Luxury Travel: France Surpasses Italy in Summer Bookings

New data from the Global Travel Collection (GTC) finds France enjoying a record-breaking summer as bookings surge past Italy for the first time in recent years.

July booking data from GTC shows a 64% over year surge in luxury hotel reservations with advisors securing bookings with an average $1400 average daily hotel rate and planning over 900 luxury trips, each worth over $100,000.

Paris was the most popular destination, with 2,710 nights, followed by Nice, with 1,313 nights, and Marseille with 286 nights booked. Popular hotels include Le Bristol Paris, Oetker Hotels, and the The Maybourne Riviera.

Italy was in second place, with 777 nights booked in Rome, 725 nights in Milan and 679 nights in Naples. GTC travel advisors report that client favourites include Rome’s centrally located Hotel Eden, the elegant Passalacqua on Lake Como and the glamorous Romazzino, a Belmond Hotel, on the island of Sardinia.

“For the past two years, Italy has clearly dominated the tourism space. However, the latest booking data from Global Travel Collection advisors reveals a shift — volume has now spread more evenly across Europe, with France reclaiming the top spot for the first time since 2019,” said Angie Licea, President of Global Travel Collection. “This is a positive sign for tourism overall, as it indicates more balanced demand across major European and UK cities.”

The United Kingdom claimed a solid third place in GTC’s July rankings, posting a 13% year-over-year increase in luxury hotel bookings. In London, standout stays include Ham Yard Hotel in Soho, built around a lush tree-filled garden; the iconic Claridge’s, an art deco treasure and English institution; and Flemings Mayfair, set in one of the city’s most exclusive neighbourhoods.

Spain also secured a spot in the top five, with Barcelona emerging as one of July’s most in-demand cities. Top GTC bookings in Spain include the Four Seasons Hotel Madrid, steps from the capital’s cultural landmarks; and two luxury retreats on Ibiza — the Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay and Six Senses Ibiza. In Barcelona, favorites range from the classic Majestic Hotel & Spa to the sleek Mandarin Oriental Barcelona and centrally located Le Méridien Barcelona.