Members and partners of Signature Travel Network raised over three-quarters of a million dollars at the network’s Owners’ Meeting last week in San Diego. Through silent and live auctions and other donation methods, the nearly 500 attendees raised about $763,000, with all proceeds going to the Global Impact Grant Program operated by Signature’s nonprofit arm, Travel Elevates.

One of the highlights from Signature’s recent Owners’ Meeting in San Diego, California, was the introduction of Storybook, a new AI-driven tool that will help the network’s luxury travel advisors find the right products for their clients, as well as the most efficient way to pitch the product to them.

Just about every cruise segment this year is outperforming 2024 numbers, according to Signature Travel Network. At its recent Owners’ Meeting, newly minted president Karryn Christopher shared some sales and marketing updates, including that the network is up 8% in same-store sales versus the same time last year.

Karryn Christopher has been named president of Signature Travel Network today at its Owners’ Meeting in San Diego. Alex Sharpe, who previously served as CEO and president, will continue in his role as CEO.

Signature Travel Network on 3 September kicked off its annual Owners’ Meeting in San Diego at the Hotel del Coronado. The event has brought together more than 500 Signature agency owners, preferred partners and Signature leaders.

Virtuoso released its annual vault of client booking data and trends last week in Las Vegas at the 37th annual Virtuoso Travel Week.Taking a deep dive into the data, Misty Belles, Vice President, Global Public Relations for Virtuoso said the traveller profile for Australians in 2025 was gearing towards more active trips and that their interest in cruising continues to expand.

Virtuoso—and the travel industry at large—has boomed over the past 20 years, mostly due to the proliferation of the independent contractor (IC) model. According to The Travel Institute, in 2008, less than a third (29%) of travel advisors were ICs; now, it’s the exact opposite, with 71% of advisors working as ICs.

Virtuoso CEO and Chairman Matthew Upchurch is encouraging the industry to flip from using the phrase ‘over tourism’ to ‘destination stewardship’, which the World Travel & Tourism Council has been referring to the edgy topic for the past four years.