Travel Leaders Network has hired Eva Damato as senior director, luxury lifestyle marketing; she is responsible for overall strategy and growth of the Luxury Leaders Alliance, Travel Leaders’ community for top-selling luxury sellers. She’s also going to serve as an expert resource for luxury-focused suppliers and members and advise the executive team on the latest trends and issues in the luxury travel marketplace.
Damato was most recently with Seabourn Cruise Line, where she was senior manager of national and strategic accounts, regularly engaging with the Luxury Leaders Alliance at events and providing guidance to members. Before Seabourn, she steered the domestic leisure division at Discover the Palm Beaches and held various roles at the The Breakers Palm Beach.
Founded in 2021 as the first of Travel Leaders Network's Leaders Alliance communities, the Luxury Leaders Alliance today has more than 500 members who collectively produce nearly $1 billion in luxury sales. Membership is by invitation only, requiring approval from Travel Leaders and a nomination from the agency owner. To be considered, individual advisors must have a minimum of $1 million in annual luxury sales along with other industry endorsements and Travel Leaders Network requirements.
We caught up with Damato in search of insights on her new role as well as perspective on the luxury travel industry.
LTA: Congratulations on your new position! Can you tell our readers what your new role will encompass in terms of luxury travel advisors. Why was the position added?
Damato: Thank you, I am thrilled to be here. Travel Leaders Network’s Leaders Alliances are communities of high-performing advisors in various niches. My area of responsibility is leading the Luxury Leaders and serving as a luxury subject matter expert at Travel Leaders.
One of my main focuses will be to work with our team and oversee the growth and success of advisors within the community to make sure they are equipped with the resources they need to continue to evolve their business and thrive in the ultra-luxury space. These are top-producing advisors from the thousands of Travel Leaders Network members and are true curators of luxury travel. It’s important to come together and provide opportunities and advantages to continue to highlight them as leaders in this space.
I am really here to strengthen those core values of the program, such as building upon the relationships with our partners, and helping to navigate the ever-changing landscape of luxury travel.
LTA: What is the scope of luxury travel advisors in terms of Travel Leaders Network and the Luxury Leaders Alliance in terms of numbers
Damato: Travel Leaders Network is one of the largest networks of travel professionals, with thousands of advisors in all segments of travel. The Luxury Leaders Alliance is an exclusive community for the very top luxury advisors. This alliance supports over 500 advisors (a small percentage of our luxury travel sellers) who are exclusively invited to be a part of the community based on sales and their portfolio of suppliers.
LTA: What does it take for an advisor to be a part of the Luxury Leaders Alliance?
Damato: It requires a commitment to high-end travel, but also it requires a desire to achieve excellence. Advisors need to continue to deliver on sales volume, maintain positive relationships with our supplier partners as well as be a champion for their peers. Additionally, we look for those who demonstrate a dedication to staying on top of luxury travel trends to continue to engage that client and keep pushing to create those incredible experiences.
Membership in this Alliance isn’t guaranteed (it’s the same for any Leaders Alliance). Prospective members need to be nominated by their agency owner and their application is reviewed by our team. They need to sell a minimum of $1 million annually in luxury sales alone. It is important that this remains a group that exemplifies expertise and a commitment to continuously improving their luxury knowledge.
LTA: How will you help them generate more sales?
Damato: We are a community at heart, and we value using the community of luxury suppliers, Travel Leaders experts, and the Luxury Leaders Alliance membership as a whole to continuously improve. One of the best parts of this Alliance is how members are eager to help each other. The overarching belief seems to be that a rising tide lifts all boats, and that we all have important lessons to share with fellow Alliance members. On the tactical side, we are looking to create new initiatives that will continue to grow to help empower the members of this Leaders Alliance and be sure that they have the right tools and strategies in place to maximize their value and continue to create and close those high value bookings.
LTA: What luxury trends are you seeing in the industry right now? Any big changes for 2025?
Damato: Of course. That is the most exciting part about what this community does: always looking for the next undiscovered and unique destination or experience and making sure there is a perfect location to stay in or sail in for the most discerning traveler.
This year we are seeing more about the yachting experiences on the horizon. We have heard about the villa partners that are curating exceptional travel opportunities and of course the ever-growing segment of expedition travel. The list truly goes on, but as we look forward to the adaptation of new technology that provide these experiences to clients, we will also continue to showcase our advisors in the best ways.