2017 Travel & Hospitality Trends

All over the world, outdoor travel experiences are undergoing a luxurious makeover. Helena Bay in Northland New Zealand is the embodiment of the luxploration trend given its isolated locale on the country’s private coastline.

This luxury lodge lures the elite traveler with its pristine landscape, providing curated outings from seeking sacred landmarks with Maori tribal leaders to treasure-diving at Poor Knight’s Island. On the other side of the hemisphere, adventure elitists get the all-access pass to Port Ferdinand and Saint Peter’s Bay, luxury sister properties in Barbados where guests bypass immigration, diving head first into vacation mode via water taxi.

Scuba and swim alongside majestic Hawksbill turtles on untouched beaches or pony up for private polo lessons at the bucolic Buttals Farm Polo Club. The haute high seas are just as enviable at the historic  Casa Madrona Hotel & Spa, nestled on the famed Sausalito hillside. Go starboard on the iconic bayfront—with San Francisco’s skyline as the stunning backdrop—during the hotel’s learn-to-sail program.

In this day and age, the world is your filter and star shooter Aaron Chang doles out the insider tips for Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego’s Photography Tour, offering guests the chance to experience San Diego’s must-see attractions through the lens of an expert, evolving your Instagram and vacation video.

For powder seekers looking to push boundaries, the Game Creek Chalet offers the inside track to the resort’s legendary Back Bowls and Blue Sky Basin. High above Vail Village, the secluded chalet boasts personal concierge service, private chef and Snowcat transportation.

The secluded Four Seasons Resort Lanai and its new Adventure Center is luxploration 3.0. Ride horseback through elegantly rugged wooded trails, explore heritage sites on a UTV tour and discover 140 square miles of untouched terrain with creature comforts along the way.

Sleek Airstream trailers nestled within the forests offer a respite and refreshments for guests. Set across 24 majestic acres on Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, the Resort at Pedregal is a luxploration haven.

New for 2017, the destination is teaming up with a roster of naturalists and pro adventurers to check off those bucket lists from swimming with whale sharks and snorkeling with sea-lions to surfing coveted breaks at the East Cape.

Classic bar carts are being revived with updated presentations at destinations around the globe. At The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach, guests are buzzing about the Cafecito Cart, a Cuban-inspired amenity to perk up crowds for the nocturnal nightlife scene of South Beach.

The cart, wheeled to languid guests at the Art Deco poolside, is equipped with all of the necessities to brew a fresh (and fuerte!) cup of café Cubano.

Going up? W Los Angeles – West Beverly Hills is taking the surprise-and-delight amenity to the next level—literally—with a bartender mixing signature complimentary drinks from STK LA and The Living Room in the hotel’s elevator, The Lift. Every Saturday, a personal bartender mixes libations from a sleek cocktail caddy (hashtag #SipNLift).

Meanwhile VERGE Restaurant at  Toll House Hotel  in Los Gatos, Calif. is luring the brunch set with a progressive program where a roaming Bloody Mary and mimosa cart provides Insta-festive sips with custom condiments (think pickled beets and fennel shrub syrup).

For the daredevil set, leave it to Marquis Los Cabos in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico to unveil the en fuego Café Mexicano nightcap cart. Served table-side, tequila is lit on fire and poured flaming—replete with daring tricks, flips and long-distance pours. The grand finale: two shots of espresso, brown sugar, Kahlua, a splash of grenadine and a dollop of whipped cream. ¡Salud!

In our experience economy, wanderlusting is more reinvigorated and robust than ever. Relais & Châteaux, an association of 550 hotels and restaurants around the world, is bringing the renaissance man back in 2017, proving a versatile craftsman can hone his skills on the road.

There’s no place more nostalgic to discover sea legs than the Relais & Châteaux property Cliveden House in Berkshire, UK where sailing lessons are taught on the River Thames aboard a restored flotilla from the 1900’s. Meanwhile, it’s game on at Relais & Châteaux property The Lodge at Glendorn in Bradford, PA offering the country’s most prized bird hunting grounds and The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans keeps it real for adventurers with late-night bow fishing. Guests can have their catch flown home or complete the bayou-to-bistro experience by allowing top toques to prep your cat fish or alligator gar at M Bistro. 

In all of its Americana glory, The Restoration in Charleston, S.C. is revving up with The Open Road Project, allowing road warriors to dream up and design a fully-customized motorcycle, hand-built by the hotel’s in-house master craftsman. Once complete, guests can pick up their motorcycle from The Restoration and ride off into the sunset. 

Meanwhile, Mountain  Trek in British Columbia offers the ultimate bragging rights for the bro set. With its ultra-personalized offerings and staff-to-guest ratio (4-1), the visually arresting lodge provides individually focused goals like dynamic boot camps and retreat vacations, providing full body and mind renewal—from recalibrating metabolism and stress management to high-octane fitness programs to recharge will power.

South of the border, Rancho La Puerta in Tecate, Mexico, offers an uphill battle for even the fittest runners and parkour enthusiasts, thanks to its location in the foothills of Mount Kuchumaa where hiking guides lead guests on daily challenges of advanced trails at varying altitudes. Food for thought: The property’s farm-to-table cooking school is a natural fit for week-long programming.

The curated vacation is the pinnacle of the VIP stay. The new art-filled FOUND:RE Phoenix in Phoenix, Ariz. elevates the hotel as gallery experience with an in-house curator hosting intimate tours of the contemporary collection from Arizona-based artists displayed throughout the property and its powerful public art spaces. And similar to a gallery, all of the art is for sale should guests fall in love with any must-have pieces.

Also in the culture club is The Betsy-South Beach, a luxury family-owned boutique hotel on Miami Beach, which recently unveiled a new Art Deco wing in December as a part of a massive property expansion. It has a dedicated PACE (Philanthropy, Arts, Culture, Education) program, shining a spotlight on Miami’s emerging music and arts talent who are center stage during intimate salons, workshops and performances.

Triumph Hotels, a collection of seven historic hotels across Manhattan, allows guests to experience New York City like a local through complimentary walking tours in partnership with pedestrian-wise Streetwis e. Pounding the pavement with an insider perspective, it allows guests to explore the city’s most coveted neighborhoods, discovering hidden gems along the way.

Located in Amsterdam’s most fashionable district, Pulitzer Amsterdam recently underwent an extensive refurbishment of their 25 interlinked, 400-yr old canal houses. Designed by Creative Director Jacu Strauss, the property embellishes everything that is eclectic, colorful and quintessentially Dutch. Strauss developed an intricate shopping guide to Amsterdam’s fashionable streets, pinpointing the city’s most stylish and artisan hotspots.

Grace Hotels, an exclusive, privately owned collection of luxury boutique hotels, has launched Bespoke By Grace designed to create inspired, curated journeys. Guests can immerse themselves in local culture with insider access from blending their own varietal at a boutique winery in Argentina or jaunting to a hidden picnic spot in Mykonos.

Boasting one of the most exclusive addresses on London’s Park Lane overlooking Hyde Park, Grosvenor House Suites by Jumeirah Living is relaunching its year-long ‘At Home With’ series. Consider it the must-have invite to meet London’s esteemed personalities, including readings by famous authors, master classes with leading experts and intimate theatre previews with the stars.

There’s Tulum, and then there’s the local’s-only Tulum, courtesy of Thompson Playa del Carmen and its partnership with adventure company Mexico Tropical. Expect swims in secret cenotes and lagoons, excursions to indigenous bee conservations and bar-none beachside tacos.

In the game of nuptial one-up-manship, brides and grooms and traversing new terrain for wondrous backdrops. Nothing says fairy tale wedding quite like Adare Manor, set to reopen in September 2017 after an 18-month meticulous restoration, returning the hotel to its original splendor. Nestled on 840 acres of undulating Irish countryside dotted with ancient woodlands, it offers a stunning backdrop for a castle wedding.

Located in the secluded destination of Port Antonio—dubbed the Jamaican Riviera—lies a decidedly different castle at The Trident Hotel. A high-drama backdrop for celebrations, The Trident Castle was originally built for Baroness Elizabeth Siglindy Stephan von Thyssen in the 1980’s set on 7 acres of pristine grounds, which includes a pool terrace overlooking the ocean, a private helipad and a chapel.

At Tanque Verde Ranch in Tucson, Ariz., couples can say I do amongst the greenest desert backdrop imaginable. The authentic dude ranch, set among towering cactus and horse-filled pastures, offers weddings at its Cactus View lawn, the scenic rooftop Rincon Terrace, or the historic Old Homestead, a remote and exclusive location overlooking the desert panorama.

At Trapper’s Cabin in Beaver Creek, Rocky Mountain nuptials take place among the aspen and pine trees at 9,500 feet. This luxury getaway on Beaver Creek Mountain includes an elegant log cabin that sleeps up to 10 with a cozy fireplace, Jacuzzi and magnificent mountain views.

Rustic elegance is done right at the Rocky Mountain property, Timber Ridge, located at the summit of North Peak at Keystone. The airy lodge with cathedral ceilings and a two-story fireplace sets the stage for the reception, while picture-perfect ceremonies are held on the veranda with sweeping views of the Gore and Ten Mile Ranges.

Set amid 20 acres of lush meadows of The Catskills, Scribner’s Catskill Lodge in Hunter, NY is a historic 1960s property brought back to life and steeped in nostalgia, craftsmanship and local culinary offerings. Through the property’s cultural renaissance, Boho brides will find a creative oasis.

In Texas, everything is big, including the farm-to-table destination weddings at  The Inn at Dos Brisas, a romantic, luxury ranch providing a picturesque backdrop of tufted meadows and brilliantly manicured rose, herb and vegetable gardens.

Break Out: Meetings step outside conference walls for the new groupthink. Meetings take on new meaning this year with unexpected offerings. The Mayflower Grace, nestled in the idyllic town of Washington, CT, is a northeast spa destination that is bowling guests over with its latest zen programming. The 20,000-square-foot spa offers zen by way of Silent & Sound Therapy, where business travelers can let go of their day-to-day frenzy through the ancient sound of singing bowls.

On the fitness front, Cirque du Soleil Fitness by JOYA arrives at Vidanta Rivera Maya for 2017. Inspired by the only Cirque du Soleil show in Mexico, creative breakouts will be doing back-flips. The workout is intended to keep fans fit year round with stretching, circuit training, and even entry-level acrobatics.

Leave it to The Lodge at Vail to reimagine the R&R with its Restore + Rosé yoga class for groups, a 50-minute restorative yoga class and an après Namaste with Rosé and canapes from executive Chef Rudy Williams. Take the meeting to the next level at Grand Geneva Resort & Spa in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin with its elaborate indoor rock climbing wall. Featuring a dozen thrilling routes of all levels, it’s the safest way to ready your skills for the real deal adventures on the 1,300 legendary acres of natural wonder.

In Southern California, Surf & Sand Resort in Laguna Beach, Calif. is a hub for the health-conscious traveler, tapping into the revered beach town’s fitness experts for surfside classes for creative breakouts including Boot Camp, Abs & Glutes and Tai-Chi.

At the ART, a hotel in Downtown Denver, Colo., business guests get to paint the town, courtesy of a curated jogging tour of downtown’s vibrant public art scene, replete with a detailed map. Talk about smart food: Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort is leading the farm-to-boardroom movement, tapping Hawaii’s native bounty for “brain food.” Bolstering those brainstorming sessions, Ka’ana Kitchen offers a nutrient-rich menu of local salmon, which improves focus, blueberries for memory and coconut oil, a vital nutrient for noggin function.

In other mermaid news, The Mulia Spa in Bali, Indonesia plunges guests into  oxygenated hot and cold pools for its Mulia Mermaid Detox Treatment, enlisting sea salt scrub, seaweed and essential oils to increase blood circulation and release tension.

Meanwhile, the foot massage has never been so scenic than at the L’Apothecary Spa at L’Auberge de Sedona, one of the Southwest’s foremost luxury spas nestled on the banks of Oak Creek in Arizona’s Red Rock region. The immersive Feet in the Creek is conducted in the healing waters of Oak Creek where a breathtaking reflexology is performed alfresco.

Aulani in Hawaii is chairman of the board when it comes to ocean fitness class, embracing all things paddleboard. Back east, the SUP trend continues at Gurney’s Montauk, situated on the Hampton’s most pristine stretch of oceanfront. In addition to its outdoor partnership with Paddle Diva in the peak season, the hotspot offers indoor paddle yoga in their seawater pool replete with panoramic Atlantic views.

Washington School House, Park City’s most exclusive luxury boutique hotel encourages guests to go deep: as in 10,000-year-old crater deep. In the 90-plus-degree natural therapeutic pool, tiny effervescent bubbles of CO2 exfoliate and rejuvenate dry skin and the hot mineral water lowers blood pressure. It’s ideal for au naturel hot yoga or a soak—post-hike or snowshoe.

For the ultimate recharge, Jumeirah Emirates Towers has recreated the Dead Sea submersion with its salt-water floatation tank at Talise Spa. This futuristic pool, which effectively creates the sensation of floating in mid-air, creates total relaxation, rejuvenating your body by improving circulation and providing essential nutrients.