Luxury Travel, Lifestyle and Marketing Trends

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..

A local gift followed by food and beverage items rank at the top of the list of preferred turndown amenities and services by guests according to a recent survey by The Leading Hotels of the World and Market Metrix.

Encouraging the sampling of travel products and services is a good method to generate much needed revenue in this downtown and take advantage of available staff with more time on their hands. With this in mind, we’re seeing more and more travel products offering “mini indulgences”, scaled back versions of their full product lines. Here are some examples that caught our eye…

“Hotel X” will be decorated with furniture and knick-knacks purchased from ordinary consumers.

Sometimes it’s best to pass up an opportunity for editorial coverage. Just as one would approach an investment philosophy – it’s all about risk and reward. In the case of the recent swine flu outbreak, some Mexican hotels and resorts started promising free vacations for three years to their guests who contract the swine flu on their trip (the proof is a blood test). But what are the other benefits and risks of such promotions?

There has been a new boomer trend that has been consistently growing in major cities around the United States that is creating a shift in the housing and building products marketplace – retired suburbanites are downsizing and leaving their single-family “empty nests” in the ‘burbs and returning to the city to enjoy all that bustling cities have to offer.

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.

120 years old, that’s the age equivalent in human years of a dachshund that is said to be the world’s oldest dog. He made an appearance on this morning’s Today show wearing red goggles (due to cataracts) that bears a striking resemblance to our mascot on KWE group’s blog. Could they be twins?

In recent years, cruises, luxury resorts and spas have added teen spa-ing to their roster, primarily facials, manicures and pedicures, with playful touches or themes, as well as hosting teen spa parties. However, spas will need to up the ante and be prepared to accommodate more teenage guests, because adults aren’t the only ones looking to de-stress in these turbulent times. Much of this stress filters down to our kids, on top of the typical daily pressures teens already face…