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HOW WILL YOU TRAVEL IN 2022?
We polled our partners for their insights on how travel changed last year and their projections for what’s to come in luxury travel in 2022.
Read on for our 10 MAK.Facts for 2022...
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EARLIER BOOKING WINDOWS
“We’re expecting an earlier booking window this year,” says Lisbeth K. Yori, Senior Sales Manager at Cliff House Maine.
“Last year we were almost fully committed for the summer by April/May. In previous years an advisor could reach out in June and find some availability for summer. We anticipate that Travel Advisors who couldn’t get their clients in last year will book earlier for 2022 to ensure availability - and we recommend it!”
Above: Cliff House Maine Oceanfront King room.
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FEWER, BETTER TRIPS
“People who used to travel first class four times a year are now traveling private twice a year,” says Robert Gilbert, Senior Account Manager for Flewber private aviation. “We’re seeing an increase of new-to-private clients up 20 percent. We find clients are willing to spend more because they value their safety, convenience and comfort,” says Flewber Senior Vice President, Thane Gaves (pictured at right).
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EVER-CHANGING PRODUCT
“With cost increases across the board on all fronts, people will be expecting the very best and the experience has to be commensurate with the pricing,” Michael B. Hoffmann, Managing Director, Perry Cabin Resorts & Golf.
“Yet, issues in the supply chain and the limited availability of even the basics, is requiring us to pivot, constantly. The benefit to the customer is that what they are getting is high quality, super fresh and ever changing. Our menus already have ‘chef’s choice’ as a descriptor because it’s whatever the best available product is in the market that day, that we can put our hands on.”
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BETTER ROOMS, LONGER STAYS
“We have new residential-style suites with kitchenettes at Mandarin Oriental, Boston, and we saw many guests staying in these, and our other higher-category rooms, for longer stays of weeks to months at a time,” says Philipp Kneupfer, General Manager of Mandarin Oriental, Boston. “Also our guests in 2021 were mostly U.S. travelers, we haven’t seen Europeans coming back yet.”
Above: A Back Bay Corner Suite Living Room at Mandarin Oriental, Boston.
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DOMESTIC TRAVELERS RETURNING
“We had many new domestic visitors this year, people who normally would have traveled to farther flung locations, but came and loved their visit, and the ease of domestic travel. Many of them booked ahead for 2022, even before leaving the resort!,” says Katherine Hawk, Leisure Sales Manager at Chatham Bars Inn on Cape Cod. “We had limited availability in 2021, so people are getting ahead of the game for 2022.”
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EXCLUSIVE, ON-SITE EXPERIENCES
“The popularity of exclusive, private properties has increased due to COVID,” says Natalie Cobb, Sales & Marketing Manager for Beaverbrook, a historic estate hotel in the Surrey Hills outside of London.
“Guests are looking for more than just a room, they’re looking for activities, top-end spa experiences and dining experiences that offer something spectacular and ‘out-of-the-norm.’ In 2021 we hosted our Yakiniku Dining Experience in stationary, hot-air balloons, as well as our ice skating rink and Morgan Plus 4 driving experience. This year we’re planning for similarly creative experiences for guests.”
Above: Exterior and seasonal ice skating rink at Beaverbrook in Leatherhead, England.
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BOOKING ACTIVITIES IN ADVANCE
“We’re seeing demand increasing so it’s becoming important to book dining and resort activities in advance to guarantee the availability of preferred times,” says Tim Cartwright, Director of Leisure Sales at Edgewood Tahoe Resort.
“With fewer group travelers (who book activities as a block) and more leisure travelers, our prime-time slots are in high demand for things like breakfast, spa treatments, and snowshoeing to our Champagne Chalet (pictured above). Travel into 2022 requires more detailed itinerary planning.”
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AMERICANS RETURN TO FRANCE EN MASSE
“Since France reopened to tourists in summer 2021 we have seen a massive return of American guests,” says Nicolas Egloff, Director of Sales & Marketing at Relais Christine and Saint James Paris, “and unless there is another closure of borders due to COVID this will probably remain through 2022. We have received inquiries for fall already, and a lot of advance bookings.
In 2022 we are also starting to get inquiries from Australia and South America. Asia markets will probably not be back before another year.”
Above: The newly renovated restaurant at Saint James Paris.
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EMPHASIS ON OUTDOOR CONTINUES
“We invested in adding more gardens and outdoor spaces for guests to enjoy last year,” says Theodore Dactilidis of Mykonos Riviera Hotel and Spa. “We expanded outdoor seating areas for our bar and restaurant, and moved to an a la carte breakfast. We think guests will continue to value fresh-air options in 2022, and beyond.”
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LAST-MINUTE CHANGES, THE NEW NORM
“With the U.K. restricted from traveling, we saw none of our U.K. guests but they were replaced by the French, and Italians who had international plans that had to change,” says Manola Fresta, the Senior Director of Sales and Revenue at Lefay Resorts. “Last year we saw more changes to bookings and we expect that to continue in 2022 as the rules and restrictions around traveling continue to shift.”
“We were used to Americans and Australlians booking six months out but that changed last year,” said Christos Ckekas, Founder of Blue Villas. “Greece didn’t reopen to tourists until May, but it didn’t heavily impact our season because we were very busy with last-minute bookings throughout the summer.”
Above: One of the Blue Villas collection in Greece. Right: Manola Fresta of Lefay Resorts.
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Join peP.R and the Flewber team!Thursday, December 16th
7 o’clock
230 5th
230 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan
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