News For Summer And Beyond And Latest Booking Trends – Elegant Resorts

 

With bookings for Easter 2024 up and summer selling well, Elegant Resorts is looking ahead to a host of inspiring new itineraries, hotels, and destinations. From bucket list holidays in emerging ‘cool’ spots like Finland to a resurgence of old favourites in Asia like Thailand, the luxury travel market is poised for an exciting second half of the year.

 

Key booking trends

 

With the school holidays fast approaching, Spain is Elegant Resorts’ best-selling destination for Easter 2024. Unsurprisingly, after one of the wettest winters on record in the UK, the Canary Islands (with 75% of bookings to Spain) are proving most popular when it comes to the search for sunshine.

 

Easter bookings overall are up 19% on 2023 with Barbados, UAE and the Maldives all retaining their position in the top five and performing well in terms of year-round sales. Nudging out the USA, Thailand – which didn’t make the top ten last year – is the fifth most favoured Easter getaway.

 

Bookings for summer 2024 so far are on a par with last summer, although Greece is capturing even more market share than usual with a 24% increase. Many clients have booked early to avoid disappointment and perennial favourites remain Corfu and Crete, followed by Kos and the Peloponnese.

 

Similar to last year, Italy, Spain and Portugal are all being favoured by families, but the USA has replaced Barbados as the fifth most popular summer destination. Virgin’s new direct flights from Manchester to Las Vegas starting in June come at just the right time, as does EasyJet’s new route from Gatwick to Salerno on the Amalfi coast in July.

 

Although fly and flop beach holidays continue to exert a powerful draw, the lure of bucket list destinations is gaining traction. Finnish Lapland is proving a big hit and French Polynesia and Argentina are also featuring increasingly on people’s must-see lists. Elegant Resorts has identified a growing appetite for transformational travel where guests open themselves up to trying something new or undertaking a “once in a lifetime” journey, to return home enlightened by their discoveries.

 

With an extensive range of tailormade itineraries on offer, Asia is back with a bang, and British Airways returns to Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur in the autumn whilst holidays to central/Latin America and Australasia are also growing in demand.

 

Wellness holidays now account for a 7% share of bookings and are set to increase in popularity as more and more people look to prioritise their health and wellbeing and include these as an essential part of their holidaying habits. Longevity escapes are now a big thing in health and wellbeing. With the medical spa market projected to reach $49 billion by 2030 due to the number of affluent consumers seeking to extend their lives, treatments like oxygen therapy and anti-ageing IV infusions are increasingly in demand.

 

What’s new for summer and beyond?

 

New destinations

 

Folegandros, Greece – close to Santorini but nevertheless off the beaten track, this postcard-perfect island is about to get its moment in the limelight with the opening in May of a new five-star resort. Set high on soaring cliffs overlooking the azure Aegean Sea, Gundari is the epitome of understated luxury, wrapped in 80 hectares of spectacular, raw nature.

 

Kenya – facing Mount Kilimanjaro, Angama Amboseli is a luxury tented lodge located in the country’s first community-owned sanctuary of Kimana. Set within a Fever Tree Forest where some of Africa’s last ‘super tusker’ elephants roam, the intimate 10-suite lodge is just a 45-minute drive from the Amboseli National Park.

 

Japan – discover the essence of this fascinating country on a brand new 14-day tailor-made itinerary, the Golden Route and Okinawa. From the nightlife of Tokyo to the rich marine life of Okinawa, via the temples of Kyoto and mysterious Mount Fuji, the itinerary is a chance to really appreciate authentic Japanese traditions including an exclusive tea ceremony and dinner with a Maiko.

 

New prestige hotels like the Six Senses Kyoto, opposite the famous 16th-century Toyokuni Shrine, and Janu Tokyo in the capital’s dynamic new neighbourhood of Azabudai Hills are just two other reasons to head east this year.

 

Istanbul, Turkey – Elegant Resorts is expanding its programme beyond Bodrum and Dalaman to include the iconic spires and minarets of Istanbul. This fascinating melting pot of cultures and civilisations is one of the world’s greatest 21^st century cities that never stops moving.

 

New itineraries

 

Rwanda’s Plains, Rainforests and Primates – search for endangered mountain gorillas and look for chimpanzees in their natural habitat on a thrilling 10-night adventure that takes in three of the country’s top national parks. Accommodation includes a couple of nights at Magashi Camp an eco-camp teeming with wildlife and a stay at Singita Kwitonda, a rainforest retreat with private plunge pool.

 

Luxury Namibian Self-Drive – sleep under the stars, encounter majestic desert elephants and explore ancient rock art on a two-week drive through Namibia. The selection of world-renowned game reserves promises an immersive wilderness experience.

 

Incas and the Andes – from the lively streets of Lima to the serenity of the Sacred Valley, and the mystical ruins of Machu Picchu to the age-old heart of the Inca Empire, Cusco, this nine-day trip captures the very best of Peru’s cultural and historic treasures.

 

A Journey of Romance, Italy – beginning aboard the legendary Venice-Simplon Orient Express, a peerless ten-day itinerary featuring some of Italy’s most enchanting destinations. From the timeless beauty of Venice to captivating Lake Garda and the romance of Verona, the journey oozes class from start to finish.

 

Moroccan Gems – a 14-day journey through thousands of years of history taking in the mythical cities of Marrakesh, Casablanca, Rabat, and Tangier. Vivid contrast is provided by an excursion to the Atlas Mountains, a night under the stars in the Agafay desert and time in the laidback port of Larache with its nearby beach.

 

Luxury Greek Island-Hopping Adventure/ Greek Island Hopping – a refreshed offer to incorporate Folegandros’ brand new five-star boutique resort Gundari, and the Andronis Minois on the island of Paros with its contemporary take on traditional Cycladic architecture.

 

Classic Kerala – 13 days amid lush tea plantations, tranquil waterways, and pristine beaches in the picturesque state of Kerala in southern India. The local culture is put front and centre with a stay on a traditional houseboat, the chance to try centuries old Ayurvedic holistic treatments, and a private cooking demonstration inside a Cochin home.

 

Eastern and Oriental Express, Singapore and Langkawi – a luxurious train trip aboard the legendary Eastern and Oriental Express which weaves its way from Singapore through Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi and Penang. Cross lush tropical jungles and verdant rice paddies before enjoying time by the coast in a heavenly location tucked away in an ancient rainforest on Langkawi’s northwest tip.

 

Hot destination – Sardinia

 

Belmond Hotel Romazzino – reopening in May, the Romazzino resort is an ode to historical glamour and relaxation in the heart of the Costa Smeralda. Giving new meaning to the word villeggiatura, the property offers a deluxe retro-chic getaway on the Emerald Coast.

 

Rocco Forte Costa Smeralda – further up the coast, a new Rocco Forte beachside resort is opening in 2025 in the beautiful town of Porto Cervo. A short stroll from one of the best beaches on the island, with panoramic views over the Tyrrhenian Sea, the resort blends Mediterranean architecture with the natural landscape.

 

Mandarin Oriental, Porto Cervo – perched on a hill overlooking the Gulf of Pevero and surrounded by forest, the sumptuous hotel is set to open in 2026 with 83 rooms and suites, five distinctive restaurants and bars and an exclusive spa and wellness experience.

 

Cheval Blanc Pitrizza – also in 2026, LVMH brand Cheval Blanc is taking over the landmark Hotel Pitrizza near Porto Cervo. There are 49 rooms and suites and 16 villas, most with private pools and great sea views.

 

Africa

 

Morocco

 

Royal Mansour Casablanca – reopening soon after extensive renovations, the five-star Royal Mansour Casablanca is an oasis of calm in Morocco’s fabled and largest city. The hotel prides itself on its elegance, style and warmth of service, combined with luxurious amenities and excellent cuisine.

 

Tanzania

 

Singita Milele – opening in May 2024, this private retreat is in the Grumeti Reserve, a vast and protected piece of pristine savannah. With five expansive guest suites, generous terraces with panoramic views of the plains below, outdoor showers and private jacuzzis, this is comfort at its most superlative.

 

Indian Ocean

 

Maldives

 

Soneva Secret – tucked away in the Maldives’ most remote atoll Haa Dhaalu, this barefoot paradise features just 14 secluded beach and overwater villas, including a floating villa and secret hideaways accessible only by boat. Soneva Secret works with every guest to co-curate personalised wellness experiences.

 

Asia

 

Thailand

 

Aman Nai Lert Bangkok – opening later this year, Thailand’s first urban Aman HOtel and Residences are set amid the skyscrapers of central bangkok in the leafy Nai Lert Park. Modern aesthetics meet traditional Thai influences in an upscale design with wraparound views, open air terraces and an innovative central atrium.

 

Caribbean

 

Grenada

 

Six Senses La Sagesse – set between the ocean and a protected cove on the southern part of the island, the brand’s debut in the Caribbean is due to open in April 2024. Influenced by the region’s traditional architecture, the design mimics a Caribbean village. Dining will focus on handpicked organic ingredients and fresh seafood caught by local fishermen.

 

Silversands Beach House – this recently opened intimate, luxury boutique hotel is framed by a dramatic stone bluff and the azure waters of Portici Beach. It comprises just 28 meticulously crafted villas and suites with breathtaking views of lush mountains or unspoiled ocean shores and is a byword for romance.

 

Europe

 

Greece

 

Andronis Minois, Paros – reopening in May, the resort is based on the iconic white, cubist houses that are a tradition in Cycladic architecture. The water’s edge is just 200 metres away making for a truly relaxing Greek retreat.

 

One&Only Kéa Island (and One&Only Aesthesis) – the all-villa resort One&Only Kéa Island, opening in May, is just a one-hour boat trip away from Athens and occupies a 65-hectare beachfront site on the west side of the island. Combine it with the One&Only Aesthesis, a captivating coastal hideaway on the Athenian Riviera which opened last year.

 

Spain

 

Four Seasons Mallorca – originally built in 1929, the Formentor Hotel was favoured by Hollywood stars and statesmen and has now been transformed into the luxury new Four Seasons Resort Mallorca. Opening in June 2024. An hour from Palma de Mallorca airport.

 

New journeys

 

Trains

 

La Dolce Vita Orient Express – reminiscent of the Golden Age of the Orient Express, La Dolce Vita train is scheduled to launch at the end of 2024 with a choice of leisurely-paced itineraries across 14 Italian regions and beyond, including from Rome to Paris, Istanbul and Split. The concept pays tribute to “La Dolce Vita”, a time of great eclectic and artistic fervour, and marries the excellence of Italian design with a more contemporary spirit of travel.

 

Boats

 

Silverseas’ Silver Ray – set to make her maiden voyage in summer 2024, Silver Ray is Silverseas’ second Nova Class ship and boasts a revolutionary horizontal design with elegant glasswork throughout. Many of the spacious suites promise a 270˚ view from sea to sky, and there are eight restaurants and an unprecedented number of bars to choose from.

 

Elegant Resorts recently launched its Luxury Travel Trends Report which you can access here

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