Travel Trends and Hot Topics
Game gudes at Chiawa Camp in Zambia create personalized experiences for guests
Travel Trends and Hot Topics is reprinted with permission from the SATW TRAVELER, the newsletter of the Society of American Travel Writers.
Gazing into the future: destinations, travel trends and other hot topics to ponder…
Remember when no one talked about bespoke travel? Now it’s everywhere and the USTOA (United States Tour Operators Association) says the biggest trend it sees is increased desire for individualized and customized vacation experiences.
That dovetails with what SATW member Elizabeth Hansen found in summarizing a lengthy LinkedIn discussion about “authentic luxury travel.”
“Luxury doesn’t mean the same thing to everyone and it’s not always related to cost. It is, however, often related to a customized experience.”
Among the comments in the LinkedIn discussion:
“Luxury is much more than spas and resorts. It’s that special experience and individualized service.”
“It’s all about attentiveness and personalized service.”
Hansen herself says authentic luxury travel means “having real experiences—not being a tourist, but savoring local culture without sacrificing comfort and convenience…Five-star lodging is often a part of this, but attentive service and custom itineraries that allow for spontaneous detours are just as important.”
Hansen talked about authentic travel when she was interviewed on the Women’s Radio Network and when she was a guest on “The Intentional Traveler,” Michael McCarthy’s radio show on WGN Radio on which he discusses “journeys with purpose and meaning.”
Hot destinations
Depending on whom you ask, the hottest destinations are all over the place, with the exception of Asia, which seems to be on almost everyone’s radar.
Photo credit: ADAMS / HANSEN STOCK PHOTOS
To see more images of Zambia, click here.
Category: Authentic Travel
Subscribe
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.
Comments (1)
Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed
Sites That Link to this Post