Six of Direct Travel’s U.S. Advisors Make Virtuoso’s 2023 Cruise Icon List

Shawna Copeland, Joe Galli, Valerie Rooney, Nancy Yale, Nick Moran, Jesse Taylor  Go Above and Beyond in Cruising

Six top Direct Travel advisors from the U.S. have gone above and beyond showing their mettle by being elected to Virtuoso’s 2023 “Cruise Icons” list. These hard-working advisors earned the prestigious Virtuoso Cruise Icon designation by selling within the top 1% of Virtuoso’s preferred partner cruise portfolio in North America in the last year.

Virtuoso stated that its Virtuoso Cruise Icon program is a testament to the luxury network’s commitment to recognizing exceptional talent, fostering growth, and inspiring continuous success. By celebrating and showcasing the achievements of their “Icons,” Virtuoso not only elevates the advisors’ status but also reaffirms Virtuoso’s position as a leader in the luxury travel industry.

Stephen Smith, senior vice president of Direct Travel’s Leisure Strategy & Marketing, said “We are so proud of these outstanding travel advisors. They are consummate professionals who understand the value of working with our strategic cruise partners while going the extra mile to exceed client expectations.” The awards will be presented at the annual Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas next month.

Virtuoso agencies have been carefully vetted to provide the best-in-class experiences through its 2,200 global Preferred Partners. Luxury travel advisors with high-net worth clients create luxury-level white-glove experiences.

Shawna Copeland hails from Hands on Travel, an affiliate of Direct Travel in San Jose, CA and says, “Travel is who I am. My passion for travel started when I backpacked throughout Europe after my college graduation. I am well versed in all ocean cruises and river cruises. They both offer something completely unique and different.”

Joe Galli, Valerie Rooney, and Nick Moran are with Cambelback Odyssey Travel, a Direct Travel Company in Phoenix, Arizona.

Joe manages the Luxury Cruise Desk at Camelback Travel specializing in cruise experiences on luxury yachts and ocean ships, including the platinum partner lines Crystal Cruises, Seabourn, Regent Seven Seas, Oceania and others.

Valerie has been a luxury travel advisor for twenty years and creates lasting memories for her clients by offering exclusive amenities, access and experience available only through Virtuoso.

Nick has nourished a lifelong passion for travel and leverages his considerable contacts and industry relationships to ensure that his clients receive the absolute best in the way of treatment, preference, and most importantly, exclusive access.

Nancy Yale at Direct Travel Fairfield opened her own agency 30 years ago when she had three young children and her agency joined Direct Travel in 2019. In addition to her luxury cruise business, she plans exotic trips for photographers, culinary experts and creates honeymoons to Asia, India and New Zealand for experiences of a lifetime.

Jesse Taylor runs Taylor Elite Travel, an affiliate of Direct Travel and has been selling premium and luxury leisure travel for over a decade. He specializes in river cruises, ocean cruises, expedition cruises, barge cruises, land tours, and building customized trips for single travelers up to large groups.