PARADISE ISLAND, BAHAMAS—Atlantis Paradise Island, a global leader in marine life conservation, has been awarded Virtuoso’s Sustainable Leadership: Protecting the Planet Award, recognizing the resort’s commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable practices in the Bahamas. This honor highlights the resort’s ongoing dedication to preserving surrounding marine ecosystems and advancing responsible tourism as part of its new era of growth and transformation.
Virtuoso, a leading global network specializing in luxury and experiential travel, announced its 2025 Virtuoso Global Awards during its 37th annual Virtuoso Travel Week, which took place August 9 to 15 in Las Vegas. Atlantis Paradise Island was honored among the network’s most esteemed travel agencies, advisors and preferred partners, who set the standard in their given category.
“For two decades, Atlantis Paradise Island’s Atlantis Blue Project Foundation has been at the forefront of marine life conservation in the Caribbean. This recognition from Virtuoso reinforces our role as a leader in sustainable tourism and the vital importance of protecting our ocean ecosystems,” said Audrey Oswell, President and Managing Director of Atlantis Paradise Island. “It is a reflection of our team’s unwavering dedication and the active participation of our guests in advancing conservation for generations to come.”
Shaping the Future of Luxury Travel
“Virtuoso Awards celebrate those who are shaping the future of luxury travel through integrity, outstanding service and unforgettable experiences,” said Virtuoso Chairman and CEO Matthew D. Upchurch. “These annual awards celebrate the exceptional members and partners who bring our shared purpose to life: enriching lives through human connection and the power of travel. Atlantis Paradise Island exemplifies the innovation, collaboration, and unwavering commitment that define our network, and they deserve to be recognized for their dedication that elevates the Virtuoso network and the industry as a whole.”
Founded in 2005, Atlantis Blue Project Foundation (ABPF), is a nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization dedicated to saving sea species and their extraordinary habitats throughout the Bahamas and surrounding Caribbean Sea. Now in its twentieth year, the organization has bred, rescued, and released more than 7,500 endangered sea turtles; donated over 7,000 mangrove seedlings for local wetland restoration projects; helped establish 1.4 million acres of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs); rescued, rehabilitated, and reintroduced 160 animals back into their natural habitats; and funded over $5 million in coral reef research and restoration initiatives, developing 25 coral nurseries, and planting thousands of corals. Guests of the resort can directly support this mission by joining marine-focused activities and experiences at the resort, with all proceeds benefiting ABPF’s conservation efforts.
Sustainable Leadership Awards
Virtuoso Chairman & CEO Matthew D. Upchurch and Vice Chair & Sustainability Strategist Jessica Hall Upchurch awarded both a member agency and an individual advisor with Sustainable Leadership Awards, while three additional award categories based on Virtuoso’s pillars of sustainability—Protecting the Planet, Celebrating & Honoring Cultures and Supporting Local Economies—were voted on live during the Under One Sky lunch held Monday, August 11 and presented to the winning partners. A new category—Destination—was introduced this year to recognize an exemplary tourism board.
Protecting the Planet: Recognizes a distinguished Virtuoso partner that has taken a lead in protecting and preserving the globe and/or promoting sustainable practices in their local community or around the world.
For more details on Virtuoso’s network of the world’s best travel agencies, advisors, and preferred partners, visit www.Virtuoso.com.
