COMPASS Summer 2022 Summer 2022 | Page 32

Go BIG or Go HOME

LUXURY TRAVEL HAS ALWAYS BEEN OVER-THE-TOP , BUT VACATION-STARVED CLIENTS ARE NOW TAKING THEIR REQUESTS TO NEW LEVELS .
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First-class flights and exclusive five-star resorts have long been de rigueur for modern luxury travelers . But after a few years of unstamped passports , elite jetsetters are quelling their pent-up wanderlust with bigger spends on next-level extravagance , redefining luxury travel , as well as travel advisors ’ role in providing it , along the way .

“ As a result of COVID-19 ’ s effect on
travel , there is a sense of urgency to book bucket list trips ,” says Martina Jones- Johnson , content creator and founder of the Black Travel Alliance . “ No more waiting ; the time is now for many travelers .”
Imagine exploring the Galápagos Islands with a scientist as your guide . Or embarking on an around-the-world tour with stops in historic European capitals and pristine rainforests . What about renting a private island
to celebrate two years ’ worth of missed milestones with your loved ones ? These are the types of experiences that elite travelers are booking in 2022 — a year already being defined by increased spend on next-level family gatherings , once-in-a-lifetime trips and tailor-made itineraries .
With international borders reopened and nearly 60 % of the world ’ s population fully vaccinated , things are finally starting to look
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