As the 2026 Virtuoso Travel Week moves through a packed week of meetings, education and networking in Las Vegas, the luxury travel network is also recognizing the advisors and partners making an impact across the industry.
Among the week’s highlights were Virtuoso’s Community Awards, presented during the Community Globetrotting Lunch on August 8, followed by the Global Stewardship Awards at the Under One Sky lunch on August 10.
Global Stewardship Takes Centre Stage
Monday’s Under One Sky lunch marked the introduction of Global Stewardship, the evolution of Virtuoso’s sustainability work.
“These awards honor more than achievement; they reflect an important shift in how we view our collective impact,” said Jessica Hall Upchurch, Vice Chair & Head of Global Stewardship.
“Global Stewardship does not replace sustainability. It broadens the conversation, recognizing the ways each of us can help strengthen communities, support destinations and create lasting value through the choices we make every day.”
Hall Upchurch said Virtuoso’s renewed mission — “to empower our network through purpose-led travel, building resilience for people and places” — is intended to take a more action-oriented approach to the role travel can play in creating positive change.
Virtuoso Chairman & CEO Matthew D. Upchurch and Hall Upchurch presented the Global Stewardship Awards, with Fernando Cervigon of Knightsbridge Circle named the individual advisor winner and Goya Travel taking the agency honour.
Four additional awards aligned with Virtuoso’s stewardship pillars were decided by live voting during the lunch.
andBeyond Tanzania received the Planet award for its conservation and sustainability efforts, while NomadicExpeditions took the Culture award. Wilderness was recognized in the Economies category.
For the first time, Virtuoso also presented a Destination award, recognizing a tourism board creating measurable impact for local communities and environments. The inaugural honour went to the Dubrovnik Tourist Board.
The winners emerged from more than 300 nominations from across the Virtuoso network responding to the question, “What are you most proud of?” Twenty-six partner stories were previously highlighted in Virtuoso’s 2026 Impact List, released on Earth Day.
Climate and Overtourism Changing the Conversation
Virtuoso Vice President, Global Stewardship Javier Arredondo also shared findings from the network’s latest Global Stewardship Impact Report, which looks at how issues including climate, overtourism and cultural preservation are influencing travel.
Participation in the research has increased 258% since it began three years ago. This year, it includes input from 767 partners and 316 advisors across 95 countries.
Among the findings, 77% of Virtuoso members say climate is affecting their clients’ travel planning, while 66% report that clients are more interested in sustainable travel options than they were five years ago.
Virtuoso says stewardship initiatives are already widespread among participating partners: 99% have initiatives in place, 90% have dedicated teams and 86 percent hold certifications. Perhaps notably for the business case behind those efforts, 84 percent say stewardship contributes to profitability.
The conversation continued after the lunch with the premiere of Groundswell, a documentary focused on land regeneration. A panel accompanying the screening included executive producer and Ted Turner Reserves owner Laura Turner Seydel and Australian farmer Anna McMurtrie, who is featured in the film and is managing director of Virtuoso member Wentworth Travel.
Community Standouts Recognized
Earlier in the week, Virtuoso put the spotlight on the advisors and partners leading its specialized travel communities during the Community Globetrotting Lunch.
More than 900 advisors and 100 Virtuoso partners participated in this year’s Globetrotting program, which combines interactive partner presentations with networking and education.
Virtuoso’s communities span Adventure, Cruise, Culinary, Family and Celebration, Sustainability, Ultraluxe and Wellness. Advisor winners are determined by sales production within their respective communities, while advisors vote for the winning preferred partners.
In Adventure, Mary Ann Ramsey of Betty Maclean Travel, Inc. was named the top advisor, with Backroads taking the partner award.
The Cruise honours went to David and Carol Porter of Roaming Boomers Travel Services, an independent affiliate of Cadence, and AmaWaterways.
Gina Morovati of Northstar Cruises was recognized in Culinary, alongside partner winner Il Falconiere Relais & Spa, while Lisa Rubin Reich of Majestic Getaway, an independent affiliate of Gifted Travel Network, and Family Twist took the Family and Celebration honours.
In Sustainability, the winners were Jessica Griscavage of Runway Travel, an independent affiliate of Departure Lounge, and The Brando.
The Brando picked up a second partner win in the Ultraluxe category, where Beth Flowers of Brownell was named the top-producing advisor.
Rounding out the awards, Marissa Grad of travelhappier, an independent affiliate of SmartFlyer, won the Wellness advisor category, with Chenot Palace Weggis taking the partner honour.
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