The Virtuoso network this week announced Spain as one of the association's preferred destinations for 2006. Among the elements of the partnership will be the creation of a dedicated Spain sales team of Virtuoso specialists committed to achieving established sales goals. Other program features include local marketing plans on a per-agent basis, electronic marketing initiatives, online destination training seminars, educational trips to Spain, exclusive offers for Virtuoso clients and certification of Virtuoso member agents as Spain specialists. Virtuoso's preferred suppliers in Spain (such as hotels, resorts, tour operators, cruise lines, and transportation and ground operators) are also eligible to join the activities. Javier Piñanes, director of the New York Tourist Office of Spain, said the country received more than 53 million visitors last year, the majority from the U.K. and Germany. "We are committed to increasing the number of American visitors," he said in a statement. "Now with Virtuoso...we will have a highly qualified team of travel professionals equipped with the knowledge and tools to sell Spain effectively."
