Premier Hotels & Resorts - Winter/Spring 2009 - (Page 6) FROM THE MANAGING EDITOR Memories That Last A Lifetime and gloom stare right back. I submit that this isn’t the time to scale back vacationing or shrink back from selling travel. This is the time to strike, especially in the luxury segment. I keep my ear to the ground, speaking with luxury hoteliers often, and, invariably, they tell me that, beyond some small blips, business is good and flowing. This means the opportunity for selling is undeniably there for the taking. When times are tougher and more stressful, people look for escapes, and taking a great family vacation fulfills that need. At September’s Virtuoso Travel Mart in Las Vegas, what I witnessed was excitement in the eyes of both suppliers and agents—a feeling that travel would not fall by the wayside, particularly when there are so many fabulous hotels, resorts and spas to sell. Further to the point, don’t expect the affluent to scale back their discretionary spending as it relates to travel. Over the past year, the buzz has been all about the baby boomers—that they stand to inherit trillions of dollars and their outlet to spend it is in travel. Accumulating material wealth (exotic cars, a new home, cool gadgets) is no longer priority number one for this generation. Instead, they are looking to accumulate experiential wealth, that which is attained from such pleasures as family vacations. Taking it a step further, multi-generational travel has become an industry buzzword: grandparents taking their kids and their grandchildren on a trip, creating life-long remembrances. So, while a Lotus Elise is a really sweet car, it’s still just steel, rubber and leather, not blood. The industry is recognizing this opportunity. Just recently, Virtuoso launched a new consumer campaign, playfully called “Return on Life,” which opines that a rich life is not measured by personal possessions, rather by time well spent with loved ones and journeys to new exciting destinations. Research by travel groups, like Virtuoso, posits a shift in consumer motivation, from one of collecting material wealth to one of collecting life experiences. There is further evidence that consumers will not forego traveling this year despite some of the bleak economic news. Late last year, American Express Publishing and Harrison Group released a comprehensive study of wealth: The Annual Survey of Affluence & Wealth in America 2008. The survey represented the top 10 percent of the American population based on discretionary income. According to its findings, Americans won’t be putting any big trips on hold. Asked if within the year, would you be traveling international either for vacation or personal travel, 53 percent responded, “yes.” What’s more, out of the sample set, 66 percent of Pinnacles, or those with discretionary incomes over $250,000, said they would take a non-domestic vacation this year. What we are seeing here is that just because the economic landscape may have changed (for the time being—we hope) people are not about to give up their vacations. If anything, taking a vacation, at this moment, might be a panacea to all the worry. In the following pages, you will read about some of the most wonderful hotels and spas in the world, the magical places that offer guests an alternative from everyday reality. This is the power of a great hotel: It can create a world, one above and beyond normalcy. Read on to learn about these destinations that inspire, refresh and, above all, provide escape and memories that will last a lifetime. David Eisen, Managing Editor My first crack at putting together Premier Hotels & Resorts was all I expected: a great challenge and one that was well worth the result, which I hope you find over the ensuing pages to be an invaluable tool in helping to sell more travel. The hotels included are some of the best in the world and one visit by your clients will make them lifelong believers in your talent, which means continued business for you. Why? Well, as I see it, it’s all about trust. Your clients expect that when you create an itinerary for them, you are giving them the best possible—that means top-line hotels with outstanding spas. Over the next pages, you will meet these dynamic properties and quickly realize their distinctiveness and individual charm—not to mention the extraordinary locations in which they are situated. Luckily, all of these properties have the goods—filling them is the million-dollar challenge, particularly during these lean times when everywhere you look, signs of economic doom David Eisen is the managing editor of Premier Hotels & Resorts, Premier Spas & Romance and Luxury Travel Advisor magazines. PR EMIER PREMIER HOTELS & RESORTS SPAS & ROMANCE Publisher endeavors to collect and include complete, correct and current information in Premier Hotels & Resorts, but does not warrant that any or all of such information is complete, correct or current. Publisher does not assume, and hereby disclaims, any liability to any person or entity for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions of any kind, whether resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause. If you do notice any error, we would appreciate if you would bring such error to our attention. 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