virtuoso travel agents new zealand

Not just ...a travel agent

Your Virtuoso Agency

“Specialists in the art of travel”

North Shore Business Travel is proud to be one of a select few Virtuoso agencies within in New Zealand and the only location on Auckland’s North Shore.

Global Connections: With personal contacts at over 2,200 elite airlines, cruise lines, hotels, resorts, and premier destinations worldwide, as your Virtuoso affiliated travel advisor we put our relationships to work for you.

We draw upon our own first-hand experiences when curating and customizing your personal travel experiences. Our clients receive VIP recognition when booking any of the worlds finest hotels, resorts, spas, cruise lines in the Virtuoso portfolio.

Customised Travel Experiences: From weekend getaways to trips of a lifetime, counting on our expertise ensures your travel experiences are more meaningful.

Confidence: When you book with North Shore Business Travel, you will rest easy knowing your personal preferences are reflected in every aspect of each vacation experience – designed especially for you.

Luxury accommodation

• You will enjoy preferred rates and availability
• Breakfast for two daily during your stay
• Food & Beverage, Resort/Spa credit per stay
• Room upgrade and early check-in and late checkout – subject to availability
• You will also receive an exclusive Virtuoso amenity to make your stay even more memorable.

Cruising – Voyager Club

Voyager Club offers exclusive, free amenities and experiences that other travellers can only dream about. We can help you find one of the hundreds of sailings each year that offer Voyager Club benefits. When you sail with Voyager Club, you receive:

• A dedicated onboard host who will be available throughout your sailing.
• A private welcome-aboard cocktail reception where your host will introduce you to fellow Voyager Club travellers, helping to make connections and build friendships.
• An exclusive shore excursion , such as VIP access to a venue, performance, or experience not available to the general public, or a full-day event that immerses you in local culture. Your travel Advisor can also arrange an alternative experience, like a special gift or shipboard credit on select dates.
• Access to our car and driver program on select Voyager Club sailings for more flexibility. Use your private car and driver to explore a different destination at your own pace.

You can keep updated with the latest specials and offers via these Publications:

Virtuoso Life

Published six times a year, spotlights luxury cruising, top vacation destinations, hotel and resort stays, cultural tours, secret spare treats, and custom itineraries around the globe. Every issue is designed to surprise and delight even the most experienced traveller.

If you would like to receive your own personal copy, please register .

Virtuoso Escapes

A bi-monthly electronic newsletter highlighting exclusive deals around the world.

Best of the Best

This comprehensive book lists nearly 1,000 hotels, properties, and destinations that Virtuoso Advisors have chosen specifically for unique settings, extraordinary service, and top-drawer amenities. Published once a year.

Voyage Affaires is an exclusive member of Virtuoso, an invitation only club of elite international travel agencies, providing direct access to the world's most prestigious hotels, resorts, cruise lines and tour companies

As a member of Virtuoso, Voyage Affaires can secure exclusive client privileges and recognition including hotel upgrades, special amenities and unique preferred client services.

As a Virtuoso travel agency, Fora grants travelers access to perks at more than 2,000 hotels around the world, with 60+ brands like Aman, Ritz-Carlton and Mandarin Oriental.

What is Virtuoso?

A household name in the luxury travel industry, Virtuoso is a high-end global hotel consortium. By booking your trip with a Fora Advisor, you’re granted Virtuoso travel benefits at thousands of hotels worldwide — from Nashville to New Zealand.

Learn why booking with a Fora Advisor is better than all the other booking methods — including online travel sites.

What perks do you get with Virtuoso?

By booking with Fora, you’ll automatically receive benefits at all Virtuoso hotels & resorts worldwide, such as perks & upgrades.

The BEST ROOMS

Vip treatment, virtuoso benefits , perks vary by property, but may include:.

Daily full breakfast in-room or hotel restaurant (varies by property).

Virtuoso-only amenities (i.e. resort / food & beverage credit, etc.)

Preferred rates.

Room upgrade upon arrival.

Early check-in and late checkout.

Featured Virtuoso Properties

1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge

1 Hotels brings its eco-minded ethos to this waterfront perch in Brooklyn Heights with killer views of the Bridge, East River and Manhattan skyline.

$100 food / beverage credit.

Breakfast daily.

Upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.

One&Only Reethi Rah

Live in luxury at this oasis in the Maldives, with spacious secluded villas and 360-degree ocean views.

A serene stay high above the city, with Aman’s signature faultless service, ryokan-style rooms and a zen-like spa.

$100 hotel / resort credit.

How To Book Virtuoso

When you book your stay with a Fora Advisor, you’ll automatically have Virtuoso perks applied to your stay at no extra cost.

Book with Fora

Tell us more about yourself to get matched with a Fora Advisor and start planning your dream trip today.

Virtuoso FAQs

What are virtuoso travel agencies.

Virtuoso is a high-end global hotel consortium. When booking with participating Virtuoso travel agencies like Fora, travelers are granted top-tier perks at its 2,000+ hotels.

How does Virtuoso travel work?

By booking your Virtuoso hotel with a Fora Advisor , you automatically access all the perks Virtuoso has to offer (VIP upgrades, spa credits, complimentary breakfast, the works...).

Do Virtuoso travel agencies offer the best rates on hotels?

Fora Advisors (all of whom are Virtuoso travel advisors) offer the best available hotel rates. Some Virtuoso travel agencies may charge a premium on top of your accommodation charges. Your Fora Advisor can provide more details.

What hotels and properties are partnered with Virtuoso?

Thousands of hotels and resorts around the world participate in Virtuoso travel, including notable brands like The Ritz-Carlton and Waldorf Astoria. Connect with Virtuoso travel agencies like Fora to learn which properties offer benefits at your chosen destinations.

What benefits and amenities can you expect when booking with a Virtuoso travel agency?

There are many benefits to booking with Virtuoso travel agencies like Fora. Among the more common perks are complimentary daily breakfast for two, early check-in and late check-out times, room upgrades, hotel and resort credits and more. 

Property-specific benefits like spa vouchers, complimentary meals and more may also be available.

Are there Virtuoso travel benefits for cruises and tours? Or just hotels and resorts?

In addition to hotel perks, Virtuoso travel agencies such as Fora offer benefits for cruises and tours, too. Speak with your Fora Advisor to learn about all the Virtuoso travel benefits available at your destination.

Is there a minimum stay requirement to obtain Virtuoso travel benefits?

Dozens of hotel brands participate in Virtuoso, each with their own policies. Your Fora Advisor will check if there are any minimum (or maximum) reservation limits placed on Virtuoso travel benefits.

Do you need a membership to book Virtuoso hotels?

Only travel advisors belonging to Virtuoso agencies (i.e. Fora Advisors) can book accommodations at hotels or resorts participating in the Virtuoso program. All you have to do to enjoy these perks is chat with a Fora Advisor .

Can you earn loyalty points when booking through a Virtuoso travel agency?

It depends on the loyalty program, but many brands allow you to earn points when booking through an advisor belonging to a Virtuoso agency (i.e. a Fora Advisor). Your Fora Advisor can offer more details.

Do Virtuoso travel agencies bill you or do the hotels? Are there fees to use Virtuoso travel?

While some Virtuoso travel agencies or agents may bill you on top of hotel charges, Fora Advisors typically do not charge for hotel reservations. Advisors may, however, charge you for additional services (like planning your itinerary).

How do you book with a Virtuoso travel advisor?

Booking Virtuoso is as simple as contacting a Fora travel advisor . 

Not only do Fora Advisors offer the best available rates and benefits (being a Virtuoso travel agency), but they can also help you with all your travel needs, from recommendations on hip restaurants and unique experiences, to booking all your arrangements.

Home » News » Virtuoso ANZ Forum: Award winners, trends, outlook and more revealed!

Virtuoso ANZ Forum: Award winners, trends, outlook and more revealed!

Virtuoso concluded its annual Australia & New Zealand Forum, which took place on the 12th and 13th of March at the Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok.

The gathering brought together more than 200 attendees, including the owners and managers from Virtuoso’s travel agency members in Australia and New Zealand and preferred partners from around the world. During the two-day event, attendees participated in curated professional development, taking part in courses designed to enhance business practices.

Topics ranged from adopting strategies for achieving work-life balance and effective storytelling to harnessing the power of AI and developing a luxury strategy to take their business to the next level. Additionally, participants engaged in one-on-one networking appointments with partners.

The opening session began with Virtuoso chairman and CEO Matthew D. Upchurch addressing the audience by describing “the power of together,” an idea in which collaboration is the threshold for success.

Upchurch stated, “New management research on how to best succeed in an accelerating world emphasizes that the sharing of data and skills is a way to create shared value. But this isn’t new for Virtuoso. We’ve done this with our ever growing database, via our innovation teams, our boards and committees, professional development offerings, targeted brand marketing campaigns and more, all of which create new capabilities for our network and enhance ROI. The common connection in all of this is data, and every increment adds value.”

Moving on to the topic of AI, a tool Upchurch supports as an aid to the travel advisor profession rather than a substitute, he said, “Travel advisors are motivated and constant learners, and they know how to surprise and delight travellers through personalisation and the power of relationships. New technologies shouldn’t be adopted to replace the human touch, but rather to enhance it. AI may be leading the online ‘age of distrust,’ but I also believe it will make trust and human connection even more valuable.”

Following Upchurch, Virtuoso’s GM of Australia and New Zealand, Fiona Dalton shared a recap of last year’s network sales and achievements as well as an optimistic outlook for 2024. Among the highlighted statistics, the region’s preferred partner sales in 2023 increased by 95 percent compared to 2022, and the forecast for leisure tourism for the region in 2024 was an increase of 26 percent. In 2023, the network organised 15 events in Australia and New Zealand, attracting over 1,300 advisors and more than 300 preferred partners, which facilitated 35,452 connections and 3,319 hours of networking.

In professional development, Dalton highlighted the 10,044 training modules completed by Virtuoso advisors in the region, an increase of 318 percent from 2022 and a testament to the heightened focus on elevating Virtuoso advisors through education and engagement. Dalton also shared findings from Virtuoso’s network pulse survey, in which 84 percent of Australian and New Zealand members and 79 percent of partners said they currently feel optimistic about their future business.

During the General Session on the event’s final day, Virtuoso unveiled several key initiatives for Australian and New Zealand members, including a new ‘Marketing for Marketers’ full-day course slated to launch in 2024. This course aims to assist member agency marketing managers in better leveraging Virtuoso’s marketing assets to drive increased high-net-worth client inquiries.

Also announced at the General Session were three professional development milestones for the region:

• The addition of luxury travel doyenne Claudia Rossi Hudson as a mentor and facilitator for the Virtuoso Certified Travel Advisor (VCTA) accreditation course
• The first-ever Study Tour for Australian and New Zealand advisors to Canada in September 2024, supported by Destination Canada
• The premiere of two new Deep Dive courses in the region in 2024 in response to member demand: Sales Success, Elevate your Client Process and The Luxury Advisor: Adaptability to Manage Availability

The event ended with the announcement of the destination for the 2025 Virtuoso Australia & New Zealand Forum, to be held in Perth / Boorloo.

“We’re thrilled to collaborate with Tourism Western Australia to bring our Forum event to Perth in 2025, showcasing the city’s captivating beauty and its picturesque surroundings. The highly anticipated annual event promises to be a transformative gathering fostering learning, sharing and empowerment,” said Virtuoso’s incoming GM, Australia and New Zealand Greg Treasure.

Regional Virtuoso Awards Winners

Virtuoso announced the winners of its regional Virtuoso Awards last night. The awards honour Virtuoso   members and partners that elevate the travel industry and create memorable experiences for luxury travellers in Australia and New Zealand. They set the standard in their given category and were recognised based on their sales volume and engagement within the Virtuoso  network.

The awards ceremony took place during Wednesday evening’s elegant gala dinner. The Australia and New Zealand  Virtuoso  Awards categories and winners were:

Southern Cross Award:  The Southern Cross Award recognises one member that goes above and beyond in engagement, activism, advocacy, sponsorship and promotion of Virtuoso  Australia and New Zealand. 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:  Anthony Goldman, Goldman Travel Corporation

Most Engaged: T his award recognises a member and a partner with the highest engagement based on participation within the  Virtuoso  network.

             Member winner:  Goldman Travel Corporation

             Partner winner:  Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Top Producers:  These awards honour members and partners with the highest overall network sales per category.

             Member winners:     

                        Cruise Top Producer:  Travel Associates

                        Hotels & Resorts Top Producer:  Goldman Travel Corporation

                        Tour Top Producer:  MTA – Mobile Travel Agents

                        On-Site Top Producer:  Frontier Travel

Partner winners:       

                        Cruise Top Producer:  Viking

                        Hotels & Resorts Top Producer:  Kamalaya Koh Samui

                        Tour Top Producer:  Island Escapes

                        On-Site Top Producer: The Tailor – Australia

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:  Spencer Travel Pty Ltd

                        Highest Hotels & Resorts Annual Growth:  Jigsaw Travel

                        Highest Tour Annual Growth:  MTA – Mobile Travel Agents

                        Highest On-Site Annual Growth:  Frontier Travel

                        Highest Cruise Annual Growth:  Silversea

                        Highest Hotels & Resorts Annual Growth:  The St. Regis New York

                        Highest Tour Annual Growth:  50 Degrees North – Norway, Finland and Iceland

                        Highest On-Site Annual Growth:  Canada by Design powered by Discover Holidays

“As Virtuoso continues to evolve and expand globally, we are using our Forums around the world to recognise stand-out members and partners within a given market for their contribution to the network,” said Virtuoso chairman & CEO Matthew D. Upchurch.

“We congratulate those who received regional Virtuoso Awards during the Australia & New Zealand Forum. Their dedication and engagement with Virtuoso are paramount to our continued success as a leader within the luxury travel industry.”

Virtuoso ANZ Outlook

The  Virtuoso AUNZ network experienced a sales increase of 17 percent in 2023 compared to the previous year, reaching record levels. Additionally, Virtuoso ’s preferred partner sales from its Australia and New Zealand advisors soared by an impressive 95 percent in 2023.

Cruise Sales Lead the Way

Analysing the 2023 preferred partner sales by type, cruising emerged as travel frontrunner.

• Cruise: +60 per cent
• Tour: +21 per cent
• On-site (destination management companies): +17 per cent
• Hotel: +15 per cent

Ocean Cruising Comes Out on Top in 2023 vs. 2022

• Ocean Luxury: +67 per cent
• Ocean Premium: +66 per cent
• River: +52 per cent
• Contemporary: +43 per cent
• Expedition: +12 per cent

Average Booking Window Increases

The booking window in 2023 increased by more than 8 percent from the 117-day average seen in 2022, reaching an average of 126 days.

International Sales Revert to 2019 Levels

Leisure hotel production at international destinations soared to 90 percent in the first half of 2023 and held steady through the remainder of the year, highlighting the shift from domestic to international travel.

The Future Looks Promising, Particularly in Cruise

• In 2023, future sales in the AUNZ region increased by 95 per cent compared to 2022, with the cruise sector witnessing a notable 51 per cent rise over 2022 figures.
• A robust 84 per cent of Virtuoso members within Australia and New Zealand expressed optimism about the future, surpassing the global average of 81 per cent.
• Similarly, 79 per cent of Virtuoso partners in the region share this positive outlook, compared to the global average of 73 per cent.
• Within specific sectors, optimism is notably high among cruise partners at 86 per cent, exceeding the global average of 73 per cent, followed closely by on-site partners at 83 per cent, tour operators at 80 percent and tourism boards at 75 per cent.

This just in:  Below are additional travel insights per the  Virtuoso  2024 Brand and Travel Trend Tracker, a proprietary study conducted with YouGov .

Australians Seek Serenity

When it comes to motivations for leisure travel, Australians are most interested in relaxation and disconnecting from the wider world.

• Relaxation/Disconnecting
• Romantic Getaways
• Cultural Experiences
• Celebrations
• Nature/Eco-Tourism

Complimentary Perks and Exclusive Benefits Win Over  Virtuoso  Travellers

The most appealing aspects of  Virtuoso  according to select responders in Australia and New Zealand are:

• Complimentary perks and upgrades: 40 per cent (surpassing the global average of 34 per cent)
• Special benefits and values: 39 per cent (exceeding the global average of 31 per cent)
• Advisors’ first-hand experience: 29 per cent (at parity with the global average of 30 per cent)

This year marks 20 years of  Virtuoso ’s operations in Australia and New Zealand.

Email the Travel Weekly team at [email protected]

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Top Tour Operators and Travel Agencies in New Zealand 2024/2025

Top Tour Operators and Travel Agencies in New Zealand. Below you will find 18 of the best tour operators and travel agencies in New Zealand offering in total 116 tours and holidays through-out New Zealand. Combined they have received 103 customer reviews and an average rating of 5 out of 5 stars. The top tour activities offered in New Zealand are: Adventure and sport, Sightseeing, attractions, culture and history & Wildlife, landscapes and nature.

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Three-quarters of Virtuoso travel agency member owner/managers in Australia and New Zealand are planning to hire additional full-time staff for their businesses in 2024, a new report has found.

According to an Outlook Survey compiled of attendees at the recent Virtuoso Forum AU/NZ in Bangkok, only 7 percent of respondents to the flash poll said they were “not planning any hiring for this year”.

75% said they would be adding advisors to their teams, while 27% said they would be employing Independent Contractors. Thirteen percent said they would be building up their Management Staff, while a further 41% indicated they would add further Support Staff. (Respondents were able to select all fields that applied to them).

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Virtuoso’s Preferred Partners (suppliers) were also gauged on their hiring demands in 2024, with 64% of them saying they require Support Staff and 22% are needing Management Staff. Some 20% said they were not hiring in 2024, while 2% said they were ‘concerned about furloughing or laying off staff’, a response not raised by travel agency owner/managers.

In reference to their outlook on Agency Sales for 2024, all member agencies expected bookings levels to be about the same as last year or better.

Forty-five percent of agency owner/managers foreshadowed sales would increase by 11-20% compared to 2023, a further 23% tipped sales bookings to be between 21-50% better off, while 6% estimated sales to be 50% or higher. Revenue in 2024 was flagged to increase between 11-20% by 38% of those agency owner/managers.

Preferred Partners indicated that their number of 2024 sales which would be 50% or more higher than last year, which was nearly three times that of the agency owner/managers, with 17%. A minor 3% of suppliers believed their company’s 2024 sales would be down on last year.

Meanwhile, David Kolner, Virtuoso’s Executive Vice President , highlighted at the 2024 AUNZ Forum that the luxury travel network’s members in Australia and New Zealand had increased their sales in 2023 by 16.9% (compared to 2022), to a new record benchmark. That result also saw a solid 95.3% rise in Preferred Partner sales in 2023.

Preferred sales were highest in the air segment (at 70.7%), reflecting the number of air partnerships and agreements Virtuoso has in place; followed by cruising (at 60.4%). The volume of preferred partner sales in 2023 through Tour, On-Site (DMC) and Hotel partners were less than 21%, while ‘Service’ preferred sales went backwards – down 4.1% on 2022.

Kolner also noted the average booking window for Virtuoso travel advisors in Australia and New Zealand in 2023 had increased from 117 days in 2022 to 126 days (7.7%). As a comparison, Virtuoso’s US agencies witnessed a booking window extension of 10.9%, whereas Canada is now 14.3% further out.

The US-based Virtuoso executive shared that 81% of agency members globally are feeling ‘optimistic’ about their business right now, down from around 87% 12 months ago. Based on the Global Pulse Survey from January 2024, the number of Virtuoso members now feeling ‘neutral’ or ‘unsure’ about their business increased to 18% from about 12% last January.

That said, 84% of members in Australia and New Zealand are the most ‘optimistic’ for the network among its eight regions – which also include the USA (83%), Latin America/Caribbean (80%), Canada (78%), UK/Ireland (76%), Middle East & Africa (75%) and Continental Europe (73%) and Asia (70%).

On the Partners front, Virtuoso’s suppliers in Canada were most optimistic at 87%, followed by Australia (79%), then Latin America/Caribbean (78%), Continental Europe (75%), and UK/Ireland at 71%).

Kolner also offered insight from member agencies and preferred partners on the extent their current businesses support their well-being, enabling them to maintain a ‘fulfilling work & personal life’. While the number of agencies globally that felt ‘extremely fulfilled’ slipped one percentage point to 36% in January 2024 (compared to July 2023), the ratio of agencies in AU/NZ that also felt ‘extremely fulfilled’ skyrocketed from 21% six months earlier to 37% in January. Whereas the number of Aussie and Kiwi agencies that felt ‘extremely unfulfilled’ dropped from 4% to just 1%.

Virtuoso’s latest Market Trend update also looked at a range of inclinations Virtuoso is watching, including High Value Traveller: travel, sustainability and using advisor motivators. More on that in LATTE to come.

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