VIRTUOSO® ANNOUNCES 2013 CHAIRMAN’S RECOGNITION EVENT TO BE HELD IN SWITZERLAND OCTOBER 14-20

NEW YORK, 2013-02-08 — /travelprnews.com/ — Today leading luxury travel network Virtuoso® announced it will host its ninth annual Chairman’s Recognition Event in Switzerland, treating the group’s top producers from North America, the Caribbean, South America and Australia to an unforgettable “Tour de Suisse” starting in Zurich and ending in Geneva. The event will take place October 14-20, 2013, and the unique itinerary unites both the German- and French-speaking parts of the country, combining well-known Swiss cities and some of the more traditional highlights of the country with a few lesser-known experiences found off the beaten path.

Switzerland Tourism submitted the bid to host this esteemed group in conjunction with Virtuoso properties The Dolder Grand in Zurich, Beau-Rivage Palace in Lausanne and Hotel President Wilson, A Luxury Collection Hotel in Geneva. As the official Swiss National Tourist Office, Switzerland Tourism was able to rally additional support from the local tourist offices of Zurich, Lake Geneva Region/Lausanne and Geneva, as well as the Swiss Travel System, the organization of the country’s public transportation systems.

“Our Chairman’s Recognition Event celebrates the achievement of Virtuoso’s member agencies and advisors, and provides them with firsthand exposure to exciting destinations and experiences that appeal to Virtuoso travelers,” said David Hansen, chief financial officer of Virtuoso. “Switzerland is the perfect destination to host our event for a variety of reasons, including having 26 Virtuoso hotels located within the country, the participation of longtime Virtuoso preferred suppliers such as Swiss International Air Lines, Rail Europe and Bucher Travel, as well as the outstanding support from Switzerland Tourism. Zurich and Geneva are ideal cities to host a Chairman’s Event, with their numerous Virtuoso preferred hotels and a great number of unique and memorable venues in and around the cities. And Lausanne, situated on beautiful Lake Geneva, is a great starting point for excursions to the countryside and the Alps. This will definitely be a very special experience for all attendees.”

Switzerland Tourism reported increasing numbers of American visitors to Switzerland for the last several years. Approximately one million Americans and Canadians visit Switzerland every year, with Zurich, Geneva, Lucerne, Zermatt and Basel as their most popular Swiss destinations.

“Switzerland has been a preferred destination for Virtuoso advisors and their clients for many years,” says Alex Herrmann, Director Americas for Switzerland Tourism. “Now, Virtuoso returns to Switzerland, and we are honored and excited to host the next Virtuoso Chairman’s Event. We believe that Switzerland is the perfect destination and 2013 is the perfect time for us to host this event. So, ‘Willkommen in Zurich/Bienvenue a Geneve’!”

Virtuoso rewards its top producing agencies and advisors as well as its most engaged members with a trip befitting of the upscale travel they typically plan. The itinerary allowed these professionals to experience the genuine flavor and style of a destination. Virtuoso’s Chairman’s Recognition Event occurs annually in some of the most exciting, colorful and vibrant locales in the world, most recently an AmaWaterways cruise along the Danube (November 2012), China (2011), Kenya (2010), Scotland (2009), India (2008), Prague (2007) and Peru (2006).

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About Virtuoso
Virtuoso® is the industry’s leading luxury travel network. This by-invitation-only organization comprises over 340 agencies with more than 7,200 elite travel specialists in 20 countries in North and South America, the Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand, as well as over 1,700 of the world’s best travel providers and premier destinations. The network’s member agencies generate over $9.6 billion annually in travel sales, making the group the most powerful in the luxury travel segment. Their relationships with the finest travel companies provide the network’s affluent clientele with exclusive amenities, rare experiences and privileged access. For more information, visit www.virtuoso.com. To view Virtuoso’s latest videos, go to http://www.youtube.com/user/VirtuosoTraveler.

Media Contacts:
Betsy Goldberg
Senior Manager, Corporate Communications
Virtuoso
Phone: 206.254.1053
E-mail: bgoldberg@virtuoso.com

Charles Curkin
Account Executive
Alice Marshall Public Relations
Phone: 212. 861.4031
E-mail: charles@alicemarshall.com

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