Luxury Travel & Lifestyle Trends

Recently I was a guest speaker at a Preferred Hotel Group conference, and a question on the minds of many was, “Do the affluent use social media?”

An excerpt from Karen Weiner Escalera’s speech last week in Palm Beach for the Luxury Marketing Council last week, as reported by The Palm Beach Daily News: “Value rules the day at all price points,” she said, reminding the audience that before the global recession kicked in last year, excess was in vogue.”It’s a badge of honor for consumers to get things at a good price.”

Anyone working in PR can tell you about the bombardment of invites in their inboxes for seminars, webinars and conferences for social media and SEO training. This indicates a demand for more education on the topic, and according to these results, it’s paying off.

When you’re thirsty for a Coke, you go might go to the nearby vending machine for your drink. Today, you can get much more than just the usual carbonated drink or salty snack.

Hotels are starting to set themselves apart by becoming a part of the conversation, instead of using Twitter and Facebook as purely sales pitches, by humanizing their business by creating an emotional connection with their guests and fans.

Back in November, we wrote about Loyalty Marketing in Turbulent Times, whereby loyalty programs can be a key differentiator among competition these days, as individuals are taking a closer look at these programs for added value and benefits. Although hotels have also had these programs for years, they recently have had to relax restrictions to keep loyal members on board.

Travelers are more cautious these days and want a summer vacation that’s going to give them the best experience for their hard-earned dollars and vacation time. When we’re all pinching pennies, it’s great to know your price for everything up front (accommodations, meals, and entertainment), with no surprises later. All-inclusive properties also offer the ultimate in relaxation—everything is provided for you, especially attractive in these high-stress times. Cruises and luxury all inclusive resorts have been offering discounts abound, and are thriving despite the economy.

We’re just back from Eye for Travel’s Online Marketing Strategies for 2009 conference in Miami with lots of solid information, inspiration and interesting facts. Here are some highlights which resonated with us..