The Virtuoso Travel network has recognised Perth-based Bicton Travel & Claremont Travel Managing Director Carole Smethurst as Australia & New Zealand’s Most Admired Travel Advisor at the 2026 Virtuoso Travel Week.

The Most Admired Advisor Award celebrates the success, unparalleled leadership, vision, an unrelenting passion for the travel industry, an engaged commitment to the network, an appreciation for detail and alignment with Virtuoso’s ethos.

Nominations for the coveted Virtuoso Global Awards came from a survey of the worldwide Virtuoso network, and elected members of various Boards and Committees voted to determine the winners.

Accepting the award on Ms Smethurst’s behalf at the Bellagio Resort & Casino, Las Vegas last week were Claremont Travel Team Leader Lee Van Dongen and Travel Advisor Katie Lapierre.

Upon receiving notice of her award, Managing Director Carole Smethurst commented “I am extremely honoured to have won this award and be recognised by the Virtuoso network. I’m incredibly lucky to be supported by an incredible team who day in day out focus on delivering great holidays for our clients.

I am so proud that Bicton and Claremont Travel is once again recognised as not only the agency of choice for so many West Australians, but also as a leader in our industry.”

The recognition adds to Ms Smethurst’s long list of industry achievements. In 2016 she was inducted in the Cruise Line Industry Association Hall of Fame for her significant contribution to the development of the cruise industry in Australia. She has since become recognised as one of the foremost cruise experts in Australia and was the country’s first travel agent to christen a new river ship, becoming godmother to APT’s luxury 158-passenger Amastella.

In 2024 Bicton & Claremont Travel was recognised as The Best Retail Travel Agency in 2024 at the National Travel Industry Awards.

With a team of 28 and with two locations, Bicton and Claremont Travel continues to be a market leader in cruise and luxury travel as one of Western Australia’s first established cruise specialist agencies founded by Ms Smethurst in 1998.