Luxury Travel & Lifestyle Trends

A survey developed by KWE group for Casa Velas Hotel Boutique in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico indicated that 70% of their guests were interested in learning to put their best profile forward on Facebook, establish a Twitter account, upload videos and the like. Happy to oblige, the hotel is offering twice weekly workshops, free to guests.

It has been widely reported that the recession has dampened the popularity of splurging on high ticket items (or at least openly boasting about such purchases) and many affluents believe that the best way to weather the global recession is to indulge in life’s little luxuries (see our earlier blog item about mini-indulgences). And so it appears that the affluent are still spending…but on what?

There’s no escaping bad news – from dismal employment figures to the economy or the swine flu – and as a result, we’re stressed. And when deep breaths or a relaxing spa vacation just won’t cut it, look to Aggro-Tourism to truly vent and cure what ails you.

With so much hotel product in the market (with more to come), combined with the drop in occupancy worldwide, more and more hotels are going to need to reinvent themselves. Big global chains have been doing this for a few years now, rolling out new brands to serve additional market segments (Aloft, Andaz, Element, Indigo, etc). The competition has become so fierce that, as most of you have read, Starwood and Hilton are even going to court over alleged stealing of research and market intelligence by the latter.

When the going gets tough, the tough get creative. They’re not exactly offering bailouts, but everyone from travel companies to car manufacturers are doing their part to help those who have been laid off in an effort to keep customers spending and earn their loyalty, when things eventually turn around.

There is some worry that the recession may hold back some eco-initiatives, because in many cases, green travel choices are usually more expensive. For example: high speed rail, which is low in emissions but often more expensive than a low-cost flight.

Adventurers and in-the-know travelers have been beguiled by exotic Africa for centuries, but what is for sure is that Obama’s prominence and African origins will surely accelerate interest in African tourism, culture and style, and putting the continent firmly back on the chic list. It’s debatable whether the “O factor” will revive Hawaiian tourism the way Jimmy Carter did to Plains, Georgia or Bush to Crawford, Texas.

Connecting travelers has been an ongoing theme over the past two years or so, as social media and private online communities have been bringing together like-minded travelers before, during and after their travels. SeaDream Yacht Club, Hyatt and American Express all use online communities to connect members, guests and passengers in advance of their travels and share “insider” experiences.

In other times, a luxury product offering discounts risked tarnishing its image and cachet, traditionally a big no-no. But as the economies around the world continue to deteriorate, luxury retail and travel industries (cruise ships, tour operators, hotels, attractions, etc.) have resorted to slashing prices to merely stay afloat while continuing to market aggressively to build market share so that when the economy turns around, they’ll be in a stronger position than ever before.

Tourist destinations could take a lesson from Australia’s Tourism Queensland, which recently kicked off an impressively clever promotion, which instantly gained global attention: an international recruiting contest to fill what it calls The Best Job in the World, a highly paid, 6-month position living the high life, all the while spotlighting the Great Barrier Reef Islands.