As we head into the final stretch of summer, we continue to hear great things about the travel rebound—despite potential concerns around inflation, increased airfare and hotel rates, and chaotic airport experiences. In fact, when it comes to price, Virtuoso this week shared that three-quarters (74 percent) of its clients say “creating a travel experience that best fits my expectations is more important than price.” The network adds these clients have plans to increase their previous year’s spend of $20,700 per person by 34 percent to $27,800 in the next year.
What mind they be spending that budget on? For one, it could be Remote Lands' new 14-day private jet journey that takes guests through the United States, Bermuda, Turks and Caicos, the Dominican Republic and Mexico, staying at five different Aman properties. Similarly, Four Seasons announced the first set of 2024 itineraries for the “Four Seasons Private Jet Experience.” Each itinerary allows for a range of customizations to cater to individual traveler needs and wants, with a few "surprises" along the way.
Digging into the data: At Virtuoso Travel Week, held throughout this week in Las Vegas, the luxury travel network revealed additional insight showing the near future of the travel industry is bright. Pulling data from its advisors, preferred partners and high net worth/ultra-high net worth clients, Virtuoso found that both inbound and outbound leisure travel sales are booming—in some cases surpassing 2019 levels. As for 2023, travel sales are pacing 47 percent higher than 2019—the industry’s high-water mark.
Destinations like Puerto Rico are seeing benefits of travel’s resumption. Since the beginning of the year, the island has broken its record of jobs in the leisure and hospitality sectors every month, signaling a robust reboot of the economic engine. In June, Puerto Rico set a record with 86,700 workers in the field. Between January and June, the tourism industry added 3,300 new jobs.
Outdoor and adventure travel also continues to be a major trend, which is backed up both by Virtuoso's data and the many announcements on the supplier front this week. Purpose-driven travel remains paramount, Virtuoso said. Environmentally friendly philosophies and practices and the preservation of natural and cultural heritage are top-of-mind concerns, especially among Gen Z and Millennials
It should come as no surprise, then, to hear that expedition cruise line Quark Expeditions expanded its overnight camping opportunities for guests in the polar regions, including Greenland and Antarctica. In addition, tour operator Intrepid Travel announced the launch of its first-ever “Citizen Science” program in Antarctica. “Citizen Science” is voluntary research collected through public participation, in which guests can share and contribute data they observe to a variety of projects, with the goal of advancing scientific studies by increasing the capacity of information gathered. In Bhutan, which recently announced it would be reopening in September, EF Go Ahead Tours will take travelers across the Trans Bhutan Trail, which is opening to visitors for the first time in 60 years.
Domestically, Escape Adventures unveiled a new five-day guided camping and mountain biking tour of the 144-mile-long Maah Daah Hey Trail System in North Dakota. A day on the trail might bring riders face-to-face with bison, elk, bighorn sheep, wild horses, pronghorn antelope, coyote and wild turkey. Further west, Backland, a luxury eco-resort, will officially open on September 1 near the Grand Canyon. There will be 10 tents available for booking; these will include such comforts as a king bed, en-suite bathrooms with a shower, luxury linens, electricity and climate control. Miles of biking, hiking and riding trails weave throughout the national forest surrounding Backland.
Aiding in the recovery is the slew of cruise lines that are reducing their COVID-19-related health and safety protocols. Late last week and early this week several Carnival Corporation brands—including Cunard, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Seabourn—simplified their requirements. For the most part, for voyages under 16 days:
- Vaccinated guests must provide evidence of vaccination status prior to embarkation. Pre-cruise testing is no longer required.
- Unvaccinated guests are welcomed aboard and must provide results of a negative medically supervised or self-test taken within three days of embarkation.
For voyages of 16 days or more:
- All guests will be required to submit a medically supervised COVID-19 test with a written negative result. The test must be taken within three days of embarkation.
- Guests must be vaccinated or request an exemption.
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