ASPIRE CONFERENCE 2022 4HF H Ż ƑŮ 4 Erica Bush
Well-off clients untouched by cost pressures continue to splash out
Affluent clients are spending more on holidays post-pandemic with no sign of the cost-of-living crisis affecting high- end clients, according to a state-of-the- market discussion at Leaders of Luxury. Elegant Resorts said its average booking value had risen from £15,000 to £22,000, while sister brand If Only’s had jumped from £8,000 to £14,000. Managing director Lisa Fitzell said £100,000 bookings were being made “every week” rather than every six weeks as had been the case pre-pandemic. The operator’s biggest booking so far this year was worth £500,000. “People have got more money to spend – it’s big multigenerational bookings and top suites – and there’s no sign of a let-up right now,” she said. “We know the recession is looming and things are happening with the cost of living, but we’re not seeing that. “Expectations are higher too. We’ve all had a bit of a reset post-pandemic. People who’ve got money feel like they’ve got less time than ever before, so they’re going to spend it.”
Fitzell said demand for concierge services was “huge”, prompting Elegant Resorts to “completely restructure” its concierge team and add more staff. The brand has also increased services such as its airport offering, which includes meeting clients straight from the plane. /hi ÌÀin` ià ÀiyiVÌi` in Ìhi «ÀiÛ>Ìi
jet sector, which saw rapid growth over the pandemic as commercial
airlines ground to a halt. Matteo Atti, executive vice-president of marketing and innovation at VistaJet, said taking bookings was now a “slower” process due to an increase in requirements and adjustments from clients.
LISA FITZELL: ‘People have got more money to spend – there’s no let-up’
He said: “What has changed the most is people are happy to spend but they want incredible quality for it. It’s not just a bit of pampering; we’re now talking experience and excellence.” Kyp Charalambous, vice-president of sales at Atlantis Dubai, also reported a rise in demands from high-end travellers and said Atlantis, The Palm had capped occupancy at around 80% to ensure it is effectively meeting the needs of its customers. He said: “Every resort has the choice. Do you push the envelope and go to full 100% occupancy, or do you have a level that is sensible for the customer experience to be the best? “At Atlantis Dubai, we’re really content at 80%-81% occupancy to ensure we deliver that service that is now expected over previous years.”
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Industry experts discussed buoyant post-pandemic demand and issues facing the sector at this year’s Leaders of Luxury conference held at Bafta in London
12 ASPIRE SEPTEMBER 2022
aspiretravelclub.co.uk
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