Ottawa's Sheila Gallant-Halloran named 2024 Virtuoso Cruise Icon

Sheila Gallant-Halloran of Lush Life Travel, a Direct Travel affiliate, has been named a 2024 Virtuoso Cruise Icon, a distinctive honour for advisors whose sales performance excels within the industry.

Gallant-Halloran, who lives in Ottawa, ON, joins an elite group of just 137 advisors across eight countries worldwide who have earned the Virtuoso Cruise Icon designation, and who collectively represent the top one per cent in Virtuoso’s cruise sales.

As a Virtuoso Cruise Icon, Gallant-Halloran will have access to various events and networking opportunities designed to foster growth and collaboration while sharing and cultivating best practices within the network’s cruise community.

Events such as Virtuoso Travel Week will bring Gallant-Halloran face to face with some of the most respected cruise brands in the industry, while this year’s Cruise Icon Voyage in Tahiti aboard Windstar’s Star Breeze recognizes the effort it takes to maintain status as a top-tier cruise producer.

“We extend our warmest congratulations to Sheila for her well-deserved recognition as a Virtuoso Cruise Icon,” stated Virtuoso’s vice-president of cruise Melissa Araya. “She has demonstrated resilience, ingenuity and a steadfast commitment to exceeding client expectations while supporting our cruise partners. Sheila’s achievements serve as an inspiration to fellow advisors and a testament to her skill, determination and passion for cruising as a means of delivering unforgettable travel experiences.”

“I am honoured to have achieved the Cruise Icon status,” stated Gallant-Halloran. “Previously as a consulting actuary, I helped clients maximize their return on investments. Now, as a Virtuoso luxury cruise travel advisor, I help clients maximize their return on life. As a ‘happiness actuary,’ in the balance of life, I ensure clients don’t risk their leisure hours as they travel the world. I am privileged that this Icon recognition brings new opportunities for growth, which I will leverage to build clients’ notable memories. Time is not refundable, and it’s truly an honour to work with the Virtuoso, Lush Life and Direct Travel teams to help clients maximize their most precious and perishable asset – their leisure time.”

Because of their affiliation with Virtuoso, Cruise Icons can offer exclusive benefits to their clients on over 400 select cruises annually across 13 separate cruise lines via the Virtuoso Voyages program, including a dedicated onboard host and a choice of an additional benefit ranging in value from $500 per couple to several thousand dollars, depending on the sailing.