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.
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:
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:
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
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.
