News and Insights
Need to Get Personal
November 14, 2024
In 2024, travelers are increasingly seeking exclusive, bespoke adventures. The trend likely stems from the worldwide lockdown, during which affluent vacationers, eager for new sights, booked custom-designed travel, leading to a noteworthy surge in private aviation, which was seen as less-risky health-wise than commercial flights.
Now, some are taking personalization to natural extremes. According to Booking.com’s most recent global survey, 59% of travelers want to hit the road alone, including 70% of parents who are ready to ditch the kids and their partners for trips in which they can prioritize self-growth. Meanwhile, tailor-made travel has been estimated by Fast Company to grow at an annual clip of nearly 8% to over $500 billion by 2029.
The Point on the shores of Upper Saranac Lake in the Adirondacks of New York is a model of personalization. With just 11 rooms and a well-spoken policy of inviting guests to treat the hotel and its surroundings as their own home, guests are welcome to serve themselves from fully stocked bars scattered across the 75-acre property. Occupying the site of a former Rockefeller Great Camp, The Point is leading a new twist on luxury: all-inclusive travel that bundles unique offerings and special amenities such as multi-course, wine-paired meals served communally in an elevated house party atmosphere; exclusive caviar tastings on the hotel’s Elco yacht, with an expert to guide enjoyment of the decadent treat; and after-dinner tastings of rare tequilas, cognacs and whiskeys.
In the Caribbean, Blue Diamond Resorts has made personalization a calling card, with 60 properties and a diverse array of brands that are strategically designed to cater to a wide range of client preferences. The Royalton CHIC brand, for instance, offers all-in luxury at properties in Punta Cana, Cancun, and Antigua, coaxing travelers with a Party Your Way concept that offers options for guests to enjoy their stay, from unexpected events to tailored amenities such as exclusive CBD-based spa treatments, anti-hangover kits, and entertainment hosted by “CHIC Angels,” who get parties started and help keep them going.
Seabourn, the leader in ultra-luxury cruises and expedition travel, pampers guests with unique, all-inclusive journeys at sea. Along with the brand’s new fine dining restaurant Solis celebrating Mediterranean cuisine inspired by the places visited by the line’s ultra-luxury vessels, Seabourn continues to deliver exclusive culinary experiences such as in-suite caviar service, Shopping with the Chef, and Caviar in the Surf.
“The innovations we’ve seen in the evolution of the all-inclusive concept reveals that hotels and resorts are listening to their guests and paying attention when they arrive,” said Catherine Colford, partner at Maverick Creative, who works with The Point. She also noted that travel media who hadn’t previously written about all-inclusives were especially interested. “From a PR standpoint, that revealed the importance of always watching trends and looking at where they’re headed to generate interest in how travel providers are shaping vacations for their guests.”
Looking for more travel trends? Get access to the full 2024 TrendHawk report here:
