08-08-2025
The Luxury Travel Market Continues Its Rapid Upward Trajectory
Hotels cater to affluent travelers by offer luxurious accommodations. Courtesy of Fertitta Entertainment
The luxury travel market, a substantial and rapidly growing sector with a global reach, generates about $1.5 trillion each year. Projections indicate a continued strong growth trajectory, with the market expected to reach $2.36 trillion within the next five years. Luxury travel is characterized by a focus on bespoke itineraries and exceptional service that caters to affluent travelers seeking premium, personalized and exclusive travel experiences. It encompasses high-end accommodations, luxurious transportation, curated activities and bespoke services designed to offer comfort, privacy and unique cultural engagements.
The following properties cater to the needs of high-end travelers by going well beyond standard tourist offerings:
The Post Oak Hotel houses Houston's only Bugatti dealership. Courtesy of Fertitta Entertainment
The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston, inaugurated in 2018, is the only Texas Forbes Five-Star Hotel and Spa. With a five-diamond AAA rating, it is the epitome of luxury and Houston class. The hotel houses 250 ultra-modern guestrooms and suites, the largest ballroom in the Uptown Houston area, signature dining and sophisticated amenities embracing every desire of savvy business and leisure travelers alike. With its own helicopter pad on the top of the 38-story tower, the Rolls-Royce showroom and Houston's only Bugatti dealership on the ground floor, you will be immersed in luxury from head to toe. Enjoy the unmatched culinary excellence of Mastro's Steakhouse or any of the hotel's eight other restaurants, cafés and bars. Feel pampered with unique treatments at the spa, including a couple's suite. Don't miss exploring The Cellar, the hotel's expansive wine collection valued at $5 million with over 35,000 bottles.
The luxurious design features floor to ceiling windowed wall panels Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa
Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa, located on Grand Cayman's famed Seven Mile Beach, is Kimpton's first luxury property and Caribbean hotel. The majority of its 264 guestrooms and suites have ocean views through floor-to-ceiling windows, and all have private balconies. Inside, calming neutrals and bursts of tropical color surround discerning guests, along with extravagant baths and other contemporary luxuries. Seafire's 4,700-square-foot tenth floor Presidential Suite offers the ultimate in luxury, with the most exceptional views on the island. High ceilings and an open-plan design give guests space and freedom they crave during their stay, with floor to ceiling windowed wall panels that can be opened completely onto the extensive wraparound balcony with spectacular views over Seven Mile Beach. Sleek, custom-made furnishings hail from Spain and Italy and range from a multi-sectional woven white leather sofa to fully upholstered chaise lounges with walnut accents. The Presidential Suite offers two uniquely designed ensuite bathrooms. The master bathroom, wrapped by a private deck, is designed with white onyx, with a floating tub with views to the sea.
The Dunlin redefines luxury in the Lowcountry. The Dunlin
Set against the picturesque backdrop of the Kiawah River on Johns Island, South Carolina, The Dunlin, part of the prestigious Auberge Resorts Collection, redefines luxury in the Lowcountry. This intimate boutique resort features just 72 meticulously designed cottage-style guest rooms and suites, each a haven of sophistication and comfort. The rooms boast honey oak floors, custom mint green accents and expansive private porches that invite guests to unwind while taking in sweeping views of the serene marshlands, where the sun rises and sets in a brilliant display of light and color. Inside, the rooms are adorned with luxurious touches such as plush bedding, bespoke furniture and curated art, creating a refined sanctuary that blends modern elegance with Southern charm. For those with discerning palates, Linnette's, the resort's signature farm-to-table restaurant, offers a culinary experience that celebrates the finest local ingredients, while the Aster, an Auberge Spa, provides an array of indulgent treatments designed to rejuvenate and restore.
JOIA Aruba is a new 5-star luxury resort. JOIA Aruba by Iberostar JOIA Aruba By Iberostar, Eagle Beach, Aruba
Aruba has long been one of the Caribbean's most iconic destinations, celebrated for its powdery white sands, swaying divi-divi trees that bend in the wind's direction and calm turquoise waters perfect for swimming and water sports. This stretch of paradise boasts a new 5-star luxury resort. The recently opened JOIA Aruba By Iberostar is a luxurious retreat on Eagle Beach. With 240 suites including swim-up options for total privacy, three different pool options and a world-class spa designed to deliver the ultimate in relaxation with state-of-the-art facilities like a hydrotherapy area and seven distinct treatment rooms, JOIA Aruba By Iberostar offers the ultimate in indulgence. Picture yourself swimming in the infinity pool while enjoying stunning views of the ocean, or relaxing at the pool bar without ever leaving the water.
The Salterra features 100 ocean facing rooms and suites. Salterra, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa Salterra, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, South Caicos, Turks & Caicos
South Caicos is a hidden gem in the Turks & Caicos, where unspoiled landscapes meet tranquil azure waters. Known for its vibrant coral reefs, secluded beaches and authentic island culture, it's a haven for nature lovers and those seeking peaceful solitude with an elevated feel. The recently opened Salterra, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa redefines luxury in the Caribbean with 24-hour butler service, 100 ocean facing rooms and suites (two of which are penthouse Governor's Suites). The property's salt inspired signature fine dining restaurant is just one of six culinary destinations, and the rejuvenating spa offers unique services that provide the perfect balance of therapy and serenity. MORE FROM FORBES Forbes UHNW Travelers Are Embracing The Full-Service Super Villa By Roger Sands Forbes Red Roof Advocates For Women In Hotel Leadership And Ownership By Roger Sands
