Luxury Travel

Today's podcast looks at quiet luxury, hotels' upgraded booking technologies, and the popularity of cooler destinations.

A growing group of affluent travelers are done with personal butlers and gold-plated fixtures. To them, luxury is a more personal, one-of-a-kind experience.

As business class goes mainstream, premium travelers seeking true exclusivity and comfort are re-discovering the appeal of a bygone format.

While this is only a minority investment in a small company, LVMH's stake in Fontenille shows its ambition to accelerate its travel and experiential offerings internationally, beyond just Cheval Blanc, Belmond, and Bulgari Hotels & Resorts.

Bulgari Hotels isn't just selling rooms. It's selling one of the rarest commodities in modern luxury: restraint.

In this video from Skift Aviation Forum 2024, Amy Bernard of American Express Travel discusses how the rising demand for premium experiences, personalized amenities, and best-in-class service is driving innovation in Centurion Lounges across airports globally.

Hilton’s strategy puts China and Southeast Asia front and center, but its sharpened focus on India signals a broader ambition. The brand is doubling down on Asia Pacific’s booming economies and growing middle class.

One of Hyatt's many business models is to take indie luxury hotels that pride themselves on being boutique-y, providing them the benefits of Hyatt (distribution! marketing! operational support!) and then downplaying any sign of corporate involvement in the eyes of guests. So far, it's working.

Marriott sees an opportunity to tap into luxury travel spending by millennials and Gen Z, expected to inherit tens of trillions of dollars worldwide over the next couple of decades.

There is a subset of luxury travelers who are taking to the water to find remote, interesting areas that aren’t mobbed. And increasingly, they aren’t opting for hyper-luxe, large scale cruises.