More Than 100 Direct Travel Advisors & Execs Attended Virtuoso Travel Week

Image: Pictured enjoying one of the Virtuoso Travel Week gala dinners are: (left to right) Direct Travel advisors Margaret Pagliarulo, Vinny Desousa, Paul Chin-Aleong, and Lucy Catalanotto (all of the downtown Toronto location); Stephen Smith; JoAnne Patterson from Ancaster, Ont.; Robin Dunn from Waterloo, Ont.; and Renata Grant of Direct Travel’s Toronto head office. (Photo Credit: Direct Travel)
Image: Pictured enjoying one of the Virtuoso Travel Week gala dinners are: (left to right) Direct Travel advisors Margaret Pagliarulo, Vinny Desousa, Paul Chin-Aleong, and Lucy Catalanotto (all of the downtown Toronto location); Stephen Smith; JoAnne Patterson from Ancaster, Ont.; Robin Dunn from Waterloo, Ont.; and Renata Grant of Direct Travel’s Toronto head office. (Photo Credit: Direct Travel)
Bruce Parkinson
by Bruce Parkinson
Last updated: 6:00 AM ET, Wed September 6, 2023

There was a strong showing of Direct Travel advisors at the recent Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas, with 107 advisors and members of the executive team from across North America attending the event.  

Vision Travel

Stephen Smith, Direct Travel's SVP of leisure strategy & marketing. (Photo Credit: Photo: Vision Travel)

“Virtuoso Travel Week is an annual event that allows us to continue to build relationships with the best luxury partners and peers from around the world,” said Stephen Smith, Direct’s senior vice-president of leisure strategy & marketing.

Smith says he was particularly impressed with this year’s spotlight on the impact of AI and the importance of integrating it into the travel planning process.

“We’re very focused on incorporating these advances while maintaining human connection -- which has now become even more critical.”

Topics From This Article to Explore

Featured Video

Get To Know Us Better

Advertise with UsTravelPulse Canada has been voted #1 by Travel Advisors in Canada year after year.. Let us help you connect with them.
Follow us on Social MediaDaily updates on Travel industry news and events across our social media channels stay current follow along!
Advertise with UsTravelPulse Canada has been voted #1 by Travel Advisors in Canada year after year.. Let us help you connect with them.
Follow us on Social MediaDaily updates on Travel industry news and events across our social media channels stay current follow along!

Become A Travel Expert

Upcoming Webinar
Beyond the Ship: Maximizing Pre and Post Cruise ExperiencesThursday, September 10, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Discover how to enhance the cruise experience with strategic pre and post cruise planning. Learn how...
Watch Now!
Experiential and Adventure WebinarTuesday, August 11, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Join Travel Weekly, TravelAge West, and TravelPulse in the virtual studios on August 11 for the...
Watch Now!
Close to Home, Big Opportunity: Selling Today's Domestic Travel TrendsThursday, July 30, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Join Travel Weekly, TravelAge West, and TravelPulse for a webinar exploring the growing demand for...
Upcoming Webinar
Beyond the Ship: Maximizing Pre and Post Cruise ExperiencesThursday, September 10, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Discover how to enhance the cruise experience with strategic pre and post cruise planning. Learn how...
Watch Now!
Experiential and Adventure WebinarTuesday, August 11, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Join Travel Weekly, TravelAge West, and TravelPulse in the virtual studios on August 11 for the...
Watch Now!
Close to Home, Big Opportunity: Selling Today's Domestic Travel TrendsThursday, July 30, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Join Travel Weekly, TravelAge West, and TravelPulse for a webinar exploring the growing demand for...