CHANGING THE GAME

Our world is ever-changing, and so is the way we experience it. Tatler explores how the travel industry is adapting to the needs and values of a new generation

- Coco Marett

A new generation of travellers—who have a window to the world at their fingertips via social media and a growing appetite for authentic experiences—are reshaping the travel industry as we know it.

Tatler caught up with experts and insiders to find out how they’re meeting their needs.

MAKING IT COUNT

“After the pandemic, people’s appreciation for travel has heightened,” says Victor Sanz, creative director of luxury lifestyle brand Tumi, adding that before Covid-19 struck, travel was becoming something we took for granted. “People would go to a city for two or three days, but there wasn’t any [deep] connection to the destination they were travelling to.”

But now, all of that is changing. More travellers are looking for the opportunity to connect with local communities and to learn the stories that connect a place with its people. No longer looking for a quick change of scenery, we want to travel and come back with a new perspective. And this desire for depth is reflected in the top travel trends for 2024, which include slow travel, off-the-beaten-track destinations and immersive cultural experiences.

Sanz says travellers “are looking off the tourist map for experiences that are outside of the norm. If they’re going to New York, for example, they may not stay in Manhattan; they might stay in the outer boroughs. You’re going to see more of these excursions, which is fantastic because it builds community and a deeper understanding of the world.”