U.S.-based international luxury host agency Departure Lounge held its annual meeting, Departure Lounge Exchange (DLX), for its travel advisors and preferred partners October 5-9 at Grand Hyatt Deer Valley. Attendees included 240 Departure Lounge travel advisors and 150 preferred luxury travel partner executives.

Highlights of DLX 2025 included the agency reporting sales of $462 million over the past 12 months (totaled across by 360 independent contractor travel advisors in 17 countries). Updated branding was revealed, too, including a new logo tagline (“Experienced Curators of Luxury Travel”) and a new marketing slogan (“When Experience Leads the Way, Journeys Become Extraordinary”).

New Products and MasterClasses

On the business side, new exclusive luxury travel product categories were revealed at DLX. Among those: Departure Lounge Exclusive Experiences (from brief moments to full-day experiences) and Departure Lounge Exclusive Journeys (multi-day itineraries with exclusive elements). These products will only be reservable via a Departure Lounge travel advisor and will only be provided by the agency’s preferred program partners. (The agency, it said, has status in more than 65 preferred agency programs and brand agreements, not to mention its preferred program with more than 150 top hotels, resorts, cruise lines, DMCs and tour companies.)

A new in-destination learning program called Departure Lounge MasterClass was revealed, as well, with the first one planned for April 15-25, 2026, in the Amalfi Coast region of Italy. MasterClass involves taking 35 to 50 Departure Lounge advisors to a destination and using classroom presentations and first-hand visits to showcase every five-star product in the region.

“Going into our 13th year, DLX has become a vital part of our success,” said Departure Lounge Owner Keith Waldon. “We all truly look forward to this time each year when we gather from all over the world to celebrate our success, learn from each other and plan the year ahead with new tools, strategies and inspiration to propel us forward until we meet again. As we approach half a billion dollars in annual sales this year, we are excited to be launching new branding, exclusive travel products and exclusive in-destination learning programs to further empower Departure Lounge advisors.”

Virtuoso Chairman and CEO Matthew Upchurch was a guest speaker, Waldon in a fireside chat discussion that dove into the history of the two friends’ long work affiliation. (Waldon was a 16-year executive of Virtuoso before launching Departure Lounge in 2013.)

Advisor and Supplier Recognition

Attending Departure Lounge advisors received $100 to spend at a Welcome Wagon retail pop-up with local artisans, along with a charity the advisor team had voted on to support with this year’s DLX. From these and other donations, Addi’s Faith Foundation received more than $5,000 in donations from the advisors, along with donations of clothing.

At DLX, the luxury travel agency also announced its annual advisory board. The board for the next year comprises advisors Maureen Paap, Sarah W Lee, Heather Keller, Becky Robinson, Charlotte Piazza and Mariel Ortiz, joined by partners Jennifer Guevara (Kerzner International/One&Only), Mary Gallo (Explora Journeys), Nicola Butler (Noteworthy) and Lesa Bain (Natural Habitat Adventures, Duvine, Classic Journeys, Off The Beaten Path and Thomson Safaris).

Attendees spent two half days conducting 10-minute meetings between advisors and partners. Breakout panels covered best business practices and new business concepts. On the final night, Departure Lounge hosted a gala awards dinner that celebrated both advisor and partner winners.

Advisor Awards:

• Rookie Rising Star: Codi Gunn
• Shooting Star Award: Hans Paap
• The Maureen Paap Closer Award: Becky Robinson
• Model Citizen: Bruce Butler
• Top Social Media: Brian Leahy
• Top International (Non-U.S.) Producer: Charlotte Piazza
• Top Producing Advisor Team: Sarah W Lee
• Top Solo Act Producer: Kristen Nix
• Top Overall Individual Advisor: Sarah W Lee
• Most Helpful: Heather Keller
• Spirit of Departure Lounge: Sarah Bogaczyk

Partner Awards:

• The Above & Beyond Award: The Lanesborough, Oetker Hotels
• Top Departure Lounge VIP Hotel in Sales: Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection
• Top Departure Lounge VIP Cruise Line in Sales: Viking Cruises
• Top Year-Over-Year Sales Growth of a Preferred Partner: The Lodge at Blue Sky, Auberge Resorts Collection
• Top-Rated Exclusive Departure Lounge FAM: Banyan Tours, India Top VIP DMC/Tour Partner: Essence of Italy
• No. 1 Individual Preferred Partner in Sales: Essence of Italy
• Favorite Departure Lounge VIP Partner Representative: Lisa Taitano, Andaz Maui
• Favorite Departure Lounge Preferred Agency Program Representative: Brittany Zapp, Four Seasons, and Max Snytin, Belmond
• Industry Icon Award: Michele Saegesser, Viking Cruises

Departure Lounge announced that DLX 2026 will be held October 4-8 at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena.