Emerging travel trends

Working from hotel

Traditionally, ‘WFH’ stood for ‘working from home’ in office parlance and many more of us started doing it in 2020. However, with the rollout of vaccinations going well, countries beginning to open borders and companies already using tech to make work increasingly mobile, ‘WFH’ is coming to mean ‘working from hotel’. If you can work from anywhere, why not make that anywhere somewhere warm and sunny with a great view?

Business and more pleasure

ACS’s Group Private Jets Director Andy Christie predicts that, after the damaging effects of the pandemic, private business travel in 2021 will return to 85% of the levels seen during ‘normal’ times in 2019. However, leisure travel numbers will make up for this shortfall as customers turn to private aviation for a less crowded experience.

For flying’s sake

For many, simply being on a plane, gazing out at the sky and sipping a favourite beverage has been sorely missed during the pandemic. Airlines soon realised this and, instead of leaving their fleet grounded, some started operating flights to nowhere, giving people a different view of some famous landmarks. Australia’s Qantas took passengers on a seven-hour journey from Sydney that included low-level fly-bys of the Great Barrier Reef, Uluru and Byron Bay. It sold out in 10 minutes. Why not take a trip to see your favourite landmark from a new perspective?

Last-minute booking

With rules and regulations for travel changing so often, many travellers will only feel confident making last-minute travel plans to take advantage of windows of opportunity to go abroad. 2021 will be the year of spontaneous travel, which is a specialty of ACS.

Travel for good

The pandemic has made people assess their impact on the planet, particularly when they travel. As a result, luxury ecotourism is seeing an increase in popularity. Resorts such as the newly opened Lindos Grand Resort & Spa are part of the ‘Forest Ambassador’ programme in Rhodes, which aims to plant, water and protect new trees. Other locations, such as safari reserves in Africa, are incorporating preservation work into their trips too.

Off the beaten track

More luxury travellers are seeking wholly private holidays due to the pandemic, with destinations away from crowds and the possibility of catching or spreading the virus. Private villas and dining experiences are seeing an uplift in searches because of this, and there are some fantastic alternative destinations that offer all the benefits of more famous locations, but without the crowds.

The big break

ACS saw a 25% increase in new customers booking throughout 2020. However, it is expected that this larger customer base will travel less on average in 2021 compared with 2019, taking smaller numbers of longer holidays. Following months of lockdown, people can’t wait to travel again and are wanting to go on trips for a longer duration to make the most of their time in a destination.

Multi-generational trips

Many families have been separated during the pandemic for safety reasons. As a result, planning a getaway with loved ones is proving a popular way to reconnect. There are a lot of destinations that provide suitable activities for all ages, and staying in a villa or similar holiday home means everyone can enjoy each other’s company under one roof.

Wellness breaks

Holidays with a focus on wellness were already becoming popular before the pandemic, but now there are new demands for immunity-boosting retreats and trips that prioritise personal health and fitness. For example, Chenot Palace Weggis in Switzerland offers a series of seven-night wellness programmes and treatments, and is home to a 5,000m2 medical spa facility that offers diagnostic screening tests.

Carbon offsetting

Unlike other industries, the technology to make aviation carbon-neutral isn’t available yet. However, clients choosing to travel by private jet are becoming increasingly more conscious and aware of carbon offsetting and its value. Carbon credit systems are one way of funding investment in green projects, and ACS launched a carbon offsetting programme in February 2020 to enable customers to offset the carbon emissions from their flights by adding a 0.5% fee.

The personal touch

With travel confidence having suffered in 2020 due to restrictions, changing government updates and last-minute cancellations, people will be looking for a more personalised, trustworthy service. Despite only seeing a 5% increase in online enquiries in 2020, ACS saw a 25% increase in new clients overall. This is because people increasingly want to speak to an Account Manager in person.

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