Luxury Travel

Will a traveler who only expects the finest ever decide to board a mass-market cruise ship? Well, the marketplace has spoken and it says, “Maybe, but only under certain conditions.”

This evolution of luxury will require brands to adapt products and experiences consistent with consumers’ new definitions of quality, comfort and elegance.

The smartest people in luxury travel are realizing that they can't just keep doing things the old way. Keeping a high-touch, personal approach while adapting to the needs and wishes of today's travelers will be key to survival.

Customization, wellness, and technology are must-haves for any luxury hotel brand that wants to remain relevant — regardless of the age of their customers.

Luxury hospitality is no longer defined by marble bathrooms and turndown service. To compete and appeal to today's luxury guest, hotels have to be a lot smarter and more thoughtful than ever before.

It's difficult to pin down exactly what's going to dominate the headlines in the luxury travel sector in 2018, but expect a handful of destinations to grow in popularity and for hoteliers to talk up the benefits of enhanced personalization.

We've made a list, and checked it twice, specifically looking at places where purveyors of luxury travel are setting up shop this year.

Everyone has different ideas and approaches for the next big thing in luxury hospitality, from digital innovation and more personalization to smarter, more intuitive service, and better dining experiences.

Luxury travelers are increasingly looking to vacation rentals for a different type of experience. This presents opportunities for both established players and newcomers.

Scale definitely helps hotel companies, but it comes at a cost. With multiple brands, differentiation is difficult, leaving plenty of room for smaller operators.