And Speaking of... Abercrombie & Kent 100 Club Event

Gifted Travel Network was fortunate enough to be invited to participate in Abercrombie & Kent USA ’s 100 Club Event in Chicago on April 9th and 10th. This event brings together their top agency accounts, media, and A&K’s global team to learn about what is trending in luxury travel and deepen relationships with the A&K ecosystem.?

Abercrombie & Kent UK is now 62 years old and has a stellar reputation for delivering exceptional and elevated experiences all around the world via their Tailor Made & Small Group Journeys as well as private jet experiences, expedition cruises, and now luxury ocean cruises with the Crystal Cruises acquisition to the A&K portfolio. There are very few destinations that A&K does not serve, and what struck me the most was the depth of their global partnerships.

In addition to meeting with A&K team members, I also met with representatives from 四季酒店 , Oberoi Hotels & Resorts , The Red Carnation Hotel Collection (Red Carnation Hotels) , One&Only Resorts , and Aqua Expeditions , as well as tourism boards globally who all support A&K and the travel advisor’s clients. It was a power-packed agenda, and I wanted to share my standout takeaways!?

CEO of A&K, Cristina Levis

From the moment Cristina took the main stage, I knew she was a woman who knew how to get the job done. Her poise and presence spoke volumes for me, and I was captivated by the herculean accomplishments A&K achieved in a short amount of time. The Crystal Cruises acquisition and turnaround to revenue sailing was one for the books, and this is barely scratching the surface of what A&K has been busy with.??

I was invited to join Cristina at her table for lunch with a group of agency owners and advisors. She listened intently to our conversations about many topics, including how to keep employees engaged in today’s new work landscape. She struck me as a woman who doesn’t miss a beat and takes action swiftly. I really appreciate that quality, and I know A&K is in excellent hands with Cristina Levis at the helm.?

Ecoventura

While Crystal Cruises seems to be getting all the spotlight for a cruise acquisition, Ecoventura - Galapagos was also recently acquired by A&K. I met with their CEO, Santiago Dunn , during our matched appointments, and it was fascinating to hear about his entrepreneurial journey and how this Galapagos focus expedition cruise line is making waves.

Peru beyond Machu Picchu?

I am naturally biased toward traveling to Peru as both my parents were born and raised there. I have traveled many times throughout my youth, and my visits were always family-focused. In 2018, I did the typical itinerary and visited Cusco and Machu Picchu. It was magical, and I’ve wanted to visit again and explore beyond what the typical traveler experiences in Peru.

At the A&K event, I met Dalia Gibu , Regional Sales & Marketing Director in South America for A&K. Her bright light and passion for Peru lit up the entire mainstage. I loved her story of how A&K is hiring female guides who, for the first time in their family’s history the women are the breadwinners in the household.

This was met with a big round of applause from the audience, and sparked my desire to learn more and visit Peru with A&K. I am inspired to visit where my great-grandmother was born and raised, Arequipa. My Abuelita Blanca immigrated to Canada when I was born and passed when I was 15, so I knew her well. She was a strong, resilient Peruvian woman, and Dalia sparked a desire for me to trace my roots and visit Arequipa.?

Cherry Blossoms in Japan and South Korea?

Japan attracts millions of visitors for its famous cherry blossoms! What was interesting to learn is that you can visit Japan with A&K via a small luxury cruise during cherry blossom season and get the full experience of Japan from the comfort of your ship and only unpacking once. I loved that idea, and there is still availability for 2025.

I also learned that the emerging destination of South Korea has a robust and beautiful cherry blossom season. South Korea should be on your radar if you are truly looking to visit the cherry blossoms and want a less crowded option.?

A&K Philanthropy?

The philanthropic initiatives of A&K spoke to my soul. During one of the sessions, I met Keith Sproule , Executive Director of A&K’s Philanthropy Program, and was amazed at what they have done/continue to do. The community-based work they do in the countries they serve needs an extensive marketing PR campaign because it was evident that this is an arm of the company that is not getting the visibility it deserves.

The opportunities they have provided for youth to break the poverty cycle through tourism and education opportunities are inspiring. A&K is providing clean water and building wells in Africa and Asia, and this list goes on.

Learn more about their robust initiatives here: https://www.akphilanthropy.org/?

I could literally write pages on what I learned from my time with A&K at the 100 Club Event. It is so important that we deepen our understanding of the companies we are partnering with. It was a true pleasure to broaden my knowledge about A&K and how they serve their clients, global teams, and communities of the countries they visit.??

As always, I welcome your thoughts on my article this week in the comments section below!