Worlds Leading Luxury Travel Network, forms Partnership with New Zealands First Travel Group

Global CEO and Chair heads to New Zealand for Announcement

Auckland (16 February) - The worlds leading luxury travel network, Virtuoso, has established a new strategic partnership that will see the group increase its members in 2015.

With more than 9,000 travel advisors around the globe, Virtuoso has a turnover in excess of USD $14 billion in annual travel sales and has announced the First Travel Grouppartnership as part of its ongoing global expansion, which will see further growth into Asia throughout 2015.

In keeping with our commitment to expand the Asia-Pacific markets, we are delighted to welcome First Travel Group into our network. Its reputation and commitment to servicing the client whilst delivering high-end, experiential travel mirrors our own, and we look forward to working together to co-create a network that benefits advisors and travellers alike, Virtuoso CEO and Chairman, Matthew D. Upchurch said.

First Travel Group is New Zealand's leading independent travel alliance specialising in high-end leisure and corporate travel.

We are delighted to enter this valuable partnership, which allows for a joint focus on creating customer value whilst maintaining independence and local market flavour, First Travel Groups Managing Director, Andrew Bowman said.

New Zealands travel agency elite, First Travel Group members Voyage Affaires and North Shore Business Travel, have been Virtuoso members for more than 10 years and this foundation in the luxury market provided the impetus for a deeper partnership between the brands.

We are delighted to add First Travel Group members Stars Travel New Plymouth, Business World Travel and Holland Clarke & Beatson to our network, which will be joining our longstanding members to create a more viable scale and market coverage position, Virtuoso Asia-Pacific Managing Director, Michael Londregan said.

Mr. Londregan said the nature of luxury travel has changed in recent years, moving decisively away from the idea of opulent 5-star treatment, towards experiential travel that has a truth of connection and helps people in the race to collect life experiences.

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Leading Travel Network, forms Partnership with First Travel