Global Travel–A week with Virtuoso | Travel Research Online

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Global Travel–A week with Virtuoso

So we are in the month of August and summer seems to have flown past.  I am already looking at trips for 2014 and even 2015. This month is also the time where some of us get ready to head down to Las Vegas for Virtuoso Travel Week.

Being a part of the best of the best, we are invited every year to attend this amazing event held in late August in Vegas—this is the 25th year!

What is Virtuoso Travel Week? It is a time of learning and networking and bringing the best agents together with the best suppliers to further solidify their Virtuoso and individual relationships.

This being my second year, it’s time to reconnect with those amazing vendors I met from last year and see what’s new for the upcoming seasons. It’s also time to start shopping for those gorgeous cocktail dresses and new pairs of heels for those dinner invitations and private parties they all host. It is Vegas after all and it’s as much a designer fashion show as it is luxury travel event.

I love this trip because it reminds me of why I love Travel. There are so many people from all over the world sharing their product and what’s new in their part of the world. My role again this year will be to meet with global vendors in 4-minute speed dating style meetings.  We will be located in one of the many large conference halls and over the course of the week we will have 4 minutes to learn what is new from different hotels, tour operators, on sites, airlines and cruise lines. And of course, we need to know what the benefits for our clients might be.

The venue takes place in the Bellagio and an entire section of the hotel is closed off for Virtuoso members. It’s a weeklong event with meetings, cocktail parties, dinner parties, competitions, catching up with 0ld friends, making new ones and having fun. Travel to me is fun and this is where the best of the best get together to do some of that.

Last year I met representatives from some amazing properties and then later got the opportunity to stay at one of the luxury hotels in Amsterdam at Christmas. This year the same manager invited me for dinner with them during one of their dinner parties. It’s a great way to make connections and improve your knowledge of what’s changing in the travel market so we can keep our clients up to date on what’s new in travel worldwide and get suggestions for those who are looking to plan their next adventure.

So I have a week to catch up in my office, get balances paid, and documents delivered. I need to be sure everyone is clear regarding their own trips, before I jet off on my own mini vacation/work trip next week. It’s a hard life working in travel but someone’s got to do it.

What travel events do you attend? Which do you feel are the must-see and can’t miss shows?

Nikki Smith works in a Boise based brick and mortar agency, Global Travel, a Virtuoso Agency. Nikki got her start in her hometown of Glasgow, Scotland when she started in the industry as a flight attendant. She has also worked as a guide for ski and snow vacations worldwide.

 

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