CEO heads Down Under for Virtuoso’s biggest cruise show

Virtuoso Chairman and CEO, Matthew Upchurch, made a visit Down Under between Monday 16 and Thursday 19 October to attend the second annual Virtuoso Travel Week on Tour – Cruise Show. The global luxury network’s Cruise Show took place in Melbourne, the Gold Coast and Sydney this week, bringing together 18luxury and expedition cruise companies who shared their latest product with approximately 350 luxury advisors from Virtuoso’s Asia Pacific network. Mr Upchurch also held a breakfast on Thursday for five select media, including Signature Media, in The Langham Sydney’s private dining room. Michael Londregan, Managing Director Virtuoso Asia Pacific, and Julie Smith, communications, were also in attendance.

“Australia and New Zealand has the highest per capita ratio of cruising in the world, and the region is seen as a highly important market for Virtuoso’s cruise partners,” Upchurch said ahead of his visit. “Over the past 12 months, Virtuoso has seen growth of more than 20% in its luxury cruise market and the incredible success of our cruise program in this region can be attributed to the high quality of our travel agency members and advisors. Virtuoso is recognised as a key ingredient to success in the luxury travel industry and both our members and partners have acknowledged this value with the Virtuoso Travel Week on Tour Cruise Show a complete sellout.”

Mr. Upchurch said Virtuoso has worked with its cruise partners to expand its Virtuoso Voyages program, delivering hundreds of Virtuoso escorted departures that feature exclusive upgrades and experiences from the network’s destination experts around the world. These strong investments are moving market share towards the world’s best cruise experiences.

Steve Odell, SVP & Managing Director Asia Pacific at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Oceania Cruises & NCL), reiterated these observations: “Lovers of luxury travel, particularly cruisers, are becoming increasingly discerning, seeking personalised service and tailor-made experiences from journey beginning to end. As the Australian cruise industry continues to go from strength to strength, the importance of Virtuoso’s network of local advisors will only heighten as key connectors for industry to this growing customer base, helping our market-leading brands stand out from the rest.”

According to Upchurch, people are looking for more flavour in their life and are seeking avenues that provide selective products that meet their particular desires and tastes: “Niche products need niche specialists to help clients find the travel experiences they crave, and Virtuoso advisors are masters in recognising their clients’ passion points and giving them the product that speaks to their individual desires.” Managing Director, Silversea Cruises Asia Pacific, Amber Wilson, says the Virtuoso network has been instrumental in the growth and development of the Expedition product for Silversea.

“Our discerning guests are not interested in simply visiting the same places in an ordinary way, they want the opportunity to take the time to fully immerse themselves in each destination. It is Silversea’s mission to unlock new territories and invite our guests to go deeper in their travel experience. In 2018 alone we have added 178 new ports of call and our expedition cruises, visiting remote ports that are often not accessible otherwise and spanning the globe from the Arctic, Antarctic, Galapagos, Russian Far East, Asia and South Pacific.” Amber Wilson, Managing Director, Silversea Cruises Asia Pacific

Go back to the e-newsletter