Virgin Atlantic
Virgin Atlantic will be one half of the first joint headline sponsorship of the Agent Achievement Awards at this year’s annual celebration of the trade on July 9
Nicki Goldsmith, director of global agency sales at Virgin Atlantic, says the carrier is thrilled to be teaming up with Celebrity Cruises to form the first joint headline sponsorship of the AAAs since the event was founded in 1997. “[The partnership is] a natural fit and a powerful
moment to show up together for the trade,” she says. The brands joined forces last year to host agent
incentive trip Destination Unknown, alongside Royal Caribbean International and in partnership with Travel Weekly, resulting in “a roaring success”. Goldsmith says a new incentive will be
NICKI GOLDSMITH
Director of global agency sales
unveiled at the Park Plaza London Westminster Bridge hotel in five weeks’ time. “It will be bigger, bolder and designed to drive even more engagement and sales,” she adds. “Celebrity Cruises and Virgin Atlantic share a commitment to premium travel and exceptional service, so aligning at the AAAs lets us deliver a seamless, end-to-end proposition for our partners and their customers. That alignment only gets stronger with Virgin Atlantic’s recently announced refits, which will add even more Upper Class and Premium seats. It means greater capacity, more flexibility and an elevated experience that pairs perfectly with Celebrity’s modern luxury at sea. “This partnership brings together two premium
brands to reward and inspire the trade, create standout customer journeys from air to ocean and set the tone for an exciting year ahead.”
Q. How has 2026 been for your company? A. Trading during the first quarter has been exceptionally strong, with many customers continuing to favour direct services and the seamless connectivity provided through our network and joint-venture partnership with Delta Air Lines. Trade performance is running 20% ahead of last
year, reflecting strong demand and the confidence our partners continue to place in Virgin Atlantic. Travel agents remain integral to the success of our business. Their expertise, customer relationships and ability to match travellers with the right journeys and experiences play a vital role in driving growth. We are incredibly grateful for the strength of these partnerships and look forward to building on this momentum during the rest of the year.
Q. What are the most important lessons you’ve learnt from agents this year? A. One lesson is the incredible value they bring during times of uncertainty. Agents are far more than a booking channel – customers increasingly rely on trusted travel professionals for reassurance, expert guidance and personal support when travel plans become more complex.
Q. How can agents maximise their sales with your brand? A. By making the most of opportunities across our network and the benefits of Sky High Club, our agent incentive programme. The earn-and-burn model rewards agents directly for every booking, creating more value and engagement with the brand. There is also a huge opportunity around our premium offering, with additional Upper Class capacity giving agents more availability to sell one of the market’s most aspirational products. Also, our new leisure route to Phuket is driving demand for premium leisure travel, and our transatlantic network with Delta Air Lines continues to offer customers exceptional choice, connectivity and flexibility across the US. By combining these network opportunities with the expertise and relationships agents have with customers, there’s significant potential for continued growth together.
agentachievementawards.co.uk
Nicki Goldsmith
Nicki Goldsmith
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
