US, Italy, France Among Top 10 Spring Break Destinations; Switzerland, Greece, Morocco Showing Biggest Increase in Bookings

Meteora, Greece. Travel to Greece is on the upswing. © Karen Rubin/ goingplacesfarandnear.com

NEW YORK – The global luxury travel network Virtuoso® is revealing the around-the-world locations where upscale travelers plan to spend their spring breaks this year, including destinations showing renewed strength following down periods. A leading trend forecaster, Virtuoso has examined its $49.5 billion in transactions to showcase the top destinations for March and April. With holidays occurring deeper into April this year, the prolonged spring travel period will allow visitors to enjoy warmer temps in many of these must-have destinations. 

The Virtuoso Top 10:

The most popular destinations for spring travel based on future bookings.

1. United States                                                   6. Israel
2. Italy                                                                 7. Japan
3. France                                                             8. Australia
4. United Kingdom                                              9. Spain
5. New Zealand                                                   10. China

 The Top 10 analysis: Americans are staying closer to home this spring, seeking the sun in cities such as Los Angeles, Miami and Orlando. Eternally desirable Europe holds four spots on the list; Italy and France exhibit year-round popularity. U.S. travelers are benefiting from a favorable exchange rate against the euro and pound, and spring’s shoulder season is ideal for enjoying the continent minus the summer crowds. New Zealand and Australia beckon families this time of year with their pleasant temperatures and abundance of active experiences. As the birthplace of major world religions, Israel holds great appeal as an educational family destination, with spring a peak season due to Easter and Passover celebrations. Travelers wanting to see Japan’s famed cherry blossoms are heading there in increasing numbers, as the country is also the top emerging destination of 2019, according to the Virtuoso Luxe Report.

The Virtuoso Hot 10:

The countries that have seen the largest percentage of growth in year-over-year bookings.

1. Switzerland (+589%)                                      6. Spain (+112%)
2. Greece (+312%)                                              7. Turks and Caicos (+90%)
3. Morocco (+302%)                                          8. New Zealand (+84%)
4. Japan (+220%)                                                9. Chile (+78%)
5. United Arab Emirates (+197%)                      10. Puerto Rico (+70%)

The Hot 10 analysis: Switzerland is riding a wave of mounting popularity among upscale Americans for its exquisite scenery, abundance of world-class hotels and outdoor activities. Greece continues the upward trajectory Virtuoso first noted for last summer, as the country started emerging from financial challenges. Also returning strongly: North Africa and Middle East destinations such as Morocco and the United Arab Emirates. Growth in bookings to the region, first observed last fall, continues from luxury travelers. Another comeback story is the Caribbean, represented on the list by Turks and Caicos and Puerto Rico. Chile is emerging as a culinary destination, and numerous grape harvest festivals attract wine fans during March and April.

Data is obtained from Virtuoso’s U.S. travel agency members and displays future travel for March and April 2019. 

Virtuoso® is a leading international travel agency network specializing in luxury and experiential travel. This by-invitation-only organization comprises over 1,000 travel agency partners with 20,000 elite travel advisors in 50 countries throughout North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. Drawing upon its preferred relationships with over 1,800 of the world’s best hotels and resorts, cruise lines, airlines, tour companies and premier destinations, the network provides its upscale clientele with exclusive amenities, rare experiences and privileged access. More than $26.4 billion in annual travel sales makes Virtuoso a powerhouse in the luxury travel industry. For more information, visit www.virtuoso.com.

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Virtuoso Elite Travel Network Partners with Luxury Retreats Villa Rental Company

Virtuoso’s affluent clientele will now have access to Luxury Retreats’ more than 4,000 private villas in hundreds of the world’s top destinations.

NEW YORK – Global luxury travel network Virtuoso® has entered into a strategic partnership with Luxury Retreats, a full-service villa rental company dedicated to creating authentic travel experiences. With an increased preference by upscale travelers for greater personalization and flexibility – as well as the more immersive experience that comes with villa stays – Virtuoso’s affluent clientele will now have access to Luxury Retreats’ more than 4,000 private villas in hundreds of the world’s top destinations. Luxury Retreats will also offer Virtuoso clients additional advantages, such as a generous travel credit, superior technology and the support of a global 400+ person team for an unmatched experience.

“Over the past year, we’ve seen demand for private villas reach new heights with a 40 percent year-over-year increase in bookings, leading us to seek out more products and services to feed this skyrocketing trend,” says Albert Herrera, senior vice president, Global Product Partnerships at Virtuoso. “People want to experience destinations as if they’re living like residents, and many times they want seclusion and privacy as well. Whether it’s a Parisian pied-à-terre, beachfront getaway in Malibu or private island in the Caribbean, Luxury Retreats’ portfolio keeps Virtuoso’s industry-leading Hotels & Resorts program at the forefront of traveler demand.”

Luxury Retreats extensively vets every villa in its portfolio, ensuring the highest level of quality accompanied by a best-rate guarantee. With homes in coveted destinations, including Hawaii, Tuscany and Mexico, along with urban retreats, they provide personal concierge services 24/7 to assist with details big and small. In recognition of Virtuoso’s leading position in the industry, Luxury Retreats will offer the network’s clients a generous concierge credit per rental.

“As the world’s leading luxury rental site, Luxury Retreats has the proven ability to match discerning travelers with authentic experiences, personalized service and incredible properties to create unforgettable vacations,” said Amr Younes, head of Business Development & Strategic Partnerships at Luxury Retreats. “In partnering with Virtuoso, we are able to further deliver on our mission of bringing luxury travel to an even larger, highly-discerning clientele.”

Virtuoso clients can now enjoy the best of both worlds when booking a Luxury Retreats property: access to some of the world’s most exclusive private homes coupled with the expert guidance and peace of mind that come when collaborating with and booking through a Virtuoso-affiliated travel advisor. Furthermore, given the boom in multigenerational travel – the top trend of the year according to Virtuoso’s 2019 Luxe Report – demand for Luxury Retreats’ extensive worldwide roster of fashionable homes will continue to increase given their ability to cater to the preferences of each family member.

Virtuoso® is a leading international travel agency network specializing in luxury and experiential travel. This by-invitation-only organization comprises over 1,000 travel agency partners with 17,500 elite travel advisors in 50 countries throughout North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. Drawing upon its preferred relationships with 1,700 of the world’s best hotels and resorts, cruise lines, airlines, tour companies and premier destinations, the network provides its upscale clientele with exclusive amenities, rare experiences and privileged access. More than  $23.7 billion in annual travel sales makes Virtuoso a powerhouse in the luxury travel industry. For more information, visit www.virtuoso.com. Luxury Retreats is one the world’s leading villa vacation rental companies, offering over 4,000 homes and villas in the most sought after destinations across the globe. A global team of passionate travel experts and partners hand-pick and inspect each property, ensuring that guests are offered only the very best on the market. Luxury Retreats provides 24/7 concierge service to customize each getaway, as well as dedicated villa specialists to help guests find the perfect villa – all without charging membership fees. In 2017, Airbnb acquired Luxury Retreats to help further its mission to provide a variety of homes and experiences for every type of traveler. For more information, visit www.LuxuryRetreats.comwww.LuxuryRetreats.com. For more travel features, visit: goingplacesfarandnear.com goingplacesnearandfar.wordpress.com moralcompasstravel.info http://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/karen-rubin travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/ goingplacesfarandnear.tumblr.com/ instagram.com/krubin0830/ instagram.com/famtravltr/ ‘Like’ us on facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures Twitter: @TravelFeatures

Virtuoso Luxe Report Picks Top Destinations for Affluent Travelers in 2015

Miami/South Beach, Florida, is the top domestic destination for 2015 for affluent travelers, according to the Virtuoso Luxe Report © 2015 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

NEW YORK – Virtuoso^®, an international network of luxury travel agencies, has unveiled its 2015 Virtuoso Luxe Report, the results of which are based on an annual survey of its professional travel advisors. Recognized throughout the industry as an authoritative trend-predictor, the report forecasts luxury travel trends and favored destinations while offering insight into the patterns and decisions of the world’s most affluent travelers.

For the first time in five years, river cruising trumped multigenerational travel as the number one trend and Croatia secured the top spot in the “Emerging Destinations” category (the country didn’t make the “top 10” in 2014). Iceland is on the rise while Cuba, Myanmar, and Bhutan continue to be favored emerging destinations. “Adventure travel” surfaced as a dominant trend for 2015 with Costa Rica and South Africa sweeping the top two spots, respectively, proving travelers are less interested in sitting still.

The love affair with Italy continues as it reigned supreme for the “Top International Destination” as well as the favorite country for family travel and honeymoons.  France, Mexico, South Africa, and Australia follow as top international locales, respectively.

Within the U.S., New York City maintained its top spot, followed by Maui, Napa Valley/Sonoma, and Las Vegas. Miami/South Beach climbed three places to reach the “top 5,” bumping Hawaii’s Big Island to ninth place.

Honeymooners showed they are seeking romance at tried and true favorites, as well as some more exotic locales. The most popular honeymoon destinations included Italy, Maui, French Polynesia, France, and the Maldives.

Exploring new destinations, seeking authentic experiences, rest and relaxation, and spending time or reconnecting with loved ones prove to be the key motivators behind high-end travel.

Key findings from the 2015 Virtuoso Luxe Report:

Top Travel Trends

1. River cruising
2. Multigenerational travel
3. Active or adventure trips
4. Celebration travel
5. Family travel (immediate)

Top Domestic Destinations  

1. New York, NY
2. Maui, HI
3. Napa Valley/Sonoma, CA
4. Las Vegas, NV
5. Miami/South Beach, FL

Top International Destinations

1.  Italy
2. France
3. Mexico
4. South Africa
5. Australia

Top Family Travel Destinations

1. Italy
2. Orlando, FL
3. Mexico
4. Hawaii
5. England

Top Adventure Destinations

1. Costa Rica
2. South Africa
3. Galapagos Islands
4. New Zealand
5. Peru

 Top Honeymoon Destinations

1. Italy
2. Maui, HI
3. French Polynesia
4. France
5. Maldives

A record total of 599 travel advisors from Virtuoso member agencies in 25 countries throughout North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia-Pacific and Europe participated in the survey.

Virtuoso^® is a leading network of luxury travel advisors and entities.  This by-invitation-only organization comprises 355 agencies with more than 8,900 travel specialists in 25 countries throughout North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia-Pacific and Europe, as well as over 1,700 travel providers and destinations.  The network’s member agencies generate over $14 billion annually in travel sales, making the group one of the largest in the luxury travel segment.  Their relationships with the travel companies provide the network’s affluent clientele with exclusive amenities, rare experiences and privileged access. For more information, visit http://www.virtuoso.com. To view Virtuoso’s latest videos, go to http://www.youtube.com/user/VirtuosoTraveler.

 

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