by Robin Amster
Last updated: 3:00 AM ET, Mon January 30, 2017
PHOTO: Cuba found its way among the top 15 overall luxury destinations in the world according to Travel Leaders Group's top luxury travel trends for 2017. (Photo by David Cogswell)
European river cruises ranked as the top luxury destination outside North America, according to Travel Leaders Group's top luxury travel trends for 2017
Italy, Mediterranean cruises, Australia and France were also among the top five luxury destinations, while Cuba is now among the top 15 overall.
The Luxury Travel Trends survey also found that more than eight out of ten luxury specialist travel agents said their bookings are higher than or equal to last year for high-end hotels, luxury cruises and escorted tours, suites on cruise ships, and premium air (First and Business Class).
The survey, conducted Nov. 17 to Dec. 9, 2016, is based on responses from 1,240 Travel Leaders Group luxury travel experts. It's part of a comprehensive travel trends survey of 1,689 U.S.-based travel agents from Travel Leaders Group's flagship Travel Leaders brand and All Aboard Travel, Cruise Specialists, Nexion, Protravel International, Travel Leaders Corporate, Travel Leaders Network, and Tzell Travel Group. Results from Travel Leaders Group's 2017 Travel Trends Survey are here.
"As we take a closer look at what the majority of our affluent travelers are planning for this year, it's hardly a surprise that European vacation options - be they land, river or deep water cruises - are as popular as ever," said Ninan Chacko, Travel Leaders Group CEO.
"In fact, it is quite gratifying to see these destinations regain momentum after a challenging year," he added. "Further buoyed by a stronger dollar, our clients are seeking out destinations like Italy, France and European river cruises with the added expertise our luxury agents provide in designing unique travel experiences.
"That is certainly one reason why our bookings for various segments of the luxury travel industry are higher than or on par with last year for more than 80 percent of our survey participants."
The top luxury travel destinations and latest luxury travel findings from the survey are:
Top Luxury Travel Destinations (Outside) North America
1 | Cruise - Europe (River) |
2 | Italy |
3 |
Cruise - Europe (Mediterranean) |
4 | Australia |
5 | France |
6 | England |
7 | Cruise - Europe (Baltic) |
8 | Ireland |
9 | Bora Bora |
10 | Cruise - Australia/New Zealand |
11 | United Arab Emirates |
12 | Spain |
13 (tie) | Iceland |
13 (tie) | South Africa |
15 (tie) | Cuba |
15 (tie) | Turks & Caicos |
Top Luxury Travel Destinations within North America
1 | Cruise - Caribbean |
2 | Mexico |
3 | Dominican Republic |
4 | Jamaica |
5 | Costa Rica |
Booking Insights for Top Dream Destinations
"We know that Australia, Italy, Ireland, and New Zealand are among Americans' top dream destinations, according to our proprietary surveys of the traveling public over the years," according to Gail Grimmett, president of Protravel International and Tzell Travel Group, both known luxury travel agent advisors.
"High-end travelers don't just dream, they go - with the assistance of our experienced travel agents," said Grimmett. "For Italy, agents from both Protravel and Tzell report their luxury travelers continue to return to Rome, Florence and Venice, but they are also seeking out itineraries that include the Amalfi Coast, the Lake District, and Portofino or Cinque Terre in the Italian Riviera."
Agents booked the following Italian cities the most in 2017 for affluent clients:
1 | Rome, Florence (Tuscany) and Venice |
2 | Amalfi Coast - Amalfi, Positano, and Ravello |
3 | Rome and Vatican City |
4 | Tuscany - Florence, Chianti, Siena |
5 | Venice |
The Italian Riviera, Italy's Lake District, Milan, the Dolomites and Sicily round out the Top 10 among most-booked Italian itineraries.
The most popular Australian cities and regions booked for affluent travelers were Sydney, the Great Barrier Reef, Melbourne, Cairns, and Brisbane. These were followed by the Australian Outback, the Gold Coast, Uluru (Ayers Rock), Queensland and the Blue Mountains to round out the Top 10.
Luxury agents also stated that clients booking New Zealand most often visit: Auckland, Queenstown, Milford Sound, the South Island, and Rotorua. The rest of the Top 10 was: the North Island, Bay of Islands, Marlborough wine region, Hawke's Bay wine region, and Napier.
Ireland is also considered a dream destination for many Americans. Travel Leaders Group's affluent clients most often visit: Dublin, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, the Cliffs of Moher, and Cork.
Luxury Travel Bookings in 2017:
When luxury travel agents were asked to compare their overall luxury travel bookings for 2017so far to those bookings, at this time last year, over 81% said bookings are higher than or on par with 2016.
| Increase versus 2016 | Same
as 2016 | |
Cruise Suite Bookings | 29.3% | 55.5% | (84.8%) |
Premium Air (First/Business) Bookings | 28.0% | 56.3% | (84.3%) |
Luxury Hotel Bookings | 27.3% | 56.8% | (84.1%) |
Luxury Cruise Bookings | 32.7% | 50.1% | (82.8%) |
Luxury Tour Bookings | 27.6% | 54.8% | (82.4%) |
Luxury River Cruise Bookings | 35.6% | 45.6% | (81.2%) |
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