NOW in its 10th anniversary year, the exclusive International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) in December will profile the ultimate range of both new and established elite travel experiences.
Taking place in Cannes, France, in December, ILTM’s recent Global Trends Report identified that luxury travellers today are very clear about their preferences. No longer drawn by ostentatious services, they have moved towards a quieter, understated luxury and plan their trips with a focus on authenticity and experiential travel, including off-the-beaten-track destinations, environmental commitment and culinary experiences.
One ILTM 2011 participant specialising in meeting these luxury travel trends and lifestyle demands is Epikurean, which aims to create guest experiences that celebrate the art of good living. Under the brand K Hotels Villas and Hideouts, the company currently operates five properties in Vietnam and one prestigious resort in New Zealand. Gastronomy, wellbeing and authentic experiences are integral to the Epikurean experience with each resort and hotel offering unrivalled cuisine, great spa treatments and wellness therapies and memorable cultural excursions and activities.
Another ILTM participant Luxury Adventures is a family-run tour operator organising tailor-made private luxury travel within Iceland, Greenland and other Scandinavian countries. Hosting a family dinner on top of a glacier on a table carved out of ice or creating an arctic heli-skiing experience, Luxury Adventures – like Epikurean – understands that intuitive personalised service is of paramount importance to the luxury traveller.
Simon Mayle, marketing manager of ILTM, said: “Discerning luxury travel buyers are looking for fresh and inspirational travel experiences that guarantee lifelong memories for their luxury clients. This year’s ILTM will enable supplier and buyer to meet, plan and deliver extraordinary luxury travel experiences for these luxury travellers.”
Another new participant at this year’s ILTM is Hoteles Charleston, which offers authentic travel experiences in Colombia for the independent-minded luxury traveller. The former convent, later police department, bank building and finally hotel – Charleston Santa Teresa – is part of the world heritage site of Cartagena and reveals the contemporary city as well as the historical flavour and mystique of Cartagena.
The Andean Travel Company has a wealth of knowledge and expertise across Ecuador, the Galapagos, Peru and Bolivia, providing incredible adventure trips and high-end escorted tours including the archaeological and the agricultural, as well as whale or bird watching or more adventurous trips with kayaking or trekking for younger luxury travellers.
Parsifal Yachting – a Greek luxury yacht charter agent – meets the needs of the high-spending luxury traveller whose time is precious and who is seeking seamless travel plans. In Croatia, tailor-made travel programmes by the Calvados Club take travellers truffle hunting in Istria, on private fish picnic cruises through Dubrovnik’s archipelago and even to one of the best kept secrets of recent history, a war tunnel in Sarajevo.