Op-Ed: What Luxury Travel Looks Like Now, Compared to Pre-Pandemic

A battled travel industry has slowly stirred back to life as pent-up demand to immerse in new cultures while experiencing once-in-a-lifetime bucket list excursions has fueled a tourism renaissance. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a multitude of changes in all facets of life, most notably in the travel industry, which is inspiring a variety of new trends. As the travel industry bounces back, people are longing to embark on over-the-top luxury vacation experiences and plan dream trips with those closest to them. This elevation of unique experiences has resulted in an increase of travelers utilizing concierge services and travel advisors to book their vacations and secure luxury villa rentals to accommodate and pamper their guests. Here’s a look at the top three trends that have emerged out of the pandemic:

Increasing Popularity of Concierge Services and Travel Advisors
Big trips often require strenuous planning. With the rise of travelers looking for elevated, unique experiences – from hiring a private chef to prepare incredible local cuisine in an intimate setting to chartering a boat with experienced fisherman for a deep-sea fishing escapade – utilizing concierge services and travel advisors has become increasingly popular. Post pandemic, travel advisors and concierge services (often available through private villa rental providers) have banded together to provide around-the-clock care for their guests to ensure the ultimate vacation experience. While leaning on each other, and combining their first-hand knowledge of destinations, travel advisors and concierge services work together to create niches experiences for guests, allowing them to relax and enjoy all aspects of their trip without the stress and time constraints of researching and booking.

Focus on Creating Unforgettable Moments
Travelers are looking to make up for lost time by booking a plethora of activities that will create unforgettable moments. The inability to freely traverse the globe over the last two years has stimulated travelers’ appetites for bucket list trips and excursions. Additionally, the fluid movements of the COVID-19 pandemic have catalyzed an increased demand for dream trips as travelers do not want to put off vacations and understand there is likely no better time than right now. With an increase in funds from saving during the pandemic, travelers are looking for over-the-top experiences to catapult themselves back into these dream trips, which are abundantly available when booking a luxury villa rental. Whether it’s horseback riding on the beach at sunset, taking pasta-making classes with world-renowned chefs in Italy, or enjoying lunch on top of a volcano, travelers are taking advantage of offerings from luxury villa rentals that provide private, pampering experiences and incredible lifelong memories.

Heightened Demand from Groups Booking Private Villa Rentals
After years of time spent apart and many missed celebrations of milestones, people are craving shared experiences and quality time together. For this reason, accommodations that are perfectly equipped for large multi-generation families and groups of friends are seeing an uptick in bookings. By booking a luxury villa rental, groups can enjoy the comforts of home and peace of mind when traveling in large parties.

As we look at travel trends it is evident that spending time together as a group in private and embarking on over-the-top adventures is increasingly important to travelers post-pandemic. Staying in a luxury villa rental allows guests the flexibility of intimacy while also being in the heart of the action. In addition, travelers have access to travel advisors and concierge services that specialize in attention to detail, providing them once-in-a-lifetime experiences to create memories that will last forever.

Willie Fernandez’s experience in the travel industry spans more than 30 years across the cruise, hotel, vacation and villa industries. He is an accomplished and award-winning digital marketer who has transformed some of the industry’s most recognized brands. He currently serves as the CMO of Rental Escapes.

As chief marketing officer, he is responsible for Rental Escapes' brand strategy and marketing initiatives. He also oversees the agency relations and product teams who liaise with the company’s travel advisor partners and villa suppliers. When he is not at his desk, Fernandez can be found competing nationally on the BASS circuit, spending time with family and traveling.