up for the tourism industry . Nearly threefourths of elite travelers in a recent survey by Flywire , a payment technology firm , said they planned to spend more on travel in 2022 than they did before the pandemic . A sizable majority also indicated “ a renewed desire to work with high-end travel advisors because they specialize in curating once-ina-lifetime experiences .” Many high-income households were able to save money during the pandemic , reported Goldman Sachs last year , freeing up additional funds for even more extravagant travel .
“ Our clients always sort of had the quote-unquote , unlimited budgets ,” says Dee Branciforte , vice president at Fischer Travel , a legacy membership-based agency that exclusively offers bespoke itineraries . “ But I feel like even in the last year , they have significantly increased what they are willing to spend .”
Luxury travel advisors are already accustomed to serving high-net-worth clients . But effectively catering to travelers ’ demands for even more opulent , exclusive and personalized experiences will require them to reimagine the possibilities of luxury travel , further build out their network of trusted vendors and deepen relationships with clients and their families .
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AS BUDGETS INCREASE , SO DO EXPECTATIONS Bigger budgets benefit travel advisors , allowing them “ to really think outside of the box and create experiences that the client might not be able to experience without the increased budget ,” says Joan Roca , founder of the upscale travel platform Essentialist .
But upping innovation and delivering on clients ’ increasingly lofty expectations is only possible through an extensive network of vetted partners and experience providers — something that a deeper financial investment from clients can help travel advisors facilitate , explains Stacy Fischer-Rosenthal , president of Fischer Travel .
From its inception , Fischer Travel ’ s membership fee , now $ 100,000 for new members and $ 25,000 annual renewal fee for existing clients , was key to the agency ’ s strategy to build an unparalleled global network of vendors .
“ We wanted to work with like-minded people ,” says Fischer-Rosenthal , whose staff personally vet destinations and service providers before ever recommending them to clients . “ You find these people around the world . They ’ re small , they ’ re not working with the masses , they ’ re working with us , they have the access , and the ability to provide amazing service to our clients .”
In contrast , Essentialist relies on the expertise of travel journalists and insider experts to craft ultra-bespoke itineraries for clients , such as spending a day traipsing around London with a couture milliner or visiting a fourth-generation vintner in Spain ’ s Douro Valley . “ Everyone wants to be made to feel special . They don ’ t want to feel like they are doing what everyone else is ,” says Branciforte .
To travel advisors seeking to deliver this granular level of personalization to their clients , Branciforte advises they travel as much as possible and visit as many properties as possible . “ There is nothing like experiencing luxury for yourself to become an expert at it ,” she notes .
“ As the trajectory of making up for lost pandemic time via revenge travel continues to rise , guests are no longer just looking for ordinary vacations ,” says Brent Handler , who launched Inspirato Pass , the first luxury travel subscription service , in 2019 . “ Today , luxury travelers are increasingly looking for inside access to the rarest experiences on earth .” For his clients that can mean taking photos of snow leopards with a professional photographer in the region of Ladakh or setting off on a six-day immersive wine
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