Luxury travel is no longer just for celebrities, tycoons or the heirs to multimillion-dollar dog food empires. Thanks to rising disposable incomes and a shift in priorities, the luxury market is booming again, now dominated by millennials who want to explore the world and tick destinations off their bucket lists. They want authenticity, wellness incorporated into itineraries and climate-conscious options. In fact, they’re willing to spend more on experiences that make a difference, with YouGov finding that over a third of affluent travellers and young affluents are prepared to pay more for meaningful travel.
In many ways, a luxury experience isn’t actually that much different from an average trip. It’s the personal touches, like impeccable service from staff who know you by name and understand your preferences, that elevate it into the realm of luxury. Or it might be something as simple as a glass of champagne at liftoff or a welcome gift to make you feel like a VIP.
For some, a luxury travel experience might be a one-on-one painting class with a master artist or a private tour of the Sistine Chapel in Rome with a professional guide. For others, it might be a high-end safari lodge or even an entire private island for a week. The newest generation of luxury travellers are looking for immersive and meaningful trips that offer a deeper connection with their destination.
Aside from a great location and excellent accommodation, the most important factors for luxury travelers are unique experiences that they can’t replicate at home. And that’s why so many luxury travel brands are offering a range of authentic experiences to appeal to a wide variety of tastes and interests.
One example is the bespoke travel agency Ten Lifestyle Group, which offers a ‘Silk Road Safari’ that takes travellers across the ‘-stans’ in comfort and style. It combines cultural highlights with activities that give guests an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at local life. The result is a truly deluxe journey, with the likes of mohair seat lining and enough mirrors to make Narcissus blush, along with delicious cuisine and wines that are sourced sustainably and in-the-know tips from local guides.
Creating unique, authentic experiences that reflect the local culture is a key part of luxury. But it’s also crucial to understand what makes you stand out from the competition and how to communicate that to luxury consumers. In other words, if you’re a luxury travel brand, the last thing you want is to lower your prices simply because you can’t compete with a competitor who has an inferior product or customer service. Instead, you need to improve your product or service and ensure that it’s worth the price tag that you’re charging. That way, your luxury experience will be worth every penny.