Virgin Voyages has unveiled the winners of its first travel agent awards, marking the occasion during an exclusive Celebration Voyage.
- The event, hosted by Sir Richard Branson, highlighted Virgin’s 50-year legacy, featuring global pop icon Boy George as a headliner.
- The awards recognised the outstanding contributions and dedication of exceptional travel advisors and agencies representing the Virgin spirit.
- Iglu, Hays Travel, and InteleTravel were among the notable winners, celebrated for their excellence in cruise specialisation and retail agency services.
- Virgin Voyages also introduced initiatives, including the Make Me a MerMillionaire incentive and attractive travel perks through 2026.
In a significant development within the cruise industry, Virgin Voyages disclosed the winners of its inaugural travel agent awards during a prestigious Celebration Voyage. This event, underscoring Virgin’s lasting impact over five decades, was headlined by none other than Sir Richard Branson and featured a special performance by global pop sensation Boy George. According to Virgin Voyages, the newly established award ceremony was conceived to acknowledge the exceptional contributions and steadfast dedication of travel advisors and organisations that truly resonate with the Virgin ethos.
The awards ceremony recognised various exemplary recipients. Iglu was honoured with the title of Best Cruise Specialist, while Hays Travel triumphed as the Best Retail Agency. Similarly, InteleTravel was distinguished with the Best Homeworker Agency award. Additionally, the Rising Star awards were bestowed upon Paramount Cruises and Stewart Travel, reflecting their promising potential in the cruise industry. Furthermore, Kieran Miller and Lindsay Coulter were announced as the First Mate Champions, and Barrhead Travel was lauded for their innovative partnership efforts.
As part of its forward-thinking initiatives, Virgin Voyages has launched a series of enticing offers and incentives aimed at agents. These include the Sip and Save deal, where customers can enjoy a 70% discount on a second guest for all voyages up to 2026. Additionally, customers who book new travel itineraries for 2025 will benefit from a complimentary Bar Tab of up to $300, inclusive of exotic destinations such as Istanbul, Morocco, Dublin, and Scandinavia. The forthcoming voyages also feature the debut of the ‘Brilliant Lady’ in North America with new Caribbean routes.
In a bid to further incentivise travel agents, Virgin Voyages introduced the Make Me a MerMillionaire initiative, powered by Virgin Red. This incentive scheme offers one agent the chance to win an astounding one million Virgin Points, with a collective one million points shared among nine additional winners. To participate, agents must report their sales through the dedicated First Mate Loot reward platform; the more bookings made, the greater the entries. Another programme, Twenty Five for 2025, provides agents with an opportunity to earn £25 for each booking of 2025 European departures.
With these innovations and awards, Virgin Voyages reiterates its commitment to recognising and rewarding the efforts of travel agents while simultaneously promoting exciting travel opportunities for customers.
The inaugural Virgin Voyages travel agent awards successfully celebrated industry excellence while unveiling new agent incentives.
