Experience Luxury
HE ECONOMY SHOWS signs of recovery and luxury products are
pushing their way back into the hearts of consumers. After years of
sacrifice, U.S. travelers are ready to give in and go. And they aren’t
just looking for any vacation; they want their money’s worth—
life-changing experiences and high-end treatment, especially when
it's out of the ordinary or off the beaten path.
Virtuoso’s 2011 Luxe Report found elite clientele increased travel
purchases by 36 percent from 2009 to 2010, with luxury, international, leisure trips as the vacation of choice. Luxury sales for
2011 are already up 15 to 20 percent, according to the travel firm.
Numbers released by Smith Travel Research, the foremost research
house in the hotel industry, supports the Luxe Report, showing
very strong growth rates for luxury and upscale hotels in domestic
and international markets as the sector rebounds in 2011.
T
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
But industry trends don’t guarantee agent success. For luxury
travel agents—and those who aspire to build this segment of their
business—it is critical to understand this point: The advice of a
valued travel consultant is one of the greatest influences on luxury
travel purchasing, but the agent must be clearly knowledgeable
and fully engaged with the interests and needs of elite travelers—
and be able to recommend the best products available.
2 FAIRMONT RAFFLES
HOTELS INTERNATIONAL
4 DESTINATION GERMANY
5 EXPERIENCE LUXURY
10 INDULGE THE SENSES
12 AMRESORTS
14 SANDALS ROYAL
PLANTATION
16 MGM GRAND DETROIT
18 THE MIRAGE RESORT
& CASINO
20 FIES TA AMERICANA
GRAND LOS CABOS
GOLF & SPA RESORT
22 COMPAGNIE DU PONANT
24 FIES TA AMERICANA
GRAND CORAL BEACH
CANCUN RESORT & SPA
26 GREAT SAFARIS
27 BELLAGIO
EDITOR
Lauren Flowers
DESIGNER
Amy Bothwell
GROUP DIRECTOR,
CUSTOM CONTENT
Elizabeth West
VICE PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER
Bob Sullivan
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Michele Garth
PRODUCTION SPECIALIST
Lisa Gonzales
For comments, suggestions or
questions, write to
custom@travelweekly.com.
In this issue of Travel Weekly’s Best of Luxury Travel, we’ll look
at several “authentic” and exclusive travel opportunities that will
speak to travelers who have “done it all” yet are looking for something new. From glamorous tent resorts in South Africa and rural
estates in Napa to private islands in the Caribbean and the
jet-set excitement of Dubai or Monaco, the options for unique
luxury travel are within reach, as is the opportunity to build this
desirable segment of your business.
WIN A $50
VISA GIFT CARD!
Don’t forget to try your luck at our
$50 Visa gift card contest. Go to
www.travelweekly.com/0611Luxury
and answer the 10 questions correctly
for your chance to win.
All of the answers can be found in
this Best of Luxury Travel edition.
BEST OF LUXURY TRAVEL
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