From Arcadia Expeditions to Hybrid Air Vehicles, here are a dozen trend-setters that are paving the way for the future of luxury travel…
Speaking at this year’s TTG Luxury Travel Summit, Globetrender editor Jenny Southan revealed some of the world’s most innovative luxury travel companies and how they will shape the vacation experience of wealthy people in years to come.
1. This year Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin both successfully launched civilians into space, meaning space tourism is finally becoming a reality. Next year, tickets aboard Virgin Galactic will be increasing from US$250,000 to US$450,000. In the future, it wants to launch more than one flight a day into space from multiple spaceports around the world.
2. Black Tomato – Globetrender is always impressed with the concepts that this company launches. During the pandemic it began offering curated road trips in partnership with Auberge Resorts. It also launched Face to Place, a video call consultation service for travel planning.
3. Hong Kong-based Pavilions Hotels and Resorts has become the first international boutique hotel group to accept cryptocurrencies for stays, via a partnership with crypto-payment gateway Coindirect.
4. Vertical Aerospace has partnered with Virgin Atlantic to create a network of electric flying taxis to provide connectivity between cities around the UK and airport hubs such as London Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester. Capable of flying at 200 mph, the fully electric air taxis will be almost silent when in flight and will release no emissions. Commercial operations are planned for 2024.
5. Prior, which is a member’s-only travel club, is curating highly distinctive experiences to help travellers spend their time well. Examples for 2022 include 3am tours of Mexico City’s food scene, photography trips to Namibia’s skeleton coast and a weekend of open-fire cooking in Uruguay with chef Francis Mallman.
6. Preferred Hotel Group has launched Beyond Green, a new sustainable hotel collection that aims to turn travel into a force for good. It has 24 founding members from more than 15 countries. Properties must show progress in meeting more than 50 sustainability indicators that align with UN Sustainable Development Goals.
7. Hybrid Air Vehicles is a British company that is developing emission-free Airlander airships (pcitured) that can cruise for up to a week on end and can be fitted out like a luxury hotel with bars and bedrooms on board. The first aircraft is due to be delivered in 2025.
8. Accor is proving visionary with its investment in building a portfolio of branded residences around the world, for people who want live a five-star hotel lifestyle all-year-round. Coming soon will be the Raffles London at the Old War Office, which will have 85 homes complete with Raffles butlers.
9. Arcadia Expeditions will be helping outsiders immerse themselves in Papua New Guinea culture and customs in 2022 and 2023 by spending time with local tribespeople and witnessing never-before-see ceremonies and rituals.
10. Aman launched a series of Extreme Fitness Retreats earlier this year at a variety of properties in places such as the Dolomites and Phuket. Guests wanting to take part have the opportunity to train for each retreat at The Aman Spa at The Connaught in London which will put together a bespoke programme with a group of experts so that individuals are fully prepared for their challenge.