The trends shaping travel in 2027
First up was Condé Nast Traveller’s digital director Sarah Allard who led a conversation identifying the key destinations, focuses and motives for high-end travellers in the coming year. The panel of experts were Debra Fox managing director for AU, UK and EMEA at Abercrombie & Kent; Jenny Southan the founder and CEO of Globetrender; Roberto Protezione, the general manager of Tuscan resort, Castelfalfi, and Tom Barber, the co-founder and brand director of tour operator, Voyageurs du Monde.
When Sarah asked the panellists to name rising destinations, the Albanian Alps and Denmark’s sandy beaches received a mention. Debra highlighted Northern Macedonia and Bolivia’s salt flats, and Brazil’s Pantanal wetlands. Among Jenny’s top spots were the city of Chongqing in China and the Pico Trail in Sri Lanka. Tom is excited about Nicaragua as “a distillation of all of Central America in one country”, Algeria, and Taiwan, which is asserting its cultural identity more than ever. Interest is also growing in Sweden’s Lake District. Meanwhile Roberto highlighted how visits to a traditional borgo offer a more immersive and authentic way of experiencing Tuscany.
Sam Lort
Demographic shifts are reshaping the industry, with wealthier older generations increasingly sharing their inheritance through multi-generational holidays. Tom said the younger generation are “throwing out the rulebook of career paths” and rebranding sabbaticals as “micro retirements”, in which they are taking two or three months off between career path switches, particularly if they have inherited wealth. Such travels are increasingly centred around niche interests like wildlife and conservation, and with a greater emphasis on wellness. Also discussed was how luxury is increasingly defined by exclusive access, from extraordinary accommodation (Bolivia’s salt flats) and private transport to meaningful encounters with local journalists, conservationists and other more insightful experts.