Scenic Group USA honored its top-producing Scenic travel advisor partners at its first ever US awards ceremony on Sunday, September 25. The aptly named Night of the Stars is a long-standing tradition for Scenic in the Australia market dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the successes of dedicated travel partners. The first US Night of the Stars celebration was held on Pier 30 in San Francisco, where upwards of 60 honored advisors mingled with local VIPs, Scenic executives and others, enjoying gourmet foods, drinks, live entertainment and a spectacular drone show showcasing iconic aspects of the Scenic brand – all while in full view of the world’s First Discovery Yacht, Scenic Eclipse.
Glen Moroney, founder and chairman of Scenic Group, addressed the gathering: “Ten years ago, I don’t think we could foresee where the market was going, but I think we’ve hit a really good, sweet spot,” citing the luxury amenities and experiences offered by the company’s Discovery Yacht, Scenic Eclipse, and Scenic’s fleet of 15 luxury Space Ships that ply many of Europe’s and SE Asia’s most picturesque rivers.
Ann Chamberlin, vice president of sales, Scenic USA, offered praise for Scenic’s Top Strategic Partner 2022, Largay Travel of Waterbury, CT, Chamberlin said, “we wanted to recognize one agency that went above and beyond the call of duty for Scenic. They have turned into a strategic marketing partner, a dedicated user of ExpressBook, and have achieved sales growth in excess of 200 percent.”
Also winning top 2022 sales awards were:
- Top Agency Partner of the Year for Highest Ocean and Yacht Sales: Specialty Cruise and Villas, Gig Harbor, WA
- Top Agency Partner of the Year for Highest Sales Per Franchise: Cruise Planners, Coral Springs, FL
- Top Agency Partner of the Year for Highest Charter Sales in 2022: Inspirato, Denver, CO
- Top Seller European River Cruising: Vacations to Go, Houston, TX
- Top Seller Asian River Cruising: Veterans Travel Service, Kansas City, MO
- Top Seller Arctic and Fjords region: Forest Lake Travel, Columbia, SC
- Top Seller Northern Europe and the Mediterranean region: Specialty Cruise and Villas, Gig Harbor, WA
- Top Seller Americas region: Fitzgerald Tours, Concord, OH
- Top Seller Asia and Pacific region: Travel Planners International, Maitland, FL
VIPs in attendance included Rodney Fong, president and CEO, San Francisco Chamber of Commerce; Zane Kerby, president and CEO, American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA); Marc Casto, chairman of the board, ASTA, as well as president of leisure in the Americas, Flight Centre Travel Group; and Vanessa McGovern, chief sales and marketing officer, Gifted Travel Network, and godmother of Emerald Luna.
Scenic Group, which includes Emerald Cruises, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, and Mayflower Cruises & Tours, has grown over its 36-year history to include award-winning, river and ocean cruises and handcrafted land journeys that take guests to many of the world’s most fascinating destinations covering all seven continents. Since 2008, Scenic has set the benchmark for truly all-inclusive, five-star river cruises in Europe and Southeast Asia. In 2019, Scenic introduced Scenic Eclipse, The World’s First Discovery Yacht™, a 228-guest ultra-luxury ship, and plans to deliver a second yacht of the same category, Scenic Eclipse II, in 2023. Emerald Cruises has nine branded Star-Ships offering river sailings across Europe and on the Mekong. In March 2022, the 100-guest luxury yacht, Emerald Azzurra, was the first oceangoing yacht to launch under the Emerald Cruises brand, and will be followed by a sister, Emerald Sakara, in 2023.
Additional information on these and other cruises, brochures and reservations can be obtained via travel advisors; at www.scenicusa.com, phone (844) 788-7985, or email: info@scenicusa.com; or www.emeraldcruises.com, phone (844) 428-8389, or email hello@emeraldcruises.com. Brochures can also be downloaded directly from the websites.
