Global Travel Agency Network Virtuoso® Brings Its International Symposium To Buenos Aires

Leading Luxury Travel Network Hosts Industry Elite for a Multi-Day Forum Showcasing the Beauty of Buenos Aires and Highlighting the Group's Strong Relationship with Argentina

News provided by

Virtuoso

Apr 22, 2013, 02:30 ET

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, April 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Virtuoso®, the global network renowned for its ability to create exceptional luxury travel experiences for clientele, welcomes its travel agency owner members and preferred travel providers to Buenos Aires for its Symposium. Attracting more than 400 people from 33 countries, the Symposium takes place 21-25 April 2013. Symposium meetings serve to deepen the relationships of the network's agency owners with the most senior executives from the world's leading luxury travel brands and unique providers, as well as with the host destination and its curated Virtuoso travel providers; the result is the elevation of Virtuoso client experiences.

Virtuoso selected Buenos Aires from a number of potential host cities following a written invitation from the President of the Argentine Nation, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner – a direct result of the group's successful relationship with the Argentina National Institute of Tourism Promotion (INPROTUR). With the relationship now in its second year, Virtuoso has seen sales to Argentina rise by seven per cent year over year, with sales to various cities seeing substantial growth. Additionally, Argentina was named in the top-five hottest international destinations for 2013 in Virtuoso's Luxe Report, an annual survey of the network's member agencies on the latest travel trends.

"Since 2011, Virtuoso has enjoyed a successful relationship with INPROTUR, and we were deeply honored to receive a personal invitation from President Fernandez de Kirchner to hold our Symposium in Buenos Aires," said Matthew D. Upchurch, Chairman and CEO of Virtuoso. "Buenos Aires is an incredible destination, with its extraordinary culture, amazing cuisine and a beautiful way of life that really resonates with worldly travelers. INPROTUR and travel providers that belong to Virtuoso in Argentina came together to showcase their destination. This level of collaboration is the key to our selection process as it results in our network's ability to deliver richer experiences to our clients and gives our agencies' advisors the deeper contacts to make it happen."

During the four-day event, attendees will enjoy a private cocktail reception and dinner at the Bicentennial Museum, a movie premiere at the Faena Art Center, city tours, private shopping excursions, culinary experiences, tango lessons and even an inside look at Argentina's favorite sport - polo. Virtuoso preferred travel providers proudly hosting this prestigious group include Alvear Palace Hotel, Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires, Palacio Duhau – Park Hyatt Buenos Aires, Faena Hotel Buenos Aires, INPROTUR, Mai10, and Abercrombie & Kent.

This is the first time Virtuoso has held its Symposium in South America. Buenos Aires joins an impressive list of host cities, including Madrid, Spain (2011); Mexico City, Mexico (2010); Sydney, Australia (2009); Athens, Greece (2008); St. Petersburg, Russia (2007); Singapore (2006); and last year's cruise from Rome to Monte Carlo aboard Regent Seven Seas Cruises' Seven Seas Mariner (2012).

The Virtuoso network generates travel sales in excess of US $9.6 billion annually. For more information on Virtuoso, please visit www.virtuoso.com.

About Virtuoso
Virtuoso^® is the industry's leading luxury travel network. This by-invitation-only organization comprises over 340 agencies with more than 7,200 elite travel specialists in 20 countries in North and South America, the Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand, as well as over 1,700 of the world's best travel providers and premier destinations. The network's member agencies generate over $9.6 billion annually in travel sales, making the group the most powerful in the luxury travel segment. Their relationships with the finest travel companies provide the network's affluent clientele with exclusive amenities, rare experiences and privileged access. Visit www.virtuoso.com, or view Virtuoso's latest videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/VirtuosoTraveler.

Media Contacts:
Misty Ewing, CTA
Virtuoso – Director, Public Relations
Office: 212.588.8242 / Cell: 202.553.8817
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Virtuoso