Travel Masters & The Travel Studio are so pleased and proud to announce that both Michelle and Dave have been recognised by Virtuoso as ‘Cruise Icon’s’. They join a very select group of just 29 Cruise Icons across Australia (146 across eight countries) in recognition of their expertise and performance with our valued Virtuoso Cruise partners across the globe.

Congratulations Michelle and Dave!

Read the official announcement from Virtuoso here:

GOLD COAST, QUEENSLAND (7 May, 2024) - Virtuoso®, the leading global network specialising in luxury and experiential travel, proudly recognises Michelle Yates and Dave Oakes of Travel Masters and The Travel Studio located on the Gold Coast as 2024 Virtuoso Cruise Icons, a distinctive honour for advisors whose sales performance excels within the industry. Yates and Oakes join an elite group of 146 advisors across eight countries worldwide who have earned the Virtuoso Cruise Icon designation and who collectively represent the top one percent in Virtuoso’s cruise sales, reinforcing their position as leaders within the luxury travel industry.

As Virtuoso Cruise Icons, Yates and Oakes will have access to various events and networking opportunities designed to foster growth and collaboration while sharing and cultivating best practices within the network’s cruise community. Events such as Virtuoso Travel Week, luxury travel’s preeminent worldwide gathering, will bring them face to face with some of the most respected cruise brands in the industry, while this year’s Cruise Icon Voyage in Tahiti aboard Windstar’s Star Breeze recognises the effort it takes to maintain status as a top-tier cruise producer.

“We extend our warmest congratulations to Michelle and Dave for their well-deserved recognition as Virtuoso Cruise Icons,” said Virtuoso’s Vice President of Cruise Melissa Araya. “They have demonstrated resilience, ingenuity and a steadfast commitment to exceeding client expectations while supporting our cruise partners. Michelle and Dave’s achievements serve as an inspiration to fellow advisors and a testament to their skill, determination and passion for cruising as a means of delivering unforgettable travel experiences.”

Because of their affiliation with Virtuoso, Cruise Icons can offer exclusive benefits to their clients on over 400 select cruises annually across 13 separate cruise lines via the Virtuoso Voyages program, including a dedicated onboard host and a choice of an additional benefit ranging in value from $500 per couple to several thousand dollars, depending on the sailing.

For more information about Travel Masters & The Travel Studio and its luxury travel offerings, please contact 1800-672-988.

About Travel Masters &The Travel Studio

Travel Masters & The Travel Studio have been leaders in the Gold Coast travel industry for over 30 years and established themselves as innovative and imaginative travel specialists, catering for the demands and expectations of the discerning traveller. They have travelled all continents of the world and experienced much of the diverse cultural backgrounds known to mankind, creating a unique retail environment that services both local and national discerning travellers. Clients receive a personalised approach to booking holidays, backed up with extensive personal knowledge and understanding from a qualified team of Senior International Travel Advisers.

About Virtuoso

Virtuoso® is the leading global travel agency network specializing in luxury and experiential travel. This by-invitation-only organisation comprises over 1,200 travel agency locations with more than 20,000 travel advisors in 54 countries throughout North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. Drawing upon its preferred relationships with more than 2,300 of the world’s best hotels and resorts, cruise lines, airlines, tour companies and premier destinations, the network provides its upscale clientele with exclusive amenities, rare experiences and privileged access. Normalised annual sales of (U.S.) $28-$32 billion make Virtuoso a powerhouse in the luxury travel industry.

MICHELLE YATES & DAVE OAKES NAMED 2024 VIRTUOSO® CRUISE ICONS, LUXURY CRUISING’S MOST PRESTIGIOUS RECOGNITION