Rebecca Masri is a celebrated keynote speaker and the founder of Little Emperors, the private members’ luxury hotel app which offers members affordable luxury by using cutting-edge, personalised technology to match clients with destinations. She is also a member of the Four Seasons, Hilton, Accor, Luxury Advisory Boards, the IHG board, and is 2021 International Women’s winner at The National Business Women’s awards.

Her position as a key opinion leader within the travel sphere and her placement within the centre of the travel industry, sat between hotels, consumers and the data driving analysts means that she has key insight for those curious about the top 2023 travel trends.

So, what to expect?

First, there’s a rise in set-jetting. TV shows and movies have now become a prime source of travel inspiration. Streamed movies and TV shows have been found to influence over 20% of travel inspiration according to Rebecca. Where are the most popular? Rebecca also has the answer. 2023’s set-jetting destinations will include the Four Seasons in Taormina and Maui, which have become popular following what has been dubbed the ‘White Lotus effect’ following the release of the hugely popular tv show. There’s also the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, due to Oceans 11, Hotel Daniele in Venice due to The Tourist and La Mamounia in Marrakech following the Netflix hit show, Inventing Anna.

Slow Travel is also going to have its moment in 2023, with a rise in luxury yacht holidays which offer a sustainable and immersive experience for their guests. A number of luxury hotels are launching yacht hotels including The Four Seasons, The Ritz-Carlton and the Aman Collection. Bookings on these floating hotels has attracted a newer, more luxury, audience and according to the Sunday Times over 90% of new Ritz-Carlton Yacht bookings are from customers who have never been on a cruise previously. In addition to the launch of yacht hotels, Rebecca notes that the relaunch of the Orient Express is emblematic of this rise in Slow Travel – people want to be more sustainable whilst they travel but also want to immerse more. Through viewing their hotel as a mode of transport, or vice-versa, they have the opportunity to see more than they would staying at a typical (stationary) hotel.

As you might expect, Rebecca has noted that the Covid Hangover is still dictating trends, even for 2023. Luxury travellers are focusing on further afield locations in order to switch off, get away from crowds and get closer to nature. This is all leftover from adjustment to decreased contact in covid, and thus has created more bookings to places such as Mauritius, the Maldives and the Seychelles. Rebecca has noted that on Little Emperors alone there has also been a 20% increase in reservations to those countries strictest on the Covid border restrictions, especially those closed to international travellers in the pandemic, including Australia, Japan and Indonesia (Bali specifically). Although travel has been open, Rebecca says to expect the Covid hangover to last at least through 2023, if not beyond.

There is, however, a pivot from Covid bookings that Rebecca has noted, due to the cost-of-living crisis luxury travellers are booking shorter stays. As prices continue to rise, as do the luxuries enjoyed in travel, especially with travel. Higher prices mean people are getting less with their budget; therefore, alternatives are being offered through shorter stays. From this, it has encouraged the rise of culture capitals with rich experiences, ensuring people are still able to enrich within their travels for a lower price, whilst still gaining fulfilment. Cities such as Lisbon, Edinburgh and Dublin have risen in popularity largely due to the variety in culture, entertainment, and arts accessible to its visitors.

Following on from this, experiential travel becomes a predicted theme ahead of 2023, with travellers looking to dive in deep for an enhanced cultural connection when travelling. Rebecca has witnessed that over 50% of millennial travellers believe luxury travel is about discovery and adventure, finding what’s true to oneself and a strong sense of place and belonging. Adding to this, she noted that 70% of travellers are wanted to learn from the cultures they visit and fully immerse themselves into the environment. Hotel group, Six Senses’ unique and luxury programme designed to embrace local cultures has seen a 40% increase from Little Emperors members due to this overarching trend.

In the current climate, social media is king, with high demand to travel to the most ‘Instagrammable’ destinations. We see society turning to social media to research the appearance, the vibe and the overall feel of a hotel, restaurant or even a country, checking out the Instagram pages to see a preview of what is to be expected. Little Emperors have recognised a continuous rise in members booking Instagram-friendly destinations such as Iceland, Jordan, and New Zealand, noting that 85% of LE members check the hotel’s social media accounts before booking.

A consistent trend that is set to take off further in 2023 is the desire for wellness and holistic development through travel. Adhering to a more unique and extensive approach to wellness, hotels are adapting to this trend, which has become a necessity over the expected basic wellness amenities. Rebecca notes that a prime example of this in London is The Lanesborough. They have adopted a 360° approach to wellbeing by opening a private member’s fitness and health clubs and spas, working with internationally recognised experts in mindfulness, fitness, beauty, and wellness. Hotels are also incorporating Sylvotherapy, known as forest bathing, the ancient practice consisting of immersing oneself into the forest, which has become a trending consumer choice when searching for their desired location, inclusive of IV Vitamin Drips, and Banya Perenia.

With fashion trends forever creating an aspirational feel, Little Emperors have acknowledged a surge in members booking designer led hotels. More designers are beginning to act within the luxury hospitality world, and hotels have been launched by the likes of Bvlgari, Versace, Armani, and ther’es also the notable Gucci Royal Suite at The Savoy. As a fashion-led society, consumers are drawn to follow these exclusive fashion houses, with cravings to experience what’s on offer. With appetite expanding, LVMH has moved into hospitality through Maison’s Cheval Blanc, a concept pioneered with the Cheval Blanc resort in Courchevel to bring the upmost exclusivity. Rebecca is already seeing a significant rise in number of bookings for these hotels and believes they’re only on an upward trend for throughout 2023.

Visit LittleEmperors.com for more information on membership and news.

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Little Emperors

Little Emperors is an exclusive private members’ luxury hotel app which is redefining the way travellers book hotels and offers members affordable luxury travel by cutting-edge, personalised technology to match clients with destinations. Through a sophisticated, forward-thinking technology, Little Emperors enhances member’s journeys and uses an optimised search engine to provide relevant suggestions to each individual. Little Emperors combines its intuitive, tech enabled approach and travel experts knowledge to deliver an unrivalled hotel experience, offering access to preferred rates and exclusive benefits at over 4000 hotels globally. Designed to be the ultimate ‘travel buddy’, catering to last minute, long-haul and business travel.

For further information, contact: Bella Marsella Bella@curaconn.com | Isabella Cuthbert-Brown Isabella@curaconn.com

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