It’s so much fun having clients travel all over the world enjoying incredible and unforgettable experiences tailored to their specific interests that they didn’t even know were possible.
There’s nothing better than surprising them with travel perks like a complimentary room upgrade upon arrival, early check-in or late check-out, complimentary daily breakfast, complimentary WIFI, spa or food and beverage credits, or exclusive travel experiences with VIP access.
Recently, I was able to secure a 1 bedroom suite for a family in a Caribbean resort that was sold out both online and when calling the resort directly.
I also had a client rushing to get to the train station in Rome. When she reached the platform, she realized she left her backpack with her passport in a taxi. Ugh! Imagine the panic she felt when she noticed her backpack wasn’t on her back. My “trusted travel partner” in Italy met her and the rest of her group at the train station when they arrived in Florence. He took them to the U.S. Consulate office and within 45 minutes they were on their way with a new passport, minimizing what could have been a major trip interruption. I’m sure you can feel how her sense of panic shifted to relief when she had her new document in her hand!
How was the above possible? This brings me to the most valuable product I offer my clients — Peace of Mind! Yes, peace of mind knowing my travel experience along with my global travel connections are with you every step of the way.
In today’s environment, the rules and regulations are changing daily from state to state and even country to country. There are so many unknown factors to deal with and it’s more important than ever to have a “connected” advisor by your side.
Unity is strength…where there is TEAMWORK and COLLABORATION, wonderful things can be achieved – Mattie Stepanek
My role is to keep track of the ever-changing conditions not only at the time of booking your vacation, but 48-72 hours before you depart until the moment you jump on the plane to head home. I’ll also continually confirm the latest travel restrictions, testing regiments, E-Visas, health declaration requirements, flight cancellations, trip delays and more. In other words, assuring you “Peace of Mind”.
Connections! Connections! Connections!
So how did I become so connected? Beyond the relationships I’ve developed during my personal travel, along with the last 15 years of experience as a Travel Advisor, I’m also a member of Virtuoso through my host agency Gifted Travel Network.
Virtuoso is the leading global network of agencies specializing in luxury and experiential travel, with more than 20,000 advisors. Virtuoso partners with over 2,000+ of the world’s best companies such as hotels, cruise lines, tour operators, destination management companies and more.
Virtuoso Travel Advisors use their personal connections and first hand expertise to craft bespoke trips for clients, including unique experiences, special values, complimentary perks, VIP treatment and rare access.
In a nutshell, Virtuoso is a travel consortium that is the largest and most luxurious of them all.
A travel consortium refers to an organization made up of independent travel agents and agencies that have joined together to increase their buying power and the amenities they are able to provide clients. Consortiums use their networks to negotiate with hotels, resorts, cruise lines, and other suppliers on behalf of their agent members. The resulting “preferred supplier” relationship benefits agency clients in the form of special amenities, upgrades, and special promotions not available to the public.
Examples of Virtuoso Amenities
- – Room upgrades, subject to availability
- – Daily breakfast for two
- – Food & beverage credit or Hotel/Resort credit or Spa credit
- – Early check-in/late checkout, subject to availability
- – Special Virtuoso Promotions or Experiences
Virtuoso Travel Week…August 8-12, 2021 82,000 One-on-One Networking Appointments
For the last three years, Virtuoso’s Travel Week has allowed me to exponentially increase the connections and relationships that will make a difference for my clients. This year’s event brought together more than 3,300 luxury travel professionals from 102 countries and featured nearly 82,000 one-on-one networking appointments.
In addition to spending most of my time networking in 15-minute sessions for several hours a day, I also attended professional development training sessions as well as events that focused on adventure, wellness, culinary and family travel. While the size of the event is very large, the meetings and time spent with my partners is incredibly personal, particularly the one-on-one sessions.
Spending this week engaging with these global travel professionals always leaves me incredibly excited. There is so much to see and experience in this world and I can’t wait to share some new ideas for your future travel opportunities.
At the heart of life lie the relationships we have with other people.
Ready to Travel? Instantly find the latest Global Travel Restrictions
Travel rules are changing daily. Get up-to-date travel entry regulations based on your country of passport, place of departure, and planned country of entrance, including specific health and safety rules with the CIBT Entry Guide.
Are you looking for some wonderful places to stay on your next vacation?
Intimate retreats, sustainable safari camps, gorgeous beach resorts … and so much more. There’s a world of dream stays to discover within Virtuoso’s curated collection of more than 1,400 hotels, resorts, lodges, villas, camps, and private islands. Ready to go? Your next getaway starts here. When you book a stay through a Virtuoso advisor, you’ll receive:
- Preferred rates and availability
- Room upgrades (if available)
- Breakfast daily for two
- Dining, resort, or hotel credits
- Early check-in and late checkout (if available)
- Exclusive amenities and experiences
My goal is for you to have “Peace of Mind” when traveling! This is why the relationships I have with my “in destination” partners really matter not only to me but to you as well. It is comforting to know that if you need anything, then you will have someone on the ground ready and willing to assist at a moment’s notice.
The nice thing about TEAMWORK is that you have others on your side!
If you are ready to pursue a new adventure, let’s do it! Don’t wait! Life it too short!
Enjoy your week!!
