Artisans of Leisure has compiled its latest "Luxury Travel Trends List." As 2022 unfolds and pandemic restrictions ease, the company has been tracking how luxury travelers are planning international travel over the coming months. What do they have to say?
The Artisans of Leisure Luxury Travel Trends List for 2022 reveals that travelers are ready to splurge on over-the-top tours that include ultra-luxury services. Trends highlight that affluent travelers want private services during their trips, such as insider experiences, private tours, private chauffeurs, private villas and stand-alone suites, private yachts and private jets.
In addition, tours that include iconic destinations such as Rome or Egypt are popular with travelers. Many travelers have lifelong dreams of visiting certain bucket-list destinations, and they don’t want to put off what they feel is an important goal and priority. Besides, travel with friends and extended family is on the rise; multi-generational private tours are especially popular.
Learning and self-cultivation during the pandemic have led to an increase in special interest travel, including ancestry tours, culinary tours, music tours, garden tours, hiking and biking tours and art tours. Travelers want immersive experiences that offer hands-on experience and activities based on their interests.
Travelers have remained loyal to and want to support the specialists, hotels and travel providers they have trusted over the years. Many newlyweds who had to delay or postpone their honeymoons are finally having the opportunity to plan their dream trips in international destinations.
Travel inspired by pandemic TV and movie-watching is also popular. Travelers want to visit places they’ve seen in TV shows and movies that they've watched during the pandemic, such as Paris (“Emily in Paris”); Italy (“House of Gucci”); Norway (“No Time to Die”); Scotland (“Outlander”); Morocco (“Inventing Anna”); and Egypt (“Death on the Nile”). During the pandemic, there have been several debuts, renovations and discoveries, including new museums and decorative arts sites in Paris, the Floriade Expo in the Netherlands, new hotels in Asia, renovations of favorite hotels in Australia, and new museums and newly discovered ruins in Egypt. Travelers have been seeing coverage of these new places and events, and are eager to incorporate these into their tours.
Trends reveal that many travelers are booking last-minute trips as pandemic travel restrictions ease. They also expect that if travel restrictions remain or new restrictions are imposed, their travel providers will be flexible with date changes. While travelers are choosing or changing destinations based on COVID-19 travel and testing requirements, they also want their travel specialists to inform them about the latest protocols and to assist with coordination of testing while traveling.
Travelers want customized private trips that combine places that they like to return to again and again—along with new destinations. This allows them to connect with cherished destinations while also satisfying their curiosity and desire to explore new places. Trends also reveal that travelers are booking big trips to celebrate milestone birthdays, anniversaries, graduations and holidays.
Related Articles
A View on 2022: Luxury Travel Roundtable
Editor's Letter: Ramp Up For Global Family Trips
Travel Rebound Continues, Virtuoso Says at Symposium in Lisbon