Virtuoso’s EMEA general manager plans to increase its agency membership this year but emphasised the need for the US-based business to focus on recovery from the pandemic.
Karen Joyce, who joined the US-based global travel agency network in July 2021, said two of the seven new agency members who were recruited since her arrival were operating in the UK.
There are now 24 agencies within Virtuoso in the UK – including 360 Private Travel, Quintessentially Travel UK and Black Tomato – but this figure rises to 71 across the entire EMEA region.
Asked how many recruits she was targeting this year, Joyce said: “I’ve not set a target because this year is all about recovery and working with current business agencies.
“We’re still looking to take on new members. I am looking for a small increase in the region.”
She added: “The UK is a key part of the EMEA region.”
Joyce (pictured) said she wanted to work with existing agents to help them “build their network” and “collaboratively” grow their business.
She also outlined plans to identify more cruise specialists among Virtuoso’s EMEA membership.
“We do not have a lot of members that sell cruise in this region,” she explained. “We’re looking for members that have cruise in their expertise. It’s about widening that portfolio.”
She added there was “huge opportunity” to grow Virtuoso’s cruise sales in the EMEA region.
Joyce and account manager member relations Galina Vasiljeva recently hosted a two-day networking event for agency members and around 40 suppliers at Jumeirah Carton Tower in central London.
She is also currently recruiting an account manager partner relations who will work closely with the group’s global preferred partners to “increase collaboration with existing Virtuoso members” and hopes to expand her two-person team further with a marketing and events manager.