More than 500 luminaries from the global luxury travel arena gathered last night at The Star, Sydney for the Luxperience Gala Dinner and Awards Evening. The glittering event, presided over by the Master of Ceremonies - media personality and travel enthusiast Tom Williams - marked the culmination of Sydney's leading luxury and experiential travel trade exhibition, Luxperience, (6-9 September 2015).

During the evening, the recipients of the inaugural Luxperience 2015 Awards were revealed. Designed to honour the development and promotion of some of the finest products that the industry has to offer – both from the buyer and supplier sides - the awards were judged by an esteemed panel of travel industry experts. The Inspiring Award recognised excellence in the planning and development of innovative products and services; the Meaningful Award paid tribute to those contributing to a greater understanding of history, heritage and culture, and the Connections Award recognised successful e-marketing campaigns within the luxury or high end experiential travel space. Luxperience also recognised an outstanding destination partner which has influenced the development of luxury and experiential tourism within their country or region. The judges were so impressed by one submission that a special award was instituted: the Judges Choice Award.

The Luxperience 2015 Awards recipients are:

Buyer
Inspiring:  Chad Clark Travel Ventures USA
Meaningful:  A Travel Duet India
Connections:  Lightfoot Travel Singapore/Hong Kong

Exhibitor
Inspiring:  Saffire Freycinet Tasmania
Meaningful:  Time Unlimited Tours NZ
Connections:  The Tailor Australia

Destination Award:  Tourism New Zealand

Judges Choice Award:  Split Apple Retreat NZ

Michelle Papas Director of Marketing at Luxperience, commented: “The evening was a great celebration of our industry, with some of the world's most impressive suppliers and an elite group of decision-makers in the global luxury and experiential travel arena in attendance. We are thrilled with the success of the inaugural Luxperience 2015 Awards, which celebrate some of the best innovators and achievements in the luxury travel arena. The winners are all visionaries in their own right and are setting industry standards for inspiration, innovation and quality.”

During the evening the date was announced for Luxperience 2016: the fifth anniversary of the luxury travel forum will take place at Sydney's Australian Technology Park on 18-21st September 2016.

Luxperience is an invitation-only business forum that is the only one of its kind based in the Australasia and Pacific region connecting the world's most exclusive travel providers dealing in luxury and experiential travel.

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Click here to view 2015.09.09 Luxperience Awards Dinner Highlights

For buyer enquiries contact:

Michelle Papas, Director of Marketing and Buyer Relations

Michelle.papas@luxperience.com.au or +61 2 8584 1777

Click here for more details on attending Luxperience as a buyer

For exhibitor and partnership enquires contact:

Eric Lewanavanua, Director of Sales and Partner Alliances eric.lewanavanua@luxperience.com.au or +61 2 8584 1777

Click here for more details on exhibiting at Luxperience

About Luxperience

Luxperience is more than a trade show, providing an exclusive, innovative global business exchange connecting experiential and discerning travel products directly to their market in a creative and inspirational exchange. It connects and nurtures relationships between highly sought-after luxury experiences and agents who influence the travel decision of the world's elite travellers.

The only forum of its kind, Luxperience helps to identify and drive trends in the luxury and experiential travel sector, and in turn attracts highly desirable, difficult to reach clients. True to its name, it's not just a trade show; it's an immersive luxurious experience, driven by a highly experienced team, resulting in real business for its clients.

Adding another dimension to the event and created specifically for the meeting and events market is Events by Luxperience, a tailored program for MICE buyers and suppliers attending Luxperience.

For further information, images or interviews please contact:

Virginia Haddon, Cascade Communications

M: 0414 275 839          

E: virginia@cascadecommunications.com.au