Possibly the most exciting global travel show is organized annually in Las Vegas by Virtuoso Luxury Travel Advisors
Wallace Pierson Travel, the leading (and only) Virtuoso Luxury Travel Advisor on Amelia Island, is once again heading for Las Vegas, where during the annual Virtuoso Travel Week (August 8-15), they will operate business from the Bellagio Resort in Sin City.
Formerly known as The Travel Agency, Wallace Pierson Travel has been attending this famous Travel Exchange show since Virtuoso started the tradition more than a decade ago. As a member of an elite group of luxury travel advisors, Ange Wallace, Angela Pierson, Lynann Mullis, Tracy Lynch, Debbie Kellogg, Dawn Dixon and Mike Dionne will be at the top of their game while learning the latest cutting edge travel information, shopping for your next great travel project, and making the relationships that give them the ability to craft unique travel experiences for you around the world or right here in North America. For existing and new clients they will be available by cell phone and email but somewhat limited. “Feel free to call me on my cell at 904 753 4615 or email myself or your advisor,” says Ange Wallace, founder and co-owner of the agency that opened its doors on Amelia Island exactly 40 years ago.
Following is a sneak preview of the rigorous schedule and the scope of this one week ‘trip around the world’. There will be 2,118 advisors and agency owners, and over 1,888 travel suppliers including CEO’s, owners and hotel General Managers. Click on this You Tube link to get a feel for what they experience in that week!
To give you an idea of a typical week for them at this event, Ange gave us the highlight points of her week planner, noting that each of her ladies attending will have a similar, rigorous schedule!
Arrival is on Friday the 8th and the whole team will have dinner with her at Mon Ami Gabi across the street from the Bellagio, a happy tradition that has developed over the years and a great way to catch the travel mood and build energy for what’s to come.
Saturday, from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM they will all participate in the VAST Globetrotting Training. VAST stands for Virtuoso Active & Specialty Travel. During this time they meet for about 10 minutes with all of the Virtuoso Active & Specialty Travel suppliers such as Lindblad, Backroads, Micato Safaris, Natural Habitat, Arctic Kingdom, Tauck Culturious, Rocky Mountaineer and many more. Even in the lunch break education gets top priority with an update on Sustainable Tourism by Costas Christ, one of the world’s top sustainable tourism experts. No time’s a-wasted here!! At 5:00pm Ange is scheduled to go straight to the Virtuoso Reception for elected committee members and from there to a reception hosted by Nomadic Expeditions; a small travel supplier specializing in custom trips to Mongolia. After that, the private parties continue!
Continued on Sunday Ange will be on the VAST panel with another advisor and two well known travel suppliers as they all participate in break out educational seminars. Some of our ladies are doing destination training on South America or South Pacific and Australia/New Zealand. At 3:30 we will all meet for the General Session– Well over 3,000 of our best friends will attend! At 6:00pm begins the Welcome Cocktail Reception hosted by the Bellagio. Each year they supersede the year before with food, drinks and entertainment!
Monday through Friday we will all be sitting at our tables from 8:15 to 4:15 (with a few breaks and lunch) while every supplier we work with through Virtuoso streams by in 4 minute meetings to introduce us to what is new and wonderful in their world. After this from 4:25 to 5:05 each of us has three 10 minute private meetings scheduled with suppliers we need more time with. Monday night we have an amazing Destinations Dinner where we are invited by suppliers to dine with them. This year I will sit with Zegrahm Expeditions, relatively new to Virtuoso but with very inspiring programs. Have you heard of them? If not, you soon will. Tuesday night is filled with an onslaught of parties hosted by cruise lines, Preferred Hotels, and others. Wednesday is the Hotel Dinner. This is similar to the destination dinner. This time I will sit with Mukul Beach, Golf and Spa. Do you know where in the world they are?
Thursday night, our last night together for this year, we have a Grand Gala Dinner followed by the Club V After Party at the BANK!
Friday AM flights always come early after this Tour de Force! But, this year I have been invited to spend 3 nights at Miraval Spa on the way home. Have you heard of this amazing Destination SPA? Know where it is?
Guess what? This is just the bare bones of Ange’s agenda! The other 4 ladies will be doing some of the same and many different meetings and dinners. “We believe in divide and conquer,” Ange smiles
And then after they have digested everything and formatted programs and platforms, they share the results and recommendations with you on their blog site www.wallacepiersontravel.com, culminating into their own annual TEST DRIVE THE WORLD LUXURY TRAVEL SHOW (and fundraiser for The Boys and Girls Clubs of Nassau County Foundation!) which this year will be held on Nov 8th from 1-4 at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island! Please save the date and join us!
‘Til then- Travel Well!!
