Luxury Travel

This seems like a win-win for TUI Group. It gets an established partner to help grow its luxury and expedition cruise line — while also keeping a share of the business — and at the same time it gets the cash to help pursue its digital strategy.

The future of luxury family travel is sustainable, eco-friendly adventures. Luxury properties would be wise to think about how they can appeal to this environmentally-conscious set of travelers.

The hospitality industry has found that the higher a family's budget, the more concerned they are about environmental and cultural sustainability. Luxury operations that craft experiences that engage the family, and especially Gen Z, will see the long-tail impact as this generation has more control over vacation decisions.

South African tourism is on the decline. There are several factors at play, but given the diversity of experiences that can be had in this country of 58 million people, what's needed is a new and sharper narrative.

There is no doubt that the latest wellness trends will impact the travel space. Just how fast companies will begin implementing the trends is the real question.

Wellness trends come and go, but travel companies in 2020 are increasingly looking toward ancient traditions to find practices that are built to last.

The legalization of marijuana by states is getting murkier in the eyes of the federal government, which has still not legalized pot. Thirty-three states have, meaning that hotels have to deal with it whether they like it or not. Some hotels are embracing certain forms of cannabis. Others don’t want the potential liability. How do they figure out what to do?

These days, it's not just one-off luxury properties that are investing in conservation projects. More companies see the value in protecting and restoring the land they're situated on, and ones that don't may be left behind.

Outside of Africa where poaching, forestry, and resource exploitation can also threaten wildlife habitats, luxury hospitality leaders are playing a role in protecting land and creating opportunities around conservation.

Twice a year, this column looks at who is doing it right. Here are some of the most inspiring innovations in design, service, and guest experience in hospitality and travel. Let the debates begin.