Advisor's one rule for multi-gen family travel success after six-figure trip
Danny Akhtar of Global Travel Collection has organised vacations for some of the world’s wealthiest and most powerful families.
A top luxury advisor has shared his secret to nailing multi-generation trips, after 34 years planning travel for affluent families.
Danny Akhtar, managing director of Par Excellence Lifestyle, is currently in the process of booking a lavish vacation to Sri Lanka and the Maldives for a family of ten. The ages on the trip vary greatly; as well as grandparents in their 70s and parents in their 40s, there is also a 21-year-old, an 18-year-old, a 16-year-old and a younger child, who has special needs.
The cost of the holiday has already exceeded £100k, and with more adjustments still to be made, is likely to reach a total bill of £200k.
For many advisors, the prospect of organising a long-haul trip for an affluent, multi-gen family would be daunting. From ensuring the flights are suitable for young children and older people, to making the activities appropriate for all ages, there is a litany of additional factors to consider.
Akhtar, however, keeps things simple with one golden rule: “Think of the grandparents and children first.”
“You need to make sure the grandparents and the children are happy, and the parents will accommodate from there,” he explains. “In any multi-generational family trip, the whole point is to enrich the children and to create memories.”
As a result, Akhtar always ensures that the itinerary includes activities that will appeal to both the children and the adults. For example, the Sri Lanka trip will involve cultural excursions to a tea plantation and a safari reserve, which can be enjoyed equally by all family members.
Akhtar says he has learned the importance of prioritising the children and grandparents from his Asian clientele, whose culture has a very different attitude towards aging to the West.
“I often work with the Middle Eastern and Chinese market, and their respectability is also the eldest and the youngest people first,” he explains.
He also says that suitable accommodation is crucial to a successful multi-generational trip, warning that failing to book the right lodgings can compromise the ‘peace’ of the entire holiday.
“I often work with the Chinese market, and their respectability is also the eldest and the youngest people first”
“Multi-gen families often want to stay in villas, rather than hotel suites,” Akhtar says. “Remember, some of these families live in homes that are nicer than luxury hotels.”
He adds that even though multi-gen families want to spend time with one another on vacation, they also need space for themselves. “It’s important that the grandparents, parents and children, if they’re old enough, have their own villas.”
It’s therefore paramount that advisors are familiar with the resort’s layout, to ensure that the villas are situated within a close proximity.
While multi-gen families want their own space on holiday, they don’t want to be traipsing across the property to see each other. Even if they have not visited themselves, advisors should always set up a call with the resort to organise a virtual tour and iron out these logistics beforehand.
“Everyone is so busy these days. Holidays are important for people to switch off and recharge,” Akhtar says. “To me, this peace is the real luxury.”
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