Essence of Sardinia 2025
At the beginning of this year’s final Essence Show by the Traveller Made network, the Italian Mediterranean island didn’t quite show its sunny side. Yet even hours of heavy rain and thunderstorms couldn’t stop the members of the Serandipians and Takumians communities from networking and celebrating. LuxuryWise was on site in Sardinia and has gathered the most interesting insights and memorable moments for you!
by LuxuryWise Senior Editor Cathrin Lührs
Essence of Sardinia 2025
At the beginning of this year’s final Essence Show by the Traveller Made network, the Italian Mediterranean island didn’t quite show its sunny side. Yet even hours of heavy rain and thunderstorms couldn’t stop the members of the Serandipians and Takumians communities from networking and celebrating. LuxuryWise was on site in Sardinia and has gathered the most interesting insights and memorable moments for you!
Essence of Sardinia 2025 at a Glance
Participants
...travelled to Sardinia to attend the largest of the three annual Essence Shows. Member agencies came from around the world, while most of the suppliers were based all over Europe and Africa.
Travel Advisors
...were among the participants – a reminder that, with around 600 Serandipians agencies in total, not all attend each of the three shows. The division into separate events also naturally limits the number of participants.
Takumians
...are currently part of the network. The second community under the Traveller Made umbrella has already established itself well. According to founder Quentin Desurmont, there is no upper limit for growth so far.
Memorable Moments
Stage Insights
Always a firework of new ideas and inspiration! As always, Quentin Desurmont guides guests through the event with charm. The speakers encourage Serandipians and Takumians to look beyond their own industry horizons. Exciting!
Meetings in the Flow
Everything runs smoothly in the big exhibition tent: each member agency has its own table, suppliers move from one to the next. Each talk lasts only 14 minutes, one minute to move on to the next. Plenty of insights can be collected in those three days!
Flamingo Plunge
Yes, wild flamingos really do live in Sardinia! These ones, however, are made of plastic and air – but they still get to take a dip in the sea with Traveller Made founder Quentin Desurmont. At sunrise, it’s time for the Flamingo Plunge!
Villa Party Vibes
First day of the show – check! To celebrate the successful start in style, Accor invites selected Serandipians and Takumians to Villa Mariam. With wine and an Italian buffet, networking becomes even more enjoyable!
Sunshine Greeting
No need to skip workout during the Essence of Sardinia. Early risers even have a choice: tennis, padel or yoga? Traveller Made organised special sessions for the show crowd, keeping both pros and beginners happy.
Nothing but Icons
A grand finale: the Serandiparty on the last day of the Essence of Sardinia takes place under the theme "Iconicity". And that was clearly interpreted indifferent ways. But honestly – aren’t we all icons?
Memorable Meetings
Participant Perspectives
Aspa Fthenou · Santo Collection
"For me, it’s a great opportunity to meet so many travel agents at once – something that wouldn’t be possible otherwise. I’m really glad to be here. The meetings have been excellent, and since we joined Traveller Made two years ago, we’ve already received several good enquiries. I must say the organising team did a fantastic job handling the difficult weather situation with all the rain and finding a quick, practical solution for everyone."
Roman Melzer · Roman Traveldesign
"Attending trade shows like this is very important for me and my team – the quality of the meetings is very high. I take a lot away from it; there are great conversations and plenty of interaction. As a member, it’s essential to be present. It’s a pity that with the new structure of three separate shows, you don’t meet as many suppliers from around the world anymore. You just always have to hope that the one you attend includes the right partners for you."
Paula Alves · Travel Tailors
"I loved the big Essence Show in Marbella and don’t enjoy the new concept with three separate events as much. Back then, partners from all over the world were there – now that’s no longer the case. Meeting mainly European hotels doesn’t help me much, while attending all three shows would simply be too expensive and time-consuming. Still, I truly value Traveller Made as a community and always enjoy reconnecting with partners."
Andrea Wolter · I Travel Group
"I left Virtuoso two years ago and joined Serandipians as a member agency – honestly, it was the best decision. The show in Panama was excellent, and here in Sardinia the meetings and the sense of community are just as impressive. The resort itself, however, really doesn’t live up to a five-star standard. I had already heard mixed reviews, but the service turned out to be even more disappointing. Next year, I’ll definitely opt for the Essence of Phuket instead."
In Conversation with Quentin Desurmont
Quentin Desurmont, Founder Traveller Made
"I’m very pleased that we’ve managed this transformation – moving from one large event, like the last one in Marbella, to three smaller shows each year on different continents. It took three years to implement and to find the right locations. What’s new is that the suppliers now come from the respective continent, while buyers can still attend from all over the world. The Sardinia event is the largest of the three, partly because we ourselves are based in Europe and because a significant share of the world’s luxury hotels is located here. Before deciding on the new structure, we conducted a survey. Around 90 percent of members said they preferred to meet local partners; about ten percent would have liked a different setup – and of course, those few are not entirely happy with the change. Still, demand from agencies was exceptionally high, with some members attending two or even all three shows. As for the Sardinia venue: Forte Village approached us three years ago, offering to host the Essence of Luxury here. The property regularly stages major corporate events, so there’s a well-established infrastructure and team behind the scenes. For the coming years, the event locations are expected to remain the same – provided everything continues to run smoothly and we’re satisfied. Our goal now is to promote what we’ve achieved with this new three-show structure, to attract even more potential participants. As always, our branding will change annually – this year’s theme is Iconicity. Through these specific themes, I aim to offer agents something meaningful and valuable to take away from each conference, working together with internationally renowned speakers. In summary, every travel advisor should aim to create their own “icon” – to make themselves and their brand truly unique. Building on this idea, we plan to introduce the first Haute Villégiature Agencies at the beginning of 2026. About ten agencies will be selected to represent the “icons and gems” of our communities. They stand for exceptional quality and will receive dedicated training from us to sell travel at the very highest level. Our approach is based on academic research from 2018, which first defined the concept of Haute Villégiature. These agencies will have to follow certain standards, though we’ll start on a moderate scale. And while this VIP community will launch within our Serandipians and Takumians networks, it will ultimately be open to top-level travel designers from around the world."
Touchy Topic: The Venue
For the first time, the Essence of Luxury is being held on the Italian island of Sardinia – and bella Italia certainly sounds like a fitting destination, especially in late summer. The Essence of Sardinia, now the largest of Traveller Made’s three trade shows, is taking place at the expansive Forte Village Resort in southern Sardinia – a venue that, according to the organisers, should also host the event in the coming years. However, if the Serandipians and Takumians had their say, many would likely prefer a change of location. From the very first day, much of the conversation during breaks centred on dissatisfaction with the venue. Reports ranged from poor service and tiny, sparsely furnished, tired rooms to disappointing food quality. Five-star resort? Hardly, according to many seasoned luxury travel professionals at the show. Numerous attendees pointed out that the host resort fails to live up to the standards that Serandipians and Takumians themselves represent and sell – a serious concern for many. If the venue remains the same next year, several participants have said they would rather skip Sardinia and attend one of the other Essence shows instead. One thing is clear: there’s definitely a need for discussion and improvement.