New global partnership ready to set sail
Australia’s award-winning adventure cruise company AE Expeditions has joined forces with travel’s leading luxury network Virtuoso® as one of the newest suppliers of its exclusive global preferred partner portfolio to expand and reach a new global audience. Innovators in small-group, expedition-style travel, AE Expeditions travels to some of the most incredible places on Earth offering guests the chance to explore some of the world’s most beautiful destinations.
This remarkable ‘by-invitation-only’ partnership brings AE Expeditions together with Virtuoso’s incomparable list of travel advisors in Asia-Pacific and expands it to the more than 50 countries where Virtuoso operates. “Becoming part of Virtuoso’s global network is a milestone accomplishment for AE Expeditions,” says AE Expeditions CEO Monique Ponfoort. “We’ve been afforded the opportunity to work with their incredibly talented and reputable member agencies in other areas of the world such as the Asia-Pacific, including our home country of Australia, so adding the Global Team and its adventurous client base to the mix is a true honor for us.”
“Virtuoso is thrilled to expand our relationship with AE Expeditions to now include a reach that goes beyond our initial offerings to the Asian-Pacific market,” says Beth Butzlaff, Vice President, Global Partner Relations, Virtuoso. “Aurora’s passion for adventure, one of the leading drivers of post-pandemic travel, conservation and perspective-altering experiences, are what our advisors and their clients continue to seek out and embrace with open arms.”
“The expedition and luxury travel space has evolved in a significant way. In a new landscape where travelers are looking for more life-changing and transformative experiences, AE Expeditions helps to ignite this curiosity. Our shared value of experiential travel resonates with the Virtuoso family, making Aurora an ideal fit for our network,” said Matthew d. Upchurch, Virtuoso, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
Virtuoso travel advisors can access the AE Expeditions profile which includes voyages, pricing sheets, images, trip notes and other relevant collateral via their portal.
Traveling to awe-inspiring places including Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falklands, the Arctic (European and Canadian), Alaska, the Russian Far East, Costa Rica, Baja California and West Papua, Aurora’s unexampled adventures are led by an outstanding team of experienced expedition leaders. Soon announcing the maiden voyage of its newest ship named after world-renowned marine biologist, oceanographer and explorer Dr. Sylvia Earle, AE Expeditions joins Virtuoso’s carefully curated list of luxury travel partners including airlines, hospitality, cruise lines, tour operators and tourism boards.
About Virtuoso®
Virtuoso® is the leading international travel agency network specializing in luxury and experiential travel. This by-invitation-only organization comprises over 1,100 travel agency locations with more than 22,000 elite travel advisors in over 50 countries throughout North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. Drawing upon its preferred relationships with more than 2,000 of the world’s best hotels and resorts, cruise lines, airlines, tour companies and premier destinations, the network provides its upscale clientele with exclusive amenities, rare experiences and privileged access. (U.S.) $30 billion in annual travel sales make Virtuoso a powerhouse in the luxury travel industry.
