This week, Recommend joined nearly 1,000 travel advisors and partners at Resorts World Las Vegas for Ensemble’s Horizons 2026, the consortium’s yearly event, much-awaited by every advisor I spoke to. The afternoon kicked off with a high-energy boost from the Nevada Golden Knights cheerleaders, which set the tone for the next few days.
In his inspiring opening statement, Ensemble President Michael Johnson drew a direct line from the resilience of the travel industry to its current explosive growth, even in the face of adversity. According to Johnson, network sales climbed 11 percent over last year, more than 50 new agencies joined and Ensemble delivered profit sharing for the fourth year running. In addition, he shared that 70 percent of members are now considered promoters for the brand, as referrals continue to drive growth.
The schedule was packed, and the pace never slowed. Over three days, attendees moved from sessions on AI and technology to margin strategy, client engagement and even succession planning, all tailored to meet different experience levels. The content felt focused, no filler, just actionable insights that resonated with owners, managers and supplier partners alike. Thought leaders, including Aziz Abu Sarah from Mejdi Tours and others, delivered fresh perspectives on where travel is heading and how innovation continues to reshape the business.
Partnerships took the spotlight, too. Ensemble rolled out a new partner tiering framework, bringing more structure and transparency to how relationships are ranked and rewarded. The addition of about 120 new preferred partners showcased not just scale but a careful commitment to quality.
Amid all the business updates and networking, the heart of the conference belonged to Ensemble’s partnership with Make-A-Wish. One-third of its $150,000 fundraising goal has already been met, with Silversea and others joining in through a sweepstakes that boosted donations.
Stay tuned for a more in-depth look at the event in our June issue of Recommend. In the meantime, here’s the list of winners of this year’s Horizons event, who received their recognitions during a fun-filled party at Resorts World’s Zouk nightclub.
Ensemble Awards and Recognitions
- Overall Partner of the Year: AmaWaterways
- Partner of the Year Awards
- Hotel Collections: The Cove and The Reef at Atlantis Paradise Island
- Hotel Chains: Hyatt Hotels & Resorts
- Ocean Cruise: Viking
- River Cruise: AmaWaterways
- Expedition Cruise: Silversea
- Luxury Cruise: Explora Journeys
- Family Cruise: Norwegian Cruise Line
- Sun & Sand Canada: WestJet Vacations
- Sun & Sand USA: ALG Vacations
- Luxury Tour Operator North America: Kensington
- Escorted Tour Operator North America: Globus
- Adventure Tour Operator North America: G Adventures
- FIT Tour Operator North America: Bedsonline
- New Tour Operator North America: Exodus Travels
- Travel Insurance USA: Travel Guard
- Travel Insurance Canada: Manulife
- DMC Europe & UK: Travelive
- DMC Rest of World: Metropolitan Touring
- Individual Hotel: One Aldwych
- Tourism Board: Nassau & Paradise Island
- Air: Delta Air Lines
- Member Awards
- Innovation Award (Canada): Travel Gurus
- Innovation Award (USA): Rainbow Getaways
- Rising Star Award: Misha Kostiuchenko, Crown Cruise Vacations and Shaila Sedani, Paull Travel
- Outstanding Contribution to the Travel Community: Millbrook World Travel
- Overall Member Awards
- Member Excellence Award (Canada): Personal Travel Management
- Member Excellence Award (USA): Ambassador Tours
Of note: Ensemble confirmed that Horizons 2027 will take place at sea for the first time, aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Joy, from April 5–9, 2027.
