Luxperience and founder Helen Logas sued for breach of contract

Luxperience is seen as the ultimate in travel trade shows, attracting buyers from around the world to view the experiential and luxury experiences that are on offer in Australia. The forum, which opens in Sydney on Sunday, will last four days and culminate in a black tie event starring TV travel guru Tom Williams.

But some of the gloss of the exclusive  event has worn off after a falling out between two of the big names in the travel industry, former Luxperience chief executive Lindy Andrews and Luxperience founder Helen Logas.

As the events get under way this week, the details of the dispute will be unfolding in the District Court.

Ms Andrews is suing Ms Logas and Luxperience for breach of contract, damages and costs totalling more than $500,000. The matter is listed for a pre-trial conference next week.

Ms Logas told Fairfax Media she was unable to comment while the matter was before the court. However, she did say "we intend to vigorously defend the court action".

Ms Andrews, who has had a 25-year career in travel, has filed a statement of claim saying she had turned down a significant and well paid role with another high-profile business to join Ms Logas.

The deal that she claims lured her away from the other job was an annual salary plus a stake in the business.

Ms Andrews said if things went well with the business events the agreement was that she would take over the day-to-day running of the business, allowing Ms Logas to return to New York and get on with her personal life, while she would build up the business, prepare it for sale and would receive 10 per cent of the sale.

Ms Andrews claims she turned the business around and lifted profits within 18 months.

But despite her performance Ms Andrews said Ms Logas terminated her contract without notice and without any prior warning.

Ms Andrews has said in a statement of claim filed in the court that she believed her contract was terminated because of a change in Ms Logas' personal circumstances, which meant she wanted to spend more time in Australia and step back into the role of chief executive.

The statement of claim also said the termination of her contract was done with the intention of depriving her of benefits.

Ms Andrews told Fairfax media she was "disappointed it had come to this".