In the year before COVID-19, about 100 million Americans took a vacation.  Approximately 1.1 million people travelled for business every day for a total of about 405 million business trips.  The global pandemic changed those numbers dramatically for 2020, and in 2021, people are looking at travel differently. People are starting to feel more hopeful about travel, and as the year progresses, both personal and business travel will gradually pick up.  After the long months of isolation during the pandemic, getting out and exploring new places is appealing to many.

Whether travelling for personal or business purposes, there will be some notable differences between trips this year compared to the past.  Health and wellness, safety and cleanliness, and the types of experiences travellers choose all have a significant role in 2021 travel, making luxury travel a preferred option.

What is it?

To comprehend why it’s important in 2021, we should first understand what we mean by luxury travel.  We can do that by looking at some of the expectations luxury travellers have in common.

• Outstanding service.  Luxury travellers want full-service assistance, fast and efficient responses to their inquiries, and effective resolutions to any unforeseen challenges.
• Class, elegance, and atmosphere.  They want to travel in style, spend time in an atmosphere that makes them feel special in an environment that is elegant.
• Exclusivity.  Luxury travellers don’t want to stand in line with the general public; they crave differentiation and unique experiences that are not the standard tourist traps.
• Connection.  They want to feel connected to their destination.  They need to feel part of the cultures they visit, and they want to participate in local activities. If they are travelling with others, they want to be able to connect more deeply with them.
• Wellbeing.  Luxury travellers demand cleanliness and safety, especially now as the pandemic continues to impact nearly every aspect of life.  Protecting their health is vitally important to them.  Travel plans need to provide opportunities to exercise, make healthy food choices, or visit a spa while also giving them the chance to avoid large crowds, public transportation, and unsafe environments.
• Balance.  They will be looking for a balance between educational, engaging, and inspiring activities with time for themselves to rest, relax and reflect.
• Food.  High-end culinary experiences will please luxury travellers when they dine out. For those travelling in a luxury RV or travel trailer, shopping at local farmers’ markets and having a kitchen equipped to prepare the kinds of meals they enjoy most will be crucial.

What makes it so important in 2021?

As we continue to pay attention to social distancing, avoid large gatherings, and maintain stricter cleaning and personal hygiene protocols, luxury travel becomes more important.

Take, for example, a traditional vacation from 2019.  A family of four might have travelled on a packed commercial aircraft to their theme park resort destination.  They rented a car and checked into their hotel room just hours after the previous guests checked out.  Next, they would have ridden a crowded tram to the park, and stood in long lines, shoulder to shoulder with strangers, to ride the rides.

That same family of four might choose a luxury travel trailer over air travel and resort hotels for their vacation in 2021.  Instead of a crowded theme park, maybe they visit a national park where they hike, kayak, bike, or take advantage of other outdoor activities.

Whether on a road trip with a luxury travel trailer or RV or staying in a 5-star boutique hotel, luxury travel gives people better opportunities to choose what’s most important to them.  Style, distance, cleanliness, and comfort are more critical than ever as we ease ourselves back into travel while exercising the utmost caution in protecting ourselves, our families, and our global community.