Today’s luxuries, for top-end travellers, are more about exclusive experience than pampering. It’s not that pampering is passé, it’s that it is taken as a given."The elements (of luxury travel) that five to 10 years ago were top-end are now expected," says George Cohen, MD of Johannesburg’s ultra-swanky boutique hotel The Saxon. "These people come from homes where they have butlers and chefs. What they want is more authentic, specialised, discrete and exclusive experiences".While spending on material goods increased incrementally between 2005 and 2015, according to research from consumer trends agency Future Foundation, spending on experience outpaces this. That trend is expected to continue."The new era of luxury travel will be about having access to the most incredible, transient experiences money can buy, but only for a select few," tourism research and development company Amadeus reported in May. It operates in 195 countries."We design non-Googleable options," Luigi Bajona, part...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.