insideKENT Magazine issue 94 - January2020 | Page 65

THE ANAN, VIETNAM STAY ONE DEGREE, SCOTLAND Travel Trend: Wellness Pilgrims Wellness will be a key driving factor behind our travel choices this year, as we seek out the best relaxation, the latest therapies, unique spa treatments, and importantly authentic wellness activities, that will take us away from traditional resorts to more alternative destinations. Ophelia Yeung, senior research fellow at the Global Wellness Institute, claims that “when you have local healing or medical traditions, spiritual and other practices, it makes the whole experience more authentic.” With 30% of luxury travellers stating that mindfulness and wellbeing activities are their main priority when booking their next holiday, Stay One Degree expects to see a rise in bookings to alternative wellness destinations, such as Japan. HOSHINOYA Okinawa, Japan - Set to open in April 2020 HOSINOYA Okinawa, located in the East China Sea between Japan and Taiwan will offer guests the chance to connect with the ocean. Expect superb service, a reef pool with ocean views and tantalising Ryukyu Sicilian cuisine. www.hoshinoya.com/okinawa/en/ Amrit Ocean Resort & Spa, Singer Island, Florida - Opening in June 2020 and comprising more than seven acres of oceanfront in Palm Beach County’s Singer Island, Amrit Ocean Resort & Spa is a luxury coastal getaway created for guests to unplug and recharge. The wellness resort combines Eastern wellbeing philosophies and western technology through The Five Pillars of Wellness – its partnership with ESPA and the Himalayan Institute that connects mindfulness, nutrition, fitness, AMRIT OCEAN RESORT & SPA, SINGER ISLAND FLORIDA relaxation, and sleep across its four-story spa, meditation gardens, four farm-to-table restaurants, tranquility pools, outdoor Patanjali yoga classes, and sleep specialist services. The 153 guestrooms and 34 grand luxury wellness suites include terraces with uninterrupted ocean views featuring circadian rhythm lighting and freestanding bathtubs where guests can enjoy a personalised aromatherapy bath, compliments of a Bath Concierge. www.preferredhotels.com The Anam, Vietnam - 5* beach resort, the Anam, boasts a new spa package inspired by Vietnamese zodiac elements: wood, fire, earth, metal and water. Offering a holistic approach to wellness specifically tailored to guests’ birth years and zodiac signs, the bespoke programme, which offers indulgent and invigorating treatments which aim to balance the mind, body and soul, is ideal for those seeking to start the new year on a healthy note. www.theanam.com Travel Trend: Second City Travel With the rise of the 'second city' traveller, the exploration of lesser known destinations will take a leap forward in 2020. According to Booking.com, 47% of travellers would happily swap their original destination for a lesser known, but similar alternative. This is less off the beaten-track and more away from the crowds travel. Destinations such as Guadalajara, Mexico; Suzhou, China; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Porto, Portugal; and Belfast, Northern Ireland, have been identified by Robert Van Ness, Preferred Resorts’ executive vice president of the Americas, as ones to watch this year. Culture Trip City Loops - Culture trip have taken the city break one step further with its unique and culturally immersive ‘city-loop’ trips. “We know from our research that modern travellers want to see famous sights but also avoid the overly touristic places,” said Natalie Malevsky, VP marketing, Culture Trip. “The benefit of city loops is that they give travellers the best chance to live and learn the cultural breadth of a place in one dynamic trip.” And it’s not just about far-flung destinations such as Vietnam, Japan or Cambodia. More familiar destinations such as Portugal, Mexico and the USA get the Culture Trip city loops treatment too. www.theculturetrip.com Travel Trend: Home From Home Personalised Luxury Residential style accommodation that offers a home from home feel, albeit with a luxurious edge, is a popular choice, perfect for multi-generational trips and group getaways. With added options for personalisation and a rise in hotel rooms choices and in luxury lets; there will be more choice than ever in 2020. Stay One Degree Private Lets: Stay One Degree offers luxurious private lets from Scotland to Koh Samui, and everywhere in between! www.stayonedegree.com/en 65