The inaugural Luxury Cruise Showcase, a collaboration by The Cruise Centre by Travelcall and Main Beach Travel, part of the Goldman Travel Group, took place last week at the Emporium Hotel South Bank, Brisbane.

The event hosted more than 150 cruise travellers and 11 partner cruise lines. Delivered in two sessions, the event offered attendees the chance to explore “a wide variety of luxury cruise experiences and discover their next voyage.”

“Luxury cruise is evolving, and our goal is to connect clients with experiences that truly inspire them. The event highlighted the diversity of today’s cruise experiences, from intimate river voyages to extraordinary polar explorations,” Anthony Goldman, Joint Managing Director at Goldman Travel Group said.

“We are incredibly grateful to our cruise partners for their support – their expertise and presence made this inaugural event an outstanding. It was also wonderful to integrate our newest member of the Group, Main Beach Travel, into this showcase.”

The first session, themed Find Your Perfect Cruise Match, welcomed 100 clients and new-to-cruise prospects. It featured showcases and presentations from AmaWaterways, Celebrity Cruises, Crystal, Oceania Cruises, Ponant Explorations, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Seabourn, Silversea, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Tauck, and Viking.

Guests “engaged directly with cruise specialists, explored exciting itineraries and learned about exclusive offers, with cruise presentations that highlighted stand-out destinations.”

The second session, presented in partnership with The Luxury Network, explored luxury travel more broadly with 50 clients. Highlights included a travel trends presentation by Goldman, followed by a fireside chat with Elizabeth Clarke, Director of Cruise at Goldman Travel Group, and Mandy Dwyer, Director at Main Beach Travel. The discussion explored “what it means to be a modern luxury cruise traveller and sharing insights into the latest destinations and experiences shaping the industry.”

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Luxury travel show specialist This is Beyond is entering a new phase of growth, with Founder & CEO Serge Dive confirming that the company will expand its portfolio of events following its recent acquisition by Emerald Holdings.

The deal was confirmed in March and includes the company’s series of seven events around the globe include PURE Life Experiences in Marrakesh, L.E Miami and Further East.

Speaking to LATTE at Further East in Bali last week, Dive explained that the deal provides a stronger platform for growth while maintaining the company’s long-held focus on quality, creativity and connection worldwide.

Dive confirmed he plans to stay on with the company to drive it forwards, specifying that four new shows are on the cards with launches expected in 2026, backed by the financial and operational power of the Emerald investment. And although his ongoing tenure is a condition of the acquisition, he confirmed that he is “happy to do so.”

Meanwhile, he explained that this year’s edition of Further East continues to reply on its tried-and-tested formula, with a similar mix of leading hotels and resorts and destination management companies as previous years, although with an increased presence from the cruise sector. “It’s very much about showcasing the best of the APAC region,” he said. “We aim to present the very best, the most promising properties and experiences in Asia.”

As a result, prospective exhibitors are carefully vetted to ensure they meet the show’s high standards, according to Dive. “The idea for us is that we want trade show to be more like car shows,” he shared. “When you go to a car show, you don’t want to see a bunch of used cars, you want to see the future of automobiles.”

While the 2025 edition of Further East maintained a strong turn-out of resort destinations, plans are already in motion to broaden its focus. “Next year we really want to focus more on city hotels and having a more varied experience across Asia,” Dive said. He also expects cruise to play a larger role in future shows as the sector continues to adapt to evolving definitions of luxury,

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Ownership of luxury boutique Dolphin Island Fiji has changed hands, recently returning to the original family after Huka Lodges offloaded the asset it acquired in the late 1980s.

Located off the coast of Rakiraki in the northern part of Viti Levu, the 14-acre all-inclusive Dolphin Island Fiji accommodates a maximum of eight guests in four luxurious bures. Due to its size, it is not uncommon that a booked couple will have exclusive-use of the resort.

Requiring a three-night minimum stay, the primary market for the propertry is Australian travellers, followed by guests from the United States, which since the pandemic, has overtaken the Kiwi market that’s currently experiecing a lull. European honeymooners are another strong source market, says Susan Magi, the Australian representative for Dolphin Island Fiji.

The island takes around 20 minutes to stroll around, and guests can swim directly off the beach that surrounds the island, and snorkel in the crystal clear waters. Two private islands nearby are also accessible to guests by boat for a picnic lunch.

Guests are quickly welcomed and made to feel at home by resort manager and head chef, Dawn Simpson, who has lived on the island for the past 40 years. Visitors can be as active or as relaxed as they like, with their time truly their own, Magi says.

Dolphin Island offers access to a genuine and authentic relationship with Fijian culture, making it possible for guests to immerse themselves in the kava ceremony, tapa cloth making, listen to all the amazing legends and stories passed down the generations from the village elders, enjoy the beautiful voices raised in song and join the rhythm of the drums accompanying the traditional dances.

The property is accessed from the mainland on a 10 minute boat ride from the wharf in Rakiraki. The destination itself is a scenic 2.5 hour road transfer from Nadi, passing through dozens of local Fijian communities. Land transfers are included in the rate. Guests also have the option of a 35-minute heli-transfer into and out of Dolphin Private Island, cutting the journey time down considerably.

While most bookings for Dolphin Island Fiji tend to come direct, the change in ownership has triggered a response to re-establishment ties with the trade and travel advisors directly.

Magi works directly with advisors, offering nett rates, enabling partners to set their own costs. She acts a personal concierge for travel advisors, able to provide all the answers a client may have about the resort and their stay.

Magi was in Sydney last week where she hosted an intimitate gathering of travel advisor at Cafe Sydney.

Lead image, back row from left, are: Ken Higgins, Travel Associates Mosman; Helen George, The Honeymoon Boutique; Kevin Looney, AirBnB APAC; Wendy MacFarlane, NorthShore Travel; Lisa Caldwell, Spencer Travel; Julie Li, Lux Voyages; Lynn Ormiston, Luxperience and Susan Magi, Dolphin Island Fiji.

Front row, left to right: Allan Hopper, Hopperound Cruise & Travel; Mario Paez, Plantdwellers; Anya Hollstein, Travel Associates Blues Point; Geda Selim, Envoyage Miranda; Janene Pendleton, Envoyage Drummoyne; Johnny Papas, Quintessentially Travel and Michelle Adamcewicz, HelmsBriscoe.

Contact Susan at Dolphin Private Island for enquiries at reservations@dolphinislandfiji.com.

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Virtuoso hosted its 2025 Chairman’s Event from 14 to 17 October in Los Cabos, Mexico, with the annual gathering recognising the network’s highest-performing travel agency members.

It also acted as a showcase of what the host destination has to offer upscale travellers. This year’s event took place at Grand Velas Los Cabos, an all-inclusive luxury retreat, with support from the Los Cabos Tourism Board and Virtuoso’s preferred hotels in the region.

Speaking at the event, Virtuoso Chairman and CEO Matthew D. Upchurch reflected on the group’s achievements over the last year. “When I look at the calibre of professionals within this group, I’m reminded of the power of this network,” he said.

“You are the engine behind that, and I couldn’t be prouder of what you accomplish day in and day out. This event is intended to celebrate you, and to thank you for your dedication to your clients, to Virtuoso and to the wider industry we are all part of.”

Key network data, shared by Executive Vice President of Strategic Communications David Kolner, revealed that future leisure sales are projected to increase by 24%, with high-value bookings of US$50,000 or more expected to rise by 36%. Year-to-date sales for January through September 2025 showed a 13% year-on-year increase.

Kolner also highlighted findings from Virtuoso’s 2026 Luxe Report, noting that 67% of advisors anticipate increased travel demand in 2026, while 66% expect higher client spending.

Overall, the event saw the network welcome 133 agency owners and managers from nine regions around the world for four days of relationship-building and destination immersion. The program opened with a welcome reception on 14 October, with attendees taking part in immersive activities designed to highlight the region’s best offerings.

The “Design Your Day” program included paddleboarding to the Arch of Cabo San Lucas, participating in a farming workshop at Paradero Todos Santos, hiking and bird-watching in Sierra de la Laguna, and meditation and sound healing sessions at Monte Cardón. A special dine-around excursion invited guests to explore culinary offerings at eleven of Virtuoso’s preferred hotels in the area.

Business and networking were also central to the event. The business session, led by Virtuoso’s Senior Leadership Team, provided updates on industry insights and network developments.

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Quark Expeditions with Heritage Expeditions have wrapped up their regional roadshows across the eastern seaboard.

Committed to supporting agencies in regional areas, the teams held interactive and informative sessions that explored, celebrated, and wowed agents with the exotic cultures, wildlife and scenery these hard-to-reach destinations offer.

Understanding Puffins over Penguins, what the Ross Sea offers comparative to the Peninsular, how warm water expeditions in Japan give a unique cultural insight, to the Inuit communities of the High Canadian Arctic – travel advisors came away informed, inspired and armed with the tools to sell these unique and incredible products with ease.

As always, a little bit of first-hand knowledge goes a long way, and four lucky advisers have won places on Heritages Expeditions’ Japan departure in 2026, and Quark Expeditions’ Svalvard departure in 2026.

The winning advisers to experience a Heritage Expedition voyage to Japan are Dominic Wolton from Endeavor Cruise & Travel Cairns and Kyle Barney from Gallivanter Travel Townsville.

The winning advisers to experience a Quark Expedition voyage to Svalbard are Johanna Anderson from italk Travel The Junction NSW and Jodie Quigley from TravelManagers.

These informative sessions will take place again in 2026.

Lead image: Sarah-Louise Scales, Chris Catanzariti, Travis Graham

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Cunard recently welcomed 10 travel advisors from Australia and New Zealand aboard for a seven-night Mediterranean voyage, offering them a first-hand experience of “The Cunard Difference”.

Departing from Barcelona and concluding in Istanbul, the journey immersed agents in Cunard’s Mediterranean offering, which has gained popularity among Australian and New Zealand fly-cruise travellers.

The itinerary featured a blend of shore excursions and onboard activities designed to enhance the advisors’ understanding of Cunard’s unique positioning in the cruise market.

Onshore, guests explored the rich cultural heritage of Türkiye, including stops in Kusadasi and Istanbul. Highlights included visits to historic landmarks such as the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque and the bustling Spice Bazaar.

Onboard, the group enjoyed a range of signature Cunard experiences. A fine dining event hosted by Michelin-starred chef Nathan Outlaw offered a taste of culinary excellence, while an exclusive tour of the luxurious Grills suites showcased the brand’s premium accommodation options.

The voyage also included a host of standout moments: Champagne High Tea; two glamorous Gala Evenings and a silent disco; dining at the Lido Alternative restaurant Bamboo and the Steakhouse at The Verandah; and a bridge tour hosted by the Staff Captain.

Participants also took part in Cunard’s Insights Program, featuring engaging talks from prominent speakers such as Heather Morris, author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, international crime expert Malcolm Nelson, and Paul Madden, former British High Commissioner to Australia, who reflected on the Gallipoli campaign.

The hosted voyage comes as Cunard continues to bolster its presence in the Mediterranean. By 2027, the majority of its fleet will be based in Europe for the Northern summer season.

In a recent development, Queen Elizabeth will return to the Mediterranean for the first time in a decade, while Queen Victoria will shift to Southampton to operate extended European itineraries.

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Set against the breathtaking beauty of Intercontinental Hayman Great Barrier Reef Resort, this year’s Savenio Symposium was a celebration of growth, resilience and the thriving spirit of the Savenio community.

This year, the network has reached 50 members, with ongoing emphasis on quality over quantity and a commitment to building a close-knit, values-aligned network. Advisors are selected not only for their sales potential but for their community mindset, luxury clientele, and long-term vision, according to Founder David Brandon.

Held over two nights, the event brought together top advisors, leadership, and partners for a luxurious and inspiring retreat that celebrated excellence while looking toward the future of high-end travel.

Discussions during the symposium also touched on key industry trends, with presentations from representatives of key partner companies including Silversea, Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Innstant Travel.

The fun is set to continue for those who qualified for the 2025 Savenio Leaders Circle. Attendees will proceed from Hayman to Hamilton Island where they will be treated to a curated itinerary that showcased the best of the Whitsundays from their new base at The Sundays.

New qualification criteria for the 2026 Savenio Leaders Circle were unveiled, focused on performance, engagement, and alignment with preferred supplier relationships.

Brandon also confirmed Queenstown as the venue of next year’s Savenio Symposium at the conclusion of today’s Travel Mart sessions. The 2026 event will take place on 11 and 12 October.

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Luxperience has experienced significant growth in both partner and advisor participation this year, marking a notable expansion in the international luxury travel marketplace. The event has seen a substantial increase from 120 to 152 partners, representing 20% growth. Notably, 65% of these partners are new, bringing fresh international representation from regions such as Sri Lanka, Rwanda, Fiji, New Caledonia and Tahiti.

The travel advisor segment has also seen impressive growth, expanding from 170 to 200 participants, with 70% being new to the event. This influx of new advisors reflects the event’s growing reputation and appeal in the luxury travel industry. Organisers have been strategic in their approach, working with diverse consortia to broaden their network.

Lynn Ormiston, Event Director of Luxperience says key to this expansion is the involvement of new international groups. Little Emperor, a UK-based consortia, is expanding into the Asia Pacific region and has a presence at the 3-day event which concludes today. Another new addition is 360 Private Travel, indicating the event’s ability to attract emerging players in the luxury travel market. Discussions w

Advisors LATTE spoke to at Luxperience said they greatly valued the 15-minute one-on-one discussions with suppliers, many of whom they rarely, if ever, have met face-to-face. The quarter-hour appointments enable greater two-way communication between the advisors and suppliers.

The event’s success is not just in numbers, but in the quality of participants. The organisers have been selective, with all advisors applying and being carefully curated. The side events, including pre- and post-event family to destinations like Queenstown, New Zealand, the Kimberley on WA’s Northwest, and Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef, add significant value to the participant experience.

The collaboration with LATTE Luxury News has been particularly well-received, aligning strategies and bringing fresh guest presenters during the ‘Indulge & Inspire’ workshops, featuring Nolan Burris (an industry veteran of 46 years and long-serving contractor with Signature Travel Network), speaking on professional fees, and Adele Elesio from The Champagne Mile who presented her ‘playbook’ on airline, hospitality and credit card loyalty programs.

“Luxury travel is an always evolving space, and Luxperience is the place where advisors can have those engaging conversations, meet with senior executives and brand representatives, and really get to know a product, a service or a destination, while upskilling.”

Ormiston is optimistic about future growth for the annual multi-day show, with strong early indications for the 2026 event and many keen to sign, including potential new European participants.

The growth of the local event demonstrates Luxperience’s position as a key networking platform in the luxury travel industry in Australia and New Zealand, successfully bringing together international suppliers and advisors in a dynamic, expanding marketplace.

Luxperience 2025 kicked off in style with a lavish party hosted on Tuesday evening at the Museum of Contemporary Art, overlooking Circular Quay, the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The event brought together the nearly 400 advisors and suppliers, where they mingled over beverages and canapés and a glorious Sydney spring evening.

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1000 Mile Travel Group (1000MTG) has announced its top-performing Australian travel advisors for the 2025 financial year, which it described as “record-breaking”.

The financial year was packed with major sales milestones and standout achievements across corporate and leisure travel, according to the independent network. In a standout performance, 20% of the group’s Australian advisors achieved over $4 million in sales.

“FY25 has been a defining year for our business,” said Nicola Veltman, 1000MTG CEO. “These results demonstrate not only the commercial success of our advisors, but also the power of a supportive, flexible, and future-focused model. We’re building something truly special at 1000MTG—and it’s our advisors who are leading the way.”

This year’s top performers were recognised across several categories, celebrating excellence in corporate, leisure, team collaboration, and rising talent.

Sam Rowe was named Top Corporate Expert, recognised for his “strategic insight, dedication to his clients, and consistently strong performance.” With more than 20 years in the industry, Rowe has established himself as a leader in SME corporate travel.

In the leisure category, Kurt Hufer emerged as Top Leisure Expert. His “commitment to service, deep destination knowledge, and impressive business growth” in high-end and sports-focused travel set him apart, according to 1000MTG

The Top Team award went to Emily Davidson and Stephanie McDonald of The Travel Team. Their “outstanding collaboration, client-focused mindset, and commercial success” earned them top honours within the global network.

After joining 1000MTG just over a year ago, Ben Jenke was awarded Rising Star for his “strong sales results, a proactive approach, and a clear commitment to growing his business.”

Meanwhile, Amy Crossland received the title of Most Engaged Expert for her significant contributions to the 1000MTG community. “Amy has gone above and beyond—delivering self-ticketing and Sabre training to fellow advisors, helping to boost their confidence and independence in booking workflows,” the company said.

“These results are not only impressive, they reflect the quality and professionalism of our advisor community,” said Lauren Gray, General Manager – Australia. “To see such strong performance from both long-established and new advisors shows that our model is working, our support is meaningful, and our network is thriving.”

The winners will attend a Top Achievers Trip to New Zealand in October 2025, supported by Air New Zealand, Rosewood Kauri Cliffs, and Horizon by SkyCity.

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Ahead of ILTM North America’s welcome reception, officially kicking off the conference at Baha Mar this week, Proud Experiences took the stage to discuss LGBTQ+ travel. In an ongoing series by LATTE U.S. covering the topic, one of the things brought up was that most often LGBTQ+ travel discussions and marketing only centres around the first two letters – standing for lesbian and gay. Following a drag queen performance, Haisley Smith, SVP, Partner Relations, Internova Travel Group, and Kimberly Wilson Wetty, Founder and CEO of Keep Wondering Why, had a conversation, with the latter provided firsthand insight into the “T” and “Q” of that acronym.

Life Lessons From a Parent

Wilson, who shared that one of her children is trans, spoke to attendees about her child’s experiences – as a person and as a traveller – as well as her own – as a mother and former luxury travel advisor executive, and relayed the lessons she’s learned from their shared experiences.

Wilson spoke about when her child had told her about her transition. She said, “As a parent, you want to have the answers. You want to be the strong one. You want to be there for your children.” But she found that – in this instance – she didn’t have all the answers. And that was OK.

A major theme of the conversation was that it’s OK to make a mistake. The important part is learning from it and trying harder the next time.

“I needed to learn to make mistakes,” Wilson said. “I needed to learn to ask questions and listen to what Ash (her child, who is transgender and describes themselves as nonbinary and queer) was going through.”

Since then, Wilson has made it her mission to spread awareness about the challenges facing trans people, both while travelling and in society.

Why Spreading the Word Is Crucial

The conversation, she said, is important because there’s increasingly smaller odds that a luxury travel advisor today won’t have a trans client. Whether it’s the paying client themselves, a child of theirs or someone within their travel party. In other words: it’s something that can’t be ignored.

The good news: there are plenty of non-intrusive ways to broach this conversation with your clients, should they not bring it up outright. “We’re so good, as travel advisors, at asking for a million details – from what thread count do you want on your sheets to what bottle of water [do you like]. But are we asking, ‘What are your pronouns’ and what are their preferences when they want to check in,” said Wilson, giving the term “Mx.” as an example.

When a repeat client comes in, you can ask if any forms or information on their family needs to be updated; if they have anything to share, they will appreciate that you gave them this opportunity to approach the conversation.

Advisors must also consider safety when sending trans clients abroad – even more so than for other clients. Wilson explained: “Not all destinations are friendly to this community, and it’s our responsibility as advisors to make sure that we are recommending places that fit for everybody in the family.”

Wilson offered up two other pieces of advice to advisors. One: educate yourself and train your staff. Small improvements are better than none. And, two: “Don’t make it awkward [for the client] … it’s who they are.”

For those looking to learn more, Wilson recommended the IGLTA (International LGBTQ+ Travel Association) and Out of Office Travel.

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