Six travel agencies from around the Middle East received a golden ticket to join the exclusive Virtuoso network over the last 12 months!
Throughout 2024, only 30 travel agencies around the world were invited to join the global network of agents specialising in luxury holidays – six of which were in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE.
Virtuoso’s newest Middle Eastern members are Al Faris International Travel & Tourism Company (Saudi Arabia), Westay (United Arab Emirates), KLE Lifestyle (United Arab Emirates), Usturiun Luxury Travel (United Arab Emirates), Luxuria (Kuwait), and Q’go Travel & Tourism Company (Kuwait).
Huge congratulations to the newest Virtuoso members! This elite status unlocks exclusive perks for their clients, including insider knowledge of luxury travel hotspots, preferred rates at top hotels and resorts, room upgrades and VIP amenities, flexible check-in and check-out options, and many more unforgettable experiences, elevating their luxury travel offerings and delivering exceptional value to their discerning clients.
Cory Hagopian, Virtuoso Senior Vice President, Global Member & Partner Sales, said each new member has an outstanding industry reputation as well as valuable local market insights.
“As an exclusive, invitation-only network, Virtuoso’s global strategy focuses on prioritizing quality, continually enhancing the expertise and professionalism of the Virtuoso sales network. We are dedicated to identifying respected, like-minded agencies worldwide that appreciate the value of peer collaboration, strong partnerships and the shared brand that form the foundation of our network.” – Cory Hagopian
The Middle East’s growing presence in luxury groups such as Virtuoso is in line with the increase in luxury activities and stays around the region, as well as ever-growing demand from locals seeking high-end travel.
Over the next 12 months, the region will welcome dozens of new luxury resorts and hotels, while Saudi Arabia continues the development of its multimillion dollar high-end tourism project called The Red Sea.
Hotels and operators are also creating more luxury offerings for major events such as this year’s Iftar, and train operators in Saudi Arabia and Egypt plan five-star experiences on the rails.
Out at sea, Saudi Arabia’s first cruise line, AROYA Cruises, is planning to redefine luxury on the water, and in the air, the Middle East has seen a surge in travellers choosing private jet travel over commercial planes. During the first half of 2024 alone, around 8,472 private jets took off and touched down at Dubai’s Mohammed bin Rashid Aerospace, a 7% increase on the same period last year.
Also read: Travel agents still pivotal to luxury travel
