Secluded Hotels, Slow Travel, Privacy, Flexibility–This Is How Summer Holidays Will Look

“Travel and tell no one, live a true love story and tell no one, live happily and tell no one, people ruin beautiful things.”

The quote by Kahlil Gibran, posted by a French friend experiencing post-lockdown euphoria on a nature outing, reminded me of just how much our lockdown worlds will change us, and have us craving more seclusion … Natural or luxury sanctuaries. Cozy, safe cocooned travel worlds. Simplicity, goodness and sustainability. 

Many travel habits will morph as tourism slowly returns. But across all the trends experts point out, the one constant is the “p” word: Privacy. Have we all become semi-recluses through quarantine? Still seeking a touch of both reclusiveness and exclusiveness as we venture back to hotels, and on holiday. It seems so. Social distancing measures mandate it. The tourism industry must adapt.  

Privacy The New Luxury: Hideaway Hotels  

“As people start to travel post-Covid, luxury travel will come back first, and privacy will be the new luxury,” says New York-based Florence Quinn of Quinn PR. “Travel and hospitality brands that cater to this new mindset will reap the rewards of more reservations.

“Travel by yacht, private jet, residential rentals and secluded hotels and destinations will boom as affluent consumers look for getaways with fewer crowds, more privacy and the ability to gather with loved ones.”

Private Villas, More Room Service, Local Gastronomy

“We have two private villas at the Château de la Treyne, and we are getting a lot of demand for them. I realise people this year will be a little bit afraid, so this way they have family, friends, a private pool, and chef.”

On reopening in July, Stephanie Gombert, directrice of the luxury Dordogne hotel, feels “the sense of luxury and exclusiveness” will be more important than ever to guests. “More privacy overall, and a priority on cleaning and security are vital in the future … despite being in an area where coronavirus cases are very low.”

As to dining, she anticipates much more room service. The usual gastronomic highlights at the Relais & Châteaux will change: “With dinner on the terrace, there’ll probably be fewer people, and definitely with tables spaced out. But also less service, to reduce touch and contact.” Buying local, “from small producers, and serving only seasonal food,” is always the modus operandi here. “In the health context people will appreciate it even more,” Gombert thinks.

Off The Beaten Path Trips & Extended Stays

Michel Rochat CEO of prestigious Swiss hospitality school, Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne sees huge opportunities ahead for “off-the-beaten-track offers”. “Hideaways and less-traveled regions will benefit,” he says. “There will be a return to slow travel, self-drive and touring. Camping and B&Bs too will experience a revival.

“And lastly, there will be a demand for apartment-style accommodation and long stay offers with service geared especially to senior citizens who enjoy traveling. In general, domestic tourism and day tourism will boom.”

Adults-Cations … Out With The Kids?

We have become used to un-crowding. The idea of “travel bubbles” will not just exist between countries, connecting us together in safe trust-based worlds, but between people. So even though the desire will be there to spend time with family (some may have spent enough) … there will be a tendency to smaller holiday gatherings. Balearic-based travel technology group TravelgateX partners up with British Airways Holidays and other online travel agents and booking platforms. A study of holiday reservations for September to December shows 65% are for couples (a significant uptick). 22% will travel alone, about 20% with the family and 13% with a group.

It would seem Covid has left us craving intimacy, and a pared-down world. “Adults-only” hotels, holidays and luxury hideaways stand to benefit from this trend. Couples will be seeking places where they can relax and unwind sans kids. Not of course that all couples have kids … but you get the drift. Solo travel also features strong and reflects that need to hang-on to some lockdown sanity and serenity, which hotels will need to provide.

Speaking Of Which … Space

Space in hospitality will be as much a safety prerequisite as state of mind. Many hotels and restaurants are factoring that need in, some are even redesigning to adapt to the new reality. Not a problem for many Airbnb’s. Some apartment operators in southern France are seeing hikes in demand for summer rentals.

Privacy The New Norm–Even For Transport  

Only 5% of Americans want to travel by train or bus on their first post-Covid trips according to Skift, “Likely because those are public, shared spaces,” it says. “Our survey indicates that the private and controlled space offered by a car is most likely to be the first transportation method used by Americans who return to travel.”

And Finally Flexibility & Ease–For Trips & Bookings

Because travel will be tricky, travelers will want “minimal fuss and planning” says tourism expert Lou Hammond. That same flexibility needs to be reflected in accommodation cancellation and refund policies argues Nicholas Ward, president and co-founder of travel marketing tech company Koddi. 

Ward says the industry should win over consumers by giving people what they are looking for right now: “That’s not having to worry about losing their money.” 

“Due to Covid-19, people are shifting to shorter stays and short-term bookings– indicated by over 50% of same and next day searches, compared to 20% early in the year.” Last-minute stays are in, future-looking ones out, for now.