Carrier reveals 2023 luxury travel trends in new report

The multiplier effect

Following several years where customers were forced to put their travel plans on hold, Carrier predicts luxury travellers will be seeking trips that include multiple experiences and/or destinations to get the best out of their time away. Examples include exploring Indonesia, bucket-list experiences in Rwanda and self-drive road trips in California. 

Flying the Nest

The operator has seen an increase in enquiries from families seeking a once-in-a-lifetime trip before older children head off to university, which develop independence and new skills, prepare youngsters for their next adventure and prioritise family bonding. To cater to demand Carrier has launched its Flying the Nest range, and head of product and commercial Simon Jeffries said: “We’re very proud to have finished up with a curated range which is truly different to anything else in the market while remaining relevant to our customers wants and needs.”

Local spirit

The report explains the importance clients now place on ensuring their trip has a positive local impact, with an increase in clients favouring smaller, locally owned properties. The report explains: “It’s no longer all about large luxury chain hotels, international food and designer furniture. Now, regional authenticity has evolved into a more highly prized commodity than pan-global luxury. Recently, there’s been a real acknowledgement that when we travel, it can affect the local environment – everything from the economy, the cultural values we bring and the impact we have on the local ecosystems. So now, more luxury travellers are making ‘local’ a priority instead of just a ‘nice to have’.”

Carrier also expects to see a rise in clients wanting to spend more time outdoors on their trips, and those looking to celebrate milestones on a landmark trip with friends or family. It also outlines the foodie trends the team predict will take off this year, including farm-to-fork dining, the rise of elevated all-inclusive offerings and developments that will mark Dubai as a “hot gourmet destination.”

The report includes a roundup of Carrier’s most anticipated hotel openings for the year ahead, including the Mandarin Oriental Costa Navarino and Six Senses Crans-Montana in Europe, the newly opened Atlantis The Royal in Dubai and &Beyond Punakha River Lodge in Bhutan.