Virtuoso Travel Week started live in Las Vegas. After going virtual for the first time in 2020 due to the pandemic, this year is another novelty – a hybrid event that successfully brings together thousands of travel consultants and suppliers from around the world.
The events will last from August 8th to 12th, 2021 in three hotels, the Bellagio Resort & Casino, Vdara Hotel & Spa and Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.
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The event is only open to vaccinated participants, but offers the unique one-on-one networking appointments for both personal and virtual participants. The event also features professional development opportunities as well as keynote speakers and awards, as well as recognition of its numerous advisors for their achievements.
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This year’s event began with the boom in travel after a historic dip in business in 2020. The industry has shifted to recovery mode after many months of struggling for survival.
According to the latest Virtuoso data presented during the media conference, hotel bookings have increased 122 percent and cruises are approaching 2019 levels, with bookings up 79 percent from 2020.
Even virtuoso consultants are more positive about the future: 51 percent state that they feel comfortable / confident in their business, and a majority of travel consultants in the network report that they are booking new trips with full sales again.
The trends are also changing for travel consultants and customers. People are turning back to city breaks for a vacation. Wellness retreats are being replaced by more adventurous escapes and the days of empty center seats are long gone. Travelers are also returning to Europe and space travel has become not just a dream, but a reality.
Flash surveys of travelers found that a majority (64 percent) said travel felt great again, but different. The survey also showed that trust in cruises is also growing, from 26 percent who said they would take a cruise in September 2020 to 46 percent who said they would in June 2021.
One aspect of the return to travel that Virtuoso repeatedly emphasizes during the conference is the “conscious comeback”, to which the network and its partners are dedicated. Virtuoso has published a new whitepaper on sustainability that defines the pillars of sustainability within the network and shows how the travel industry can work towards a regenerative future.
Virtuoso is also touting the success of its popular Wanderlust tool, engaging consumers through lists and converting bucket lists into bookings while customers make their travel dreams come true after almost two years at home.
