How subscription models can democratize Luxury Travel

Coming out of the pandemic and even before, there’s been an unmistakable trend toward disruption and rewriting the rules of engagement in the accommodations space.

The lines between traditional lodging alternatives, shared arrangements and other forms of temporary accommodation continue to blur; at the same time, the rise of lifestyle-driven offerings continues to at once remake and respond to changing consumer expectations and preferences.

Nowhere is this more clear than in luxury travel, which is poised to eclipse $1 trillion in market value, according to a recent study.

The evolution of travel services and accommodations in the luxury segment should inform the strategic thinking of developers, owners and operators, across all asset classes – and may help set the stage for a future wave of investment in the sector.

What factors should players in the space consider?

What luxury travelers really want

American writer Henry Miller said it best: “One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.”

The experience of luxury travel often involves carefully architected travel planning (even when the destination is not luxurious or glamorous); journeying via the most comfortable and convenient transportation options; and accessing stopping points and experiences that are rare, memorable and usually inaccessible at lower price points.

Sustainability, a sense of history and place and best-in-class service are also top of mind for luxury travelers, according to Virtuoso.