chauffeured Services Travefy Travelex Insurance Services

Best Tourism Board

Austrian Tourist Office, Inc. Los Cabos Tourism Board Switzerland Tourism Tourism New Zealand (2023 winner) Tourism Australia Stay tuned to LATTE for coverage from Virtuoso Travel Week 2024.

Best Ocean Cruise Line

Explora Journeys Regent Seven Seas Cruises Silversea Cruises (2023 winner) Seabourn Virgin Voyages

Best Airline

Air Canada Air New Zealand Delta Air Lines (AF, KL, VS, AM, KE) Emirates (2023 winner) Singapore Airlines

Best New or ReImagined Hotel

Bulgari Hotel Roma Carlton Cannes Maroma, A Belmond Hotel, Riviera Maya Raffles London at The OWO Rosewood Munich

Best On-Site

Access Italy Eclectic Greece by Kyvernitis Travel IC Bellagio – Italy Leonidas Travel – Croatia Triumph Travel – South Africa

Best Tour Operator

Abercrombie & Kent USA, LLC Classic Vacations Micato Safaris Tauck (2023 winner) Wilderness

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