Virtuoso Awards Gala Names 2025’s Best Luxury Travel Brands

by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 1:30 PM ET, Fri August 15, 2025

Virtuoso, the leading global network specializing in luxury travel experiences, ended its 37th annual Virtuoso Travel Week recognizing the best luxury travel brands during its Global Awards gala this week. 

The winners were chosen via elected members of Virtuoso’s Boards and Committees and will be showcased in the host agency’s November/December issue and on Virtuoso's website. 

The winners in each category are listed below. 

• Best Airline: Delta Airlines
• Best Brand Hotel: Regent Hong Kong
• Best Independent Hotel: The Dewberry Charleston 
• Best New or Reimagined Hotel: Regent Santa Monica Beach
• Hotelier of the Year: Claudio Meli, General Manager, The Place Firenze
• Best On-site Partner: Imago Artis Travel - Italy
• Best Tour Operator: Tauck 
• Best Tourism Board: Switzerland Tourism
• Best Specialty or Insurance Provider: Travelex Insurance Services 
• Best Agency Culture (Regional): Spencer Travel Pty Ltd (Australia and New Zealand), First in Service Travel (Canada), NUBA (Latin America and the Caribbean), Pique Travel Design (United States)
• Most Admired Advisors (Regional): Donna Jones, MTA - Mobile Travel Agents (Australia), Eleanor Bell, Direct Travel (Canada), Ana Paula Pereznieto, NUBA (Latin America and the Caribbean), Devid Petlin, Flair Travel, an independent affiliate of 1000 Mile Travel Group (United States)

Virtuoso cruise awards are voted upon by Virtuoso-affiliated travel advisors. The winners are listed below in their respective categories: 

• Cruise Ambassador (Virtuoso Member): Carl Fabruada, TripMatters, an independent affiliate of Montecito Village Travel
• Cruise Ambassador (Partner Winner): Chris Austin, Explora Journeys
• Best Expedition Cruise Experience: PONANT
• Best Ocean Luxury Cruise Experience: Explora Journeys
• Best Contemporary & Premium Ocean Cruise Experience: Oceania Cruises
• Best River Cruise Experience: AmaWaterways
• Best Niche Cruise Experience: Windstar Cruises

Virtuoso selected awards are chosen internally by Virtuoso leadership. The winners are listed below: 

• The Luminary Award: Alan Fuerstman, Montage International
• Rising Stars Award (Regional): Shauna Stone, The Pelican Club (Canada), Giulia Nuzzaci, ACI Blueteam (Continental Europe),  Kan Tang, Time & Space Travel (Greater China), Cecilia Castañedo, Viajes Terranova SA de Cv (Latin America and the Caribbean), Manda Foo, Blue Sky Escapes (North and Southeast Asia), Maggie Ducam-Davies, Invilia, an independent affiliate of Little Emperors (United Kingdom and Ireland), Tara Kennedy, Meridian Miles, an independent affiliate of Jetset World Travel (United States). 
• Ruby of Siam Award: Sharon Fake, Travel Experts, Inc. 

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