Published on August 15, 2025
The world luxury recreation segment remains successful continual refinement, astir precocious underscored astatine this week’s 37th yearly Virtuoso Travel Week, wherever nan Virtuoso Global Awards formed an illuminated circle astir nan industry’s apex performers. Seen arsenic 1 of travel’s highest covenants, nan Virtuoso awards furnish an charismatic standard, recognizing some enterprises and individuals whose practices beforehand nan very meaning of luxury. Recipients comprise a balanced array—airlines, hotels, circuit operators, and cruise operators—each of whose occurrence reaffirms a wider manufacture committedness to bespoke, transformative recreation for discerning clientele.
Virtuoso’s world network, dedicated exclusively to elevated travel, perceives an inexorable displacement toward singular, immersive journeys, and nan 2023 accolades accordingly item winners that person anticipated and satisfied this request pinch originality and precision. Such nickname now transcends work alone; it celebrates nan acumen required to conceive and present pioneering offerings while navigating nan rigors of a swiftly evolving marketplace.
Award Categories and Winners:
The Virtuoso Global Awards are an yearly contented that observe excellence crossed a assortment of travel-related categories. This year’s awards were presented to companies, hotels, cruise lines, recreation advisors, and tourism boards that person had a singular effect connected nan luxury recreation sector. These awards are peculiarly meaningful because they are wished by elected members of Virtuoso’s Boards and Committees, ensuring that nan winners correspond nan very champion successful nan industry, arsenic selected by those wrong nan manufacture itself.
Best Airline: Delta Airlines
Delta Airlines was recognized arsenic nan Best Airline astatine nan Virtuoso Global Awards, a testament to its committedness to exceptional work and invention successful nan aviation industry. Delta has continuously led nan measurement successful delivering premium services to its travelers, from its Sky Club lounges to its in-flight experiences. In caller years, Delta has focused connected sustainability, modernizing its fleet pinch eco-friendly technologies, which further enhances its estimation among environmentally conscious luxury travelers.
Best Brand Hotel: Regent Hong Kong
Regent Hong Kong was awarded Best Brand Hotel, a nickname that solidifies its position arsenic 1 of nan starring luxury hotels successful Asia. The hotel’s breathtaking views of Victoria Harbour, world-class dining, and impeccable work person made it a favourite among high-end travelers. Regent’s marque is synonymous pinch luxury, and its committedness to offering a personalized acquisition is evident successful each facet of its operations.
Best Independent Hotel: The Dewberry Charleston
The Dewberry Charleston won Best Independent Hotel, a nickname that speaks to its unsocial blend of Southern elegance and modern sophistication. With its stylish interiors, exceptional service, and premier location successful Charleston’s historical district, The Dewberry has go a apical destination for luxury travelers seeking a much friendly and personalized experience. The hotel’s occurrence underscores nan increasing request for independent, boutique-style hotels that supply a chopped and immersive section experience.
Best New aliases Reimagined Hotel: Regent Santa Monica Beach
The Regent Santa Monica Beach won nan grant for Best New aliases Reimagined Hotel, reflecting its translator into a beachfront luxury destination pinch an upscale atmosphere. The edifice has go a awesome of Southern California’s laid-back elegance, offering guests a cleanable blend of modern amenities and coastal charm. Its reimagined creation and luxurious services make it a standout successful an progressively competitory marketplace of California resorts.
Hotelier of nan Year: Claudio Meli, General Manager, The Place Firenze
Claudio Meli, nan General Manager of The Place Firenze, was named Hotelier of nan Year. Meli’s activity has been instrumental successful maintaining The Place Firenze’s estimation arsenic a apical luxury edifice successful Florence. Under his stewardship, nan edifice has flourished by offering an intimate, high-touch impermanent acquisition that blends nan taste richness of Florence pinch modern luxury. This grant recognizes Meli’s unwavering committedness to excellence and his expertise to elevate nan impermanent acquisition done personalized service.
Best Tour Operator: Tauck
Tauck was awarded Best Tour Operator, a reflection of its dedication to providing exclusive, curated recreation experiences for its clients. Specializing successful guided tours that harvester taste immersion pinch luxury, Tauck offers tailored itineraries that let travelers to research nan world’s astir coveted destinations. Their expertise to supply exceptional personalized work while maintaining a attraction connected sustainability makes them a standout successful nan industry.
Best Tourism Board: Switzerland Tourism
Switzerland Tourism was named Best Tourism Board, recognized for its ongoing efforts to beforehand nan country’s divers and luxury-friendly offerings. Switzerland’s picturesque landscapes, charming cities, and high-end skis resorts person made it a favourite destination for able travelers. Switzerland Tourism’s efforts to showcase these offerings, while maintaining a attraction connected sustainability and responsible tourism, person solidified its position arsenic a world leader successful luxury recreation marketing.
Best Specialty aliases Insurance Provider: Travelex Insurance Services
Travelex Insurance Services took location nan grant for Best Specialty aliases Insurance Provider, celebrated for offering tailored recreation security products that meet nan unsocial needs of luxury travelers. With progressively analyzable recreation itineraries and destinations, Travelex provides bid of mind by offering broad sum options that guarantee high-end travelers person support successful nan arena of unforeseen circumstances.
Regional Awards for Agency Culture and Most Admired Advisors:
In summation to nan marque awards, nan Virtuoso Global Awards besides highlighted location agencies and recreation advisors who person demonstrated excellence successful work and innovation. Best Agency Culture (Regional) was awarded to Spencer Travel Pty Ltd (Australia and New Zealand), First successful Service Travel (Canada), NUBA (Latin America and nan Caribbean), and Pique Travel Design (United States). These agencies were selected for their exceptional moving cultures and their expertise to present personalized, world-class work to their clients.
The Most Admired Advisors (Regional) awards honored individual recreation advisors who person excelled successful providing luxury recreation services. This year’s recipients included Donna Jones of MTA – Mobile Travel Agents (Australia), Eleanor Bell of Direct Travel (Canada), Ana Paula Pereznieto of NUBA (Latin America and nan Caribbean), and Devid Petlin of Flair Travel (United States).
Cruise Awards:
Virtuoso’s cruise awards recognized excellence successful nan quickly increasing cruise industry. The Cruise Ambassador (Partner Winner) grant went to Chris Austin of Explora Journeys, while Best Expedition Cruise Experience was awarded to PONANT for its exceptional expedition cruise offerings. Best Ocean Luxury Cruise Experience was claimed by Explora Journeys, while Best River Cruise Experience went to AmaWaterways, which continues to group nan modular for luxury stream cruising.
Internal Virtuoso Awards:
The soul Virtuoso awards honored individuals who person made important contributions to nan luxury recreation sector. The Luminary Award was presented to Alan Fuerstman of Montage International, celebrating his transformative activity successful luxury hospitality. The Rising Stars Award recognized nan up-and-coming leaders successful nan industry, including Shauna Stone of The Pelican Club (Canada) and Tara Kennedy of Meridian Miles (United States). Finally, nan Ruby of Siam Award was fixed to Sharon Fae of Travel Experts, Inc., honoring her exceptional work and committedness to nan luxury recreation industry.
Conclusion:
The 2025 Virtuoso Global Awards highlighted nan ongoing improvement of nan luxury recreation sector, recognizing brands and individuals who proceed to raise nan barroom successful providing bespoke, exclusive experiences. As recreation continues to retrieve and accommodate to caller expectations, nan winners of nan Virtuoso awards showcase nan champion of what nan manufacture has to offer, providing luxury travelers pinch unparalleled experiences and exceptional service. These accolades not only observe nan occurrence of nan winners but besides group nan shape for early invention successful luxury travel, wherever personalization, sustainability, and work excellence are paramount.