What luxury travel will look like post-Coronavirus

Tiffany Dowd, Founder and President of Luxe Social Media, discussed on Instagram Live how Covid19 has changed luxury travel.

Luxury travel requires a more individualized approach

Dowd stated that luxury travel requires a more individualized approach, it is not just about affordability and exclusivity.  “Everybody’s definition of luxury travel is different. For one person it might be an indulgent stay at the George V in Paris, and for another person it might be staying in a private luxury villa on an island in French Polynesia,” said Dowd.

Dowd believes that the industry will return to pre-covid levels quickly.

“I think it boils down to the fact that we’ve all been cooped up for a couple months, so it’s not just the luxury travel segment that’s ready to travel,” she said.  Dowd also noted that the luxury travel industry is large enough to have an impact on economies worldwide saying “…the luxury travel industry supports 170 million jobs, that’s a lot, …If we start traveling, you are going to start boosting economies.”

Lower rates will be temporary

“The expectation is that hotels are desperate for people to come so they will reduce prices. The truth is that right now we are seeing special offers. People need to remember, however, that they will be on lower occupancy…As we start to get closer to the festive season I think rates will go up.”  noted Dowd.

A new focus on security, safety and bespoke services

“I think the difference in post-covid is that trust, flexibility and safety is more important than ever when staying anywhere around the world, in any type of accommodations,” stated Dowd.  She believes that bespoke services will include a focus on safety as well as individualised experiences.  “We have had it where it’s all about personalized service, and now it’s all about personalized distancing,”

Social distance measures are becoming permanent 

Dowd believes that many of the safety measures taken during the pandemic will continue, and mentioned that hotels are changing their check-in processes to include social distancing measures.  Dowd also stated that she foresees the new social distancing procedures applying to tours as well “I think we’re going to see a rise in more personalized tours… Will it be one family per Land Rover going out on a game drive when it used to be that you’d go out with different families and meet new people?”

The role of travel advisors is even more important

 Dowd illustrated the importance of having someone covering your back with the local knowledge to handle things if they go wrong.  She discussed how tireless the travel advisors she knows worked to repatriate clients who got stuck abroad during lockdown. “When it comes to safety, they are able to help you and be your best advocate,” she said.

Private car and jet services will benefit from inter-city travel needs

Dowd stated that “People are looking for the most reliable way to get anywhere. With regards to chauffeurs, the benefits of New York to Boston or DC is the reliability. No worries of flights getting cancelled,”  She reported that there is also a growing demand for private flights. “My friends who are travel advisors are getting more requests for private jets. There is increased demand for shorter flights. When it comes to first class and business, not everybody can afford a private jet…We’re just in different times, it will all be based on your personal needs.”