Centre Head and Chief Operating Officer of the world's most enduring travel company, Thomas Stanley, offers his take on what 2011 holds for the travel industry
TAMPA, FL (September 30, 2010 )— Cox & Kings, the longest-established travel company in the world with more than 250 years of experience in the travel industry, announces its take on the industry trends to watch for in 2011. Thomas Stanley, the company's Centre Head and Chief Operating Officer, names the hottest destinations, experiences and modes of travel for the coming year.
1. Multi-Destination Vacations — Because travelers want to get the most out of their vacations, there has been an uptick in multi-destination vacations. According to Stanley, "We are starting to see an increased interest in combined itineraries such as India and Bhutan or Peru and Argentina. With new airlift coming on board such as LAN's route between Lima and Iguassu, visiting two countries in one trip is more convenient than ever, affording travelers the opportunity to experience and see more."
2. The Revival of Group Tours — With the economic recovery still in progress, many travelers are looking for the same exotic travel experiences at a lower price point. Group tours provide a more value-driven travel option without compromising the once-in-a-lifetime travel experience. Recognizing there are many who want great value and a superb travel experience, options such as Cox & Kings' new Discovery Group Journeys engage a small group of like-minded travelers across the globe, ranging from 12-18 travelers from North America, the United Kingdom and Australia.
3. Cultural Travel — A beautiful location is no longer enough to satisfy today's intrepid travelers. 2011 will see a desire for more meaningful interactions with local cultures and specialized tours with artisans and experts in varied fields. "China is a destination that currently boasts a cutting-edge modern art scene, which has attracted interest from international visitors," said Stanley. "Travelers want to see beyond the historic art these areas are known for and get a glimpse into what is happening now." Cox & Kings offers the "Cambodia & China: Ancient Traditions Revealed in Contemporary Art" journey which explores the contemporary art scenes in each of these cities.
4. The Resurgence of Travel Experts — While once a great resource for travel information, the Internet has become so over saturated that sorting through the mass of travel sites, reader reviews and booking engines has made booking exceptional travel experiences a heady process. This paired with more specialized and specific requests for travel has caused a return to tour operators and travel agents. "People are beginning to return again to the experts who have been to the destinations and have relationships with the hotels, tour guides and local contacts," said Stanley. "With more than 250 years in the industry, Cox & Kings has made invaluable connections in destinations around the world."
5. Learning Vacations — The popularity of educational travel will continue to thrive in 2011. Travelers are interested in doing, not just seeing. Demand has increased for specialized learning experiences—everything from sushi-making in Japan to photography excursions in Argentina. People want to come away with a strong emotional connection with a destination and bring back more than just memories from a vacation." Cox & Kings offers a wide variety of learning itineraries from becoming a textile expert in India with Textiles of India: An Introduction to learning the art of a sommelier in Lebanon with Lebanon & Syria: Empires Past.
6. Experiential Family Travel — The face of the family vacation is changing and they are extending far beyond a week-long island refuge or a sightseeing trip in Europe. The demand for hands-on experiences that focus on learning and doing as opposed to just seeing will increase in 2011. According to Stanley, "There is a desire from parents to expose their children to the cultures and lifestyles of the regions that they are visiting. Families want to expand their horizons and experience locations on another level."
7. A Return to the Rails — A number of new trains have launched in the past year, causing a renewed interest in rail travel that will increase throughout 2011. Rail travel is an easy and comfortable way to maximize travel time, allowing travelers to see a large number of sites without having to pack up and fly or drive between these locations. The Maharajas' Express, India’s first upscale cross-country train, offers guests never before traveled routes and amazing off-train excursions. The train’s Classical India journey traverses Delhi, Gwalior, Khajuraho, Varanasi, and Lucknow, with return to Delhi. The Princely India and Royal India journeys take guests from Mumbai to Delhi (or Delhi to Mumbai) and travels through the heart of regal India, including stop in Vadodara, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaipur, Ranthambore and Agra.
8. Once in a Lifetime Travel Experiences — 2011 will see in increase in extremely unique, "bucket-list" experiences in far-flung destinations. Travelers are looking to tick those must-see destinations off their lists and are now seeking the experiences that will allow them to return home with "bragging rights" among their friends. These thrill-seeking experiences include: the Nepal: Himalayan Helicopter Safari journey by Cox & Kings, which offers the opportunity to view eight of the highest mountain peaks in the world, including Mount Everest, at 29,035 feet; or experiencing the great African migration in Tanzania during the annual zebra and wildebeest migration in the Serengeti with the Splendors of Tanzania journey.
9. One of a Kind, Specialty Travel Experiences — Niche travel will continue to grow throughout 2011. From culinary tours to yoga retreats, travelers are looking for specialized itineraries catering to very specific interests. Cox & Kings has recognized this upcoming trend and offers experiences such as the Antiquarian Book Fair: India itinerary which takes bibliophiles to the infamous book fairs held in Calcutta and Delhi and offers a glimpse into the multilingual publishing industry and what's new and old in book publishing from around the world.
10. Top Destination Picks for 2011 — Based on his intimate knowledge of the travel industry, Stanley predicts Libya, Zimbabwe, Lebanon, Colombia and Jordan as the in-demand destinations for 2011. "Travelers are always looking for the next big boom and the untapped travel destination. In 2011 look for some newly accessible locales, some up and coming hot spots and some classic destinations to be the places to go."
For more information on Cox & Kings and the itineraries listed above, please visit www.coxandkingsusa.com.
WHAT?! No villas? It can't be true...
Posted by: Evan Wood | October 12, 2010 at 07:45 AM