There are still plenty of vacationers looking for “find me a hammock” rest and relaxation time, but the real action in vacation planning includes a lot of action. Paddle boarding, hiking, biking, kayaking, hot air ballooning to horse back riding.
“I call it the kale, quinoa and cardio trend in travel,” said Jack Ezon, president of Ovation Vacations. “Fitness is a huge part of their daily life so they want it to be part of their vacation life. We hire guides to jog with clients in the morning to see the city.” You don’t even have to pack your fitness gear. Fairmont Hotels, for instance, provide guests with workout shoes and clothes through a partnership with Reebok.
On the go
Ezon joined a panel of travel advisors attending Virtuoso Travel Week held recently at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. It’s billed as “fashion week” for the luxury travel industry and nearly 5,000 Virtuoso members including travel advisors, tour operators, tourism officials, hotel and cruise line executives met to talk shop and share top trends. Active travel is trending for all age groups. Look out, Grandma wants to go zip lining now.
“Even older clients are not looking for sedentary travel. They want adventure,” said travel advisor Tony Huffman, chairman of Huffman Travel. Cruising on big ships is still big business but “excursion cruises” on luxurious small vessels that get closer to Mother Nature are wildly popular.
Food and travel
Gastronomic adventures are high on the high-end travel list too. “Food is the most important beyond anything. They want to experience local flavors in places with a cool vibe,” said Kelly Grumbach, travel advisor with Quintessentially Travel. “At resorts, they’re going to be stuck on an island for a week. It’s not just about menu options. It’s the quality of the ingredients and creativity.”
For health-conscious baby boomers and older travelers, Huffman said, “Sauce on the side is a food group.” But Grumbach who plans trips, often very last minute, for millennial age clients said, “It’s a high-maintenance generation. They want gluten free, want or don’t want diet drinks in their room, demand no bread basket at their table and might add they’re allergic to feathers.”
With all of the online resources to plan every detail of your own vacation, it’s important to note that professional travel advisors are busier than ever. Matthew Upchurch, chairman of Virtuoso said, “It’s the hottest new thing that never went away.”
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