Interview: Virtuoso Travel CEO on the Future of the New Luxury Traveler
Photo Credit: Wellness travel is evolving to focus more on mental and emotional health. Virtuoso
Skift Take
Wealthy travelers define luxury in many different ways, based on who they're traveling with and why. However, there is consensus in terms of the growing demand for more human connectedness and meaningful experiences for both adults and children.
What is the definition of luxury travel in 2017? It depends.
The future of luxury travel revolves around the fluidity of the digitally-connected consumer mindset, who is comfortable fluctuating between a wide spectrum of accommodations and experiences depending on the context.
“It’s become nearly impossible to profile the luxury client today, because travelers are seeking deeper experiences, inspiration, personalization, and self-discovery," says Virtuoso CEO Matthew Upchurch. "But they’re achieving it by traveling in a variety of ways, including business, leisure, romantic getaways, family or multi-generational, and personal enrichment.
“These motivations aren’t mutually exclusive, and consumers don’t want to be pigeonholed as a particular type of traveler," he continues. "They self-identify based on how they view themselves. Their perceptions of themselves and their expectations from their travels vary based on who’s with them and where they’re going.”
