Virtuoso welcomes Elsa Bacry as director of EMEA member partnerships

Posted in News, People on 19 January, 2018

Global luxury travel agency network Virtuoso has announced that Elsa Bacry has been appointed as its new Director of EMEA Member Partnerships. As part of Virtuoso’s Global Member Partnerships team, Ms. Bacry will oversee the organisation’s relationships with more than 50 travel agency members and their advisors located in Europe, Middle East and Africa. She will continue to customise Virtuoso’s products, programmes and events, ensuring Virtuoso’s members maximise the resources and assets their affiliation affords them. Ms. Bacry started her role on 27th November 2017 and is based in London, marking Virtuoso’s first European-based staff member.

Ms. Bacry brings more than 15 years of varied industry experience to her new role. She has held sales and marketing positions for Kerzner International, Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Relais & Châteaux, TUI France, Quimbaya Latin America, Equinoxe and Viajes Marsans. Additionally, Ms. Bacry is fluent in four languages – English, French, Spanish and Portuguese – making her well qualified to represent her new constituents.

“Bringing Elsa onboard marks a turning point for Virtuoso’s presence in this region,” said David Kolner, senior vice president of Global Member Partnerships for Virtuoso. “We quietly entered the European market in late 2014. Since then we’ve added more than 50 travel agency members in 19 countries, and our affiliated advisors are nearing 1,000 in total. We’re pleased with the growth we’ve seen and now we’re poised to take it to the next level. Elsa’s range of experience makes her ideally suited to represent our members’ interests and increase their network engagement.”

“I have long known Virtuoso’s reputation within the industry,” Ms. Bacry stated. “Now to be part of an organisation that is so well respected as a luxury travel powerhouse, and know that I will have a pivotal role in driving its success in EMEA, is exciting. In my previous roles, I’ve had the opportunity to meet and work with many of Virtuoso’s travel agency members throughout the region. Now I look forward to helping them fully integrate into the network and maximise their potential.”