Virtuoso Honours Canadian Members & Partners at Canada Forum
by Bruce Parkinson
Collette Canada’s Ron Lonsdale shows off the company’s awards from the Virtuoso Canada Forum.
Luxury and experiential travel network Virtuoso presented its second-annual regional awards at its Canada Forum, which took place this week at Fairmont le Château Frontenac in Québec City.
The event brought together over 120 attendees, including owners and managers from Virtuoso’s travel agency members in Canada and preferred partners from around the world.
The regional awards recognize top sales production, growth and engagement within Canada, honouring those that consistently demonstrate their commitment to the Virtuoso network.
The big member winner on the night was Direct Travel, which swept the five ‘Top Producers’ categories. On the partner side, Colette won awards as Tour Top Producer and Highest Tour Annual Growth.

Here are this year’s categories and winners:
Northern Lights Award: Recognizing one member who goes above and beyond in engagement, activism, advocacy, sponsorship and the promotion of Virtuoso in Canada. They embody the commitment, humility and spirit of human connection within the Virtuoso network and are an example of what matters most to members, partners and travellers.
Winner: Aaron Levine – Laurier du Vallon
Most Engaged: Virtuoso says collaboration is one of its core values, and this award recognizes a travel agency member and preferred partner with the highest engagement based on participation within the Virtuoso network.
Member winner: Ocean & River Cruises
Partner winner: Windstar Cruises

Top Producers: These awards recognize members and partners with the highest overall network sales per category.
Member winners:
Cruise Top Producer: Direct Travel
Hotels & Resorts Top Producer: Direct Travel
Tour Top Producer: Direct Travel
On-Site Top Producer: Direct Travel
Specialty Top Producer: Direct Travel
Partner winners:
Cruise Top Producer: Celebrity Cruises
Hotels & Resorts Top Producer: Villas of Distinction
Tour Top Producer: Collette
On-Site Top Producer: Giltedge – South Africa
Specialty Top Producer: Allianz Partners
Highest Annual Growth: These awards acknowledge members and partners with the largest annual year-over-year growth per category.
Member winners:
Highest Cruise Annual Growth: Trevello Travel Group
Highest Tour Annual Growth: LuxeXperts
Highest On-Site Annual Growth: Civilized Adventures
Highest Specialty Annual Growth: Renshaw Travel
Partner winners:
Highest Cruise Annual Growth: Royal Caribbean International
Highest Hotels & Resorts Annual Growth: Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort, Costa Rica, by Hyatt
Highest Tour Annual Growth: Collette
Highest On-Site Annual Growth: IC Bellagio – Italy
Highest Specialty Annual Growth: Prive Jets
“Virtuoso’s global growth and evolution are driven by the incredible contributions of our members and partners, much of which happens at the regional level as we look to satisfy a diverse group of travellers and their unique preferences,” said Virtuoso Chairman & CEO Matthew D. Upchurch.
“Through our seven regional Forums worldwide, we are taking the opportunity to recognize members and partners who are elevating their professions and supporting those within this network, while also ensuring an unsurpassed client experience. We congratulate the recipients that were honoured with regional awards during our Canada Forum and thank them for their critical role in helping maintain the Virtuoso network’s collective leadership position within the industry.”

