With summer hot on our heels and rampant restlessness infiltrating our ranks, I feel that it’s time to let you in on my insider predictions for the new face of travel. I often find that news, whether good or bad, provides a level of actionability and clarity that reframes the fear of uncertainty and indecisiveness. With that said, I am here to tell you that the world is not ending, it is just shifting, and we are shifting with it. I hope you find reassurance in my predictions and power in being able to execute.
Trend #1: Private, Private, Private
In the era of COVID-19, travelers and travel providers are ushering in a new wave of private travel consumers. Private travel is no longer reserved for the rich and famous, and hotels, tour operators, and tourism boards have taken note. There is a collective realization of the enormous creative opportunity to shift the paradigm of private travel in a post-pandemic world.
Take for instance the recent advert and new tag line that Las Vegas ran during the season finale of The Bachelor this week. In case you missed it, here it is:
We predict a new kind of traveler, a more conscientious traveler - one who cares less about ticking all the site seeing boxes on their list, and more about the personal experiences. This new traveler values paying slightly more for a private, after-hours tour of the Uffizi to linger leisurely with Boticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” rather than trying to navigate social distancing protocols and waiting in interminably long capacity control lines just to spend a couple of seconds with a masterpiece before being asked to move on.
Trend #2: Regional Travel, Global Scale
As we watch borders re-opening around the world and within our own communities, we must be mindful of the reality of this language. When you hear, for instance, that certain countries will soon be allowing international travel for the summer, they are not referring to North American tourists. It is important to remember that many countries share the same continent, and the US, Canada, and Mexico are unique exceptions to that rule. For the Europhiles out there, I hate to burst your bubble, but Greece welcoming International tourists simply means international tourists within the Eurozone. Spain and Italy have had some of the most restrictive lockdown policies outside of China, so for these nations, simply moving between regional borders within their own country is only just now beginning.
So what do we do on our own continent?
Enter the rise of the Great American Road Trip, with itineraries based on re-discovering US regional hotspots. I have been to more countries than I have States, so for me there is no better time to tick off some bucket list moments and see some must-see places within driving distance of my own home. Depending on where you live, there are a host of once in a lifetime excursions right on your doorstep….all with a private guide, of course!
Charleston, SC, USA
Trend #3: Wide Open Spaces
Think National Parks, The American West and Southwest, the mountains, long stretches of private beach. Social distancing functions on the “Honor System” and while we can control ourselves, we cannot control others. As we move forward this summer, we are seeing that people are increasingly aware of space. Destinations, where there are plenty of opportunities for distance, openness, and the ability to easily avoid crowds, are particularly attractive to travel consumers.
Amangiri Resort, Camp Sarika Tent, Utah
Trend #4: Insurance
As many travelers have discovered, travel insurance can pay for itself in spades. As our clients begin to dip their toes in the water for domestic travel this summer, and international trips moving into 2021, our agency has seen a noticeable uptick in quote requests and insurance “planning” calls.
If you are a traveler in today’s new world, I can assure you that travel insurance is a value proposition that can no longer be ignored. Depending on your level of risk tolerance, most policies will cover trip money loss over anything from sudden government-mandated closures to supplier default (as in your favorite beach rental company goes bankrupt, taking your deposit down with it). Given today’s climate and the stress associated with uncertainty, travel insurance is the closest thing you are going to get to a sure thing.
By 2021, paying a relatively small sum to protect such a large emotional and financial investment such as travel will soon become as commonplace as insuring other assets we want to protect. Travel is, after all, one of the greatest rewards we can give ourselves. While the loss of a trip may run deeper than a simple financial forfeit, the good news with insurance is that it allows you to reinvest in and relive planning a brand new adventure.
In Sum
While all of our travel plans for 2020 may have shifted, it doesn't mean we suddenly have to put our bucket lists on hold. The deserts of the West and Southwest may not seem as exotic as Morocco, but they sure can be just as sexy depending on how you choose to view them. Get creative! Find a way, and discover a wealth of one-of-a-kind experiences, right here in our own backyard!
Rachel Hoppes
