In a recent report by Skift, luxury travel was put under a microscope in order to determine what does and does not matter to travelers looking for a higher-end vacation experience. In the past, luxury travel has been defined by expensive opulence and, especially, exclusivity.
However, as times change, so do industry norms. The group at Skift arrived at what they now deem the 5 C’s of luxury travel experiences most desired by guests.
Those five C’s are: Culture, Cuisine, Community, Content, and Customization.
Rather than private jets on private islands, luxury travel is centering around customized and immersive experiences that not only help guests get a sense of what different parts of the world are like, but that also help them grow as people in the process.
Fortunately, the 5 C’s identified by Skift are bred into the fabric of our company at Unwind Luxury Vacations. Here’s a closer look at each of the C’s and how they are featured at Unwind.
Culture
Whether traveling to the next town or halfway around the world, new cultural experiences are all around us. As our world becomes more connected, people are less intimidated by and more interested in learning about cultural experiences outside of their own.
Each of our Unwind luxury vacation homes is nestled in its own unique cultural setting. From big cities like Nashville, Houston, and Austin to beachfronts like Rosemary Beach and St. Augustine, FL to deserts and mountains and everything in between. Each area brings unique cultural experiences where travelers can deepen their awareness of what it means to be a resident on planet earth.
Cuisine
Food is a major aspect of culture and travel in general. Even a quick trip to a different city has many people looking for food options they cannot find at home.
Fine dining can be a major draw for travelers. Unwind cities like Nashville and Houston feature world-renowned chefs such as Trevor Morgan (Locust in Nashville) and Emmanuel Chavez (Tatemó in Houston).
But many destinations also feature in-home private chefs who can come prepare a world-class meal for you and your friends and family. Some areas also offer cooking classes that can be added to your itinerary by one of our dedicated property managers.
In luxury travel, food is about more than just sustenance. It is part of the experience itself. So take advantage of the many food-based experiences available at our Unwind destinations.
Community
Perhaps the biggest shift in luxury travel trends is the traveler’s desire for more community rather than exclusive isolation. While most people are still reluctant to share accommodations with strangers, many crave the experience of interacting with locals or participating in community events in the cities and towns where they stay.
At Unwind, we provide a team of dedicated property managers who know the properties and regions where the vacation homes we manage are located. That means they can clue you in on upcoming local events like festivals and celebrations open to the community. You can join in local traditions and customs and have stories to share for a lifetime.
Content
Instead of lounging by a resort pool for a week or napping on the deck of a luxury cruise liner, today’s luxury travelers are in search of memorable content – or experiences – which can be shared with friends and family.
Social media sites like Instagram and Tik Tok have made “shareable” experiences a must. These platforms incentivize unique, fascinating moments and deprioritize cliché moments everyone has seen dozens of times. As the saying goes, “Pics or it didn’t happen.” Creating social media worthy moments is a new priority of modern luxury travelers.
Customization
It is interesting that customization is the last C on Skift’s list because one could argue that it essentially encompasses the other four. What modern luxury travelers want more than anything else is a customized experience just for them. Piling on tour busses for hours or staying in large resorts with hundreds of other guests are becoming less appealing because people want to know they are paying for experiences that suit their personal interests and needs.
While some will certainly continue to choose the “package deals” where decisions are all made for you, many modern travelers want more control over where they go, what they eat, when they wake up, and who they are with. Allowing more control over variables like these will appeal to some travelers more than others.
Find the 5 C’s at Unwind
Skift identified what they consider the 5 C’s of luxury travel: culture, cuisine, community, content, and customization. These are becoming more and more important to modern luxury travelers, and at Unwind they are a natural part of how we operate as a company.
To learn more about our properties and to book a stay, visit our Properties page HERE and see what else Unwind has to offer.
