Latest news with #luxurytravel
Independent Singapore
6 hours ago
- Independent Singapore
Affluent travellers now seek flavour, wellness, and connection over luxury
Photo: Freepik/Wiroj Sidhisoradej SINGAPORE: The New Luxe Landscapes report of Marriott's featured in a recent Peak Magazine article reveals an imposing change in the luxury travel narrative across Asia Pacific (APAC). With high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) representing approximately a third of the global elite by 2027, their effect is now felt, particularly in their travel habits, what destinations they go to, and what's important to them. Culinary journeys lead the way For the second year running, food is the motivating force behind travel selections, with 88% of wealthy travellers scoring impressive culinary encounters as 'important' or 'very important.' From connoisseur dining to newly-discovered local delicacies, cuisine is no longer just a fixture to travel — it's the highlight and the showstopper. This trend is expected, yet significant. Eating at new bistros and cafes, relishing regional flavours, and even travelling with a food-first tour schedule is now a trademark of luxury exploration. It's no longer just about pampering — it's about getting to know a destination via food enjoyment. Wellness, nature, and the rise of the rejuvenation retreat Outside the culinary path, rich holidaymakers also seek emotional and physical rejuvenation. Wellness and the concept of well-being have become cornerstones of the luxury experience, predominantly among tourists aged 26 to 34. A conspicuous 86% of them mention wellness retreats as a major stimulus; they are attracted to destinations that offer spas, fitness centres, and all-inclusive escapes. Taking nature-based trips is also another rising priority, with 84% of respondents cherishing absorption in natural environments. Whether it's mountaineering in isolated countryside or wildlife chance meetings, tourists are seeking tranquillity and sustainability. However, Singapore is prominently an exception in this domain, with physical wellness activities resonating with just 8% of its luxury tourists. Privacy, safety, and connection: The new pillars of luxury Safety is no longer just an everyday worry — it's become a crucial component of luxury. A notable 91% of wealthy travellers in APAC rank it as vital and indispensable, showing how peace of mind now goes hand in hand with elitism. This has impelled a strong move away from solo travel; only a mere 20% intend to travel unaccompanied this year. Presently, luxury is being redefined as a collective experience. Family vacations, commemorative retreats, and friendship-focused travel are leading the itinerary. In Singapore, a rising movement sees one parent taking a child on a bonding travel while the other stays home — a model taken in by 25% of respondents. Where they're going and why it matters While Europe's popularity continues, a good number of affluent APAC travellers have decided to stay closer to home. Australia, Japan, and Hong Kong are at the top of the regional travel wish lists, with increasing curiosity in lesser-known destinations. Tourists and holidaymakers are exploring beyond Tokyo and Sydney to locations such as Fukuoka, Perth, and Canberra, seeking more confined, authentic experiences. Planning is deliberate and habitually starts three months ahead of actual travel. Exploring online sources and endorsements from friends shape decisions, with Singaporeans proving the most autonomous, 61% chose to plot their own itineraries. Marriott's report also focuses on three developing luxury travel identities: Venture Travellers merge business and pleasure, seeking locations with business appeal and cloistered dining spots (e.g., Japan, Australia, and China); merge business and pleasure, seeking locations with business appeal and cloistered dining spots (e.g., Japan, Australia, and China); Experience Connoisseurs , mostly young tourists, value cultural encounters, sustainability, and personalisation. They're more likely to travel alone and are known to be flippant travellers; , mostly young tourists, value cultural encounters, sustainability, and personalisation. They're more likely to travel alone and are known to be flippant travellers; Timeless Adventurers choose profound cultural engagement and are willing to spend for authenticity and connection, preferring destinations such as Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. See also Singapore leads APAC in AI adoption in the workplace A new chapter in global luxury travel Asia Pacific's wealthy travellers are no longer just pursuing international luxury trends; they're the ones setting them. As affluence in the region surges, so too does the craving for evocative and purposeful travel manifested by connection, enhancement, and intention. Flash and fanfare are now on the sidelines. For these travellers, genuine luxury lies in experiences that stay long even after the journey ends. () => { const trigger = if ('IntersectionObserver' in window && trigger) { const observer = new IntersectionObserver((entries, observer) => { => { if ( { lazyLoader(); // You should define lazyLoader() elsewhere or inline here // Run once } }); }, { rootMargin: '800px', threshold: 0.1 }); } else { // Fallback setTimeout(lazyLoader, 3000); } });
Daily Mail
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Braless Rosie Huntington-Whiteley shows off her supermodel figure in a series of stylish holiday looks on Positano getaway with Jason Statham
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has shared a series of snaps from her latest sun-soaked getaway to Positano, Italy, with Jason Statham and their children. The former Victoria's Secret Angel showed off her model frame in several stunning holiday looks including a form-fitting green dress. In one snap, Rosie, 38, went braless as she cosied up to her partner Jason Statham wearing a strappy yellow vest top that showed off her ample assets. Rosie showed off her model frame in an olive green dress that featured a stunning sweetheart neckline. Elsewhere, Rosie posed in front of the evening sunset by the beach, looking flawless in her silky green dress with chic accessories. The doting mother-of-two, who was joined by her children Jack and Isabella, gave a smouldering stare to the camera, wearing little make-up. In another snap, Rosie wore a mint green jaw-dropping fairy-esque gown which trailed across the floor. She looked elegant in the head-turning outfit, which featured a mesh cape that was draped around her shoulders. The family-of-four were staying at five-star hotel Villa Treville, which boasts stunning views of the Amalfi Coast. Rooms start at £3,416 per night, which makes it a luxury place suitable for the stars. 'Positano dreaming…' she captioned the post. Her rarely-seen daughter Isabella and son Oscar were present in the snaps. The high-profile couple seemed to enjoy some special family time together during the summer holidays. They spent time exploring the area and eating delicious food. Rosie and Jason have been together since 2009 and though he is best-known for his action films, he also had an impressive athletics career. Rosie revealed they had taken their relationship to the next level when she flashed her impressive diamond ring at the 2016 Golden Globes. The model, who grew up in Devon, recently revealed why she returned to the UK in 2020 and explained that it was always 'the plan' to raise her children in the UK. She told The Times: 'We love the schools, the education. They're growing up British with their little British accents, which was important for us, and we have a great support system here. 'Jay's parents live up the road and see the kids most days, my family come to visit every six or eight weeks.' Rosie also said her kids are having a childhood not dissimilar to her own, even spending large amounts of time in Devon where she grew up. The mum, who only shares the occasional snap of her children online, added: 'In the summer we go down to Devon and our children have the same experiences running around on the farm that I had growing up, and it's very special.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
British Royal Train Closing After 180-Year Run. Here's Why
The British royal train is nearing its final stop. British monarchs have traveled privately via train since the 1840s. Queen Victoria took things a step further in 1869 when she commissioned two luxury coaches to service the Crown. The tradition has continued up until the present day, but won't be lasting for much longer. Buckingham Palace has announced that the British royal train will be decommissioned by 2027 in order to "secure best value for public money." The royal contract to keep the train running expires in March 2027 and will no longer be renewed. James Chalmers, Keeper of the Privy Purse, in charge of managing the Royal Household's finances, explained the decision as the Crown's attempt to "modernize and adapt to reflect the world of today." 'The royal train, of course, has been part of national life for many decades, loved and cared for by all those involved," said Chalmers. "But in moving forward we must not be bound by the past." Chalmers added that the move serves as a huge cost-cutting measure. The Sovereign Grant Report, which breaks down the Royal Household's annual finances, noted that the cost to store and maintain the royal train far outweighs its practical usage. The Royal Family would have to make a "significant level of investment" to keep the train operational past 2027. The report also noted that the Royal Family had also purchased two new helicopters that offer more cost-efficient travel versus the royal train. The Royal Travel Appendix on the 2024-25 Sovereign Grant Report details just how costly train travel was compared to other modes of transportation. From April 2024 to March 2025, the Crown used the royal train just twice, costing around $60,000 each trip. The figure makes the monarchy's 55 chartered flights at $14,800 each and 141 helicopter rides at $4,600 each look like an absolute Royal Train Closing After 180-Year Run. Here's Why first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 6, 2025
Times
2 days ago
- Times
Hotel Supetar Cavtat review: understated elegance on the Dalmatian Riviera
This classy hotel in the pretty town of Cavtat, on the Adriatic coast of Croatia, is housed in a handsome 1920s waterfront villa with the usual Dalmatian trappings of creamy stone and green shutters. Inside is a boutique lover's dream — it was transformed in 2022 from a humdrum three-star into an intimate, five-star bolt hole with a delightful garden, pool and sea-facing roof terrace. There is a definite sense of being looked after royally when you're offered a cold flannel and iced water immediately on arrival. The vibe is understated elegance throughout, from the 21 lovely rooms to the public areas with a changing roster of art exhibits. This article contains affiliate links, which may earn us revenue Score 8/10There's a calming mix of English and French country-house style and some bold design touches, including eye-catching (but not jarring) wallpaper in some of the rooms. Florals are fresh rather than chintzy, with hints of Englishness in the fabric headboards that come from Andrew Martin, based in Chelsea, west London. The whole effect is a soothing one, featuring light oak floors and marble bathrooms, with a touch of art nouveau in the tiling adding to a spacious and airy feel. There are 16 rooms in the main house and five in a neighbouring stone house, with views either of the seafront or the palm-shaded greenery of the gardens leading to the pool area. The smallest room in the main house comes with a little patio — if you'd like it ask for room No 107. • Discover our full guide to Croatia Score 9/10You'll eat well here. Not surprisingly, the restaurant's Mediterranean-Croatian menu is heavy on local seafood — crab, octopus, swordfish, dentex fish and scallops from nearby Ston — while Istrian beef, Pag lamb and wild rabbit satisfy the carnivores. But it's all done with a delicate and assured touch. The setting is very romantic: a wide roof terrace with views of the sea for those sultry Dalmatian summer evenings. Sink into one of the squashy sofas for a cocktail before you eat. Breakfast is just as impressive, with most produce sourced from nearby suppliers. An expansive buffet of salad, meat, cheese, seafood, fresh fruit and pastries competes with a tempting menu of eggs cooked numerous ways, plus sausages, bacon and courgette fritters. One of the hotel's cosiest spots is its ground-floor bar, a clubby, cocoon-like space that has an excellent selection of wines, including those made from local grape varieties such as grk, posip and plavac mali. There's also a lounge terrace in the area between the hotel's two buildings. • Best Croatian islands to visit• Best luxury villas in Croatia Score 7/10Behind the hotel are the gardens, where you can relax under palm and citrus trees before walking up stone steps to the pool and flopping on one of the sunbeds. It's not a very big pool, but it is certainly a peaceful spot to while away the hours. The hotel's neighbouring building has massage rooms and a sauna, and guests are able to use the extensive facilities at its five-star sister property Hotel Croatia Cavtat, accessed via a shuttle. Here you can swim in the saltwater outdoor and indoor pools before drying off in the sauna or unwinding in the steam room. The resort also has loungers on the nearby beach that Hotel Supetar Cavtat guests can use for free. Score 8/10The hotel is in a prime waterfront spot in the main harbour, discreetly back from the water's edge. There is a beach just a few yards away, and if you continue along the footpath you can wander around the pine-shaded headland that forms one of Cavtat's two forested peninsulas. The town makes an appealing alternative base to Dubrovnik: it's only a 15-minute drive from the airport and boat trips to nearby islands are offered just a few minutes' walk from the hotel. You can also sail to Dubrovnik — or just hop on the bus if you're not in a hurry (about 40 minutes). Price B&B doubles from £427Restaurant mains from £33Family-friendly NAccessible N Mary Novakovich was a guest of Hotel Supetar Cavtat ( • Best things to do in Croatia• Best beaches in Croatia
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Inside the billionaire travel club: meet the luxury concierge who rented an island for Mariah Carey
What plans have you made for your next holiday? Breakfast atop the Arc de Triomphe, or perhaps private dining amid the splendour of the Palace of Versailles? How about an intimate tour of the Great Sphinx of Giza? It's all in a day's work for the luxury travel concierge Jaclyn Sienna India, who has devoted her career to masterminding incredible experiences for her high-net worth customers. "We do all the crazy stuff," Jaclyn tells HELLO! in our exclusive interview, speaking from her new home in Beverly Hills. "We shut down monuments; we work with the most exclusive clients." The founder of her own bespoke travel company, Sienna Charles, Jaclyn, 43, is the woman the ultra-wealthy turn to for premium out-of-reach experiences. She once rented an entire private island in the Caribbean to host a birthday party for Mariah Carey. Membership of Sienna Charles starts at $50,000 a year – and there's a long waiting list. "I'd say we don't have any members now who are worth less than $500m," she tells us. "Probably 90% of our clients are billionaires." 'You can't just be a travel agent anymore. You have to know the hottest places, because when a client books that trip, they start communicating it to friends. You need to know the restaurants before they do, and get them in. You can't sell something you don't have access to." Jaclyn's secret weapon is her little black book, in which she records the hotspots she finds through her extensive travels. The American businesswoman spends more than 200 days a year visiting between ten and 20 countries to vet locations and meet locals, so she can "discover places and experiences that simply aren't found through conventional searches". "The UK, France, Italy and the US are our top four destinations," she says. "Japan is really popular, and skiing in the French and Swiss Alps… then, in awards season, it's Los Angeles, London for art shows, Paris for dining. The summer is the south of France, Italy and Greece." 'In the UK, it's London for private viewings of the Crown Jewels, access to private art galleries, dining at Michelin starred restaurants and VIP shopping experiences. Then it's the countryside, with experiences like falconry, horseback riding and farm-to-table dining." High-net-worth individuals are using services like Jaclyn's to ensure their lives run seamlessly, wherever they are. And it seems that no request is too big for Sienna Charles. "We've travelled with tonnes of celebrities and booked trips for them, and the ask is always the same – privacy," Jaclyn says. Think private meals at Louis Vuitton's historic home in Paris, or breakfast with the Hermès and Fendi families, also in the French capital – experiences that are out of reach for most people. One high-profile client of Jaclyn's was the former American president George W Bush. "We organised a remarkable visit to Ethiopia's Omo Valley for President Bush, his wife, four friends and 30 security agents," Jaclyn says. "We collaborated with local partners to custom-build a luxury camp specifically for his stay. We also added personalised touches. "The Secret Service very rarely comes out of their approved list – they have to really want to work with somebody like me – so having that glimpse into the government was really special." There is always a way to fulfil a client's wish, she says. "If somebody wants Super Bowl tickets the night before, how much are you willing to pay for it? You can always get it done." Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Jaclyn now splits her time between her homes in LA, New York and Paris – and she finds her client base fascinating "People think differently when they have that type of money," she says. "Our clients often approach life and travel with a distinct mindset. It's not just about what they can afford, but how they prioritise and value their time and experiences. "Many of our clients are what we call Type A personalities, accustomed to efficiency and excellence in all aspects of their lives. "Whether it's deep-sea fishing in a remote ocean or attending an exclusive art auction, their passions inform their travel choices, and they are willing to spend sometimes up to $500,000 on a trip to make it special and memorable." Jaclyn's own story began when she studied art history at Temple University, Philadelphia, and worked at the five-star French restaurant Le Bec-Fin, where its extremely wealthy diners would often spend $5,000 on a meal. "They would talk about where they ate in Paris or New York or London. I would literally save the list, run there and be like: 'Wow, you could tell the difference.' They had such a standard." After graduating, Jaclyn spent time travelling before setting up her agency in Palm Beach, Florida, in 2007, together with her husband, Freddy Charles. An expert in restaurants, wine, art, fashion and history, Jaclyn tells us that her company's unique selling point is herself. "The differentiating factor is me, because of my taste level, my connections and my know-how of how to get it done, over and over again," she says. So, what do her clients want right now? "People are not taking vacations," Jaclyn says. "It's part of this new wealthy lifestyle. They live in four homes every week: there's a new social calendar. They're going to a winery for the harvest or to a fashion show, and they're moving around quite nomadically." Her own destinations of choice include Bali, Hong Kong and Korea. "I love Asia," she says. "My brother lives in Vietnam, so every year I take an apartment there for two months, and my husband and I rent a motorbike and are very much a part of the culture there." There's no doubt that Jaclyn is a one-off powerhouse, and she isn't slowing down. "I love learning – new places, new hotels," she says. "There's always a new restaurant, always a new designer. There's always something new."
