WHAT TO LOOK FORWARD TO WHEN WE CAN TRAVEL AGAIN

Leading luxury tour operator Elegant Resorts has, over the past few weeks, recorded an uplift in enquiries and bookings for beach holidays in 2021, confirming that demand is slowly returning, and clients are looking ahead to ensure they have something to look forward to, once the travel bans are lifted.

Elegant Resorts' clients are now choosing to book their 2021 holidays over 2020 as 65% of bookings are for next year, mostly for beach escapes. By booking now, they can make the most of their time at home to carefully plan their long-awaited holiday and travel in “spirit” from the comfort of their own armchairs.

Current best-selling holidays include destinations such as Barbados, Spain and Dubai. 61% of enquiries are for long haul single centred beach holidays and 39% for Europe. Clients are looking for simpler beach escapes rather than adventure holidays at this stage.

There is so much to look forward to when it comes to travel – we have rounded up some of the latest openings and news stories, which are getting the team at Elegant Resorts itching to travel again!

Multigenerational Travel – Reconnect with Loved Ones

British Virgin Islands – Earlier this year we saw the reopening of the stunning Valley Trunk Villa on Virgin Gorda.  The property accommodates groups of up to 16 guests in 8 grand suites, set in immaculate exotic gardens, with unforgettable views of the Sir Francis Drake Channel.

Also in the BVIs, we saw the relaunch of Necker Island, which was entirely renovated post Hurricane Irma, along with the launch of Moskito Island, with its collection of private villas, which can be rented for the ultimate island hideaway.

Wildlife Encounters – Reconnect with Nature

Tanzania and Rwanda make for the perfect twin-centre trip when it comes to nature - Thanks to Singita, clients can now combine the Big Five with Gorilla sightings, by staying at the recently renovated Singita Faru Faru in Tanzania and the newly opened Singita Kwitonda in Rwanda. Located within a 350,000-acre private reserve, Faru Faru offers one of the finest game viewing opportunities on earth. Kwitonda Lodge, on the other hand, offers highlight activities including a once in a lifetime Gorilla trek to meet the families of apes who reside in the foothills of the surrounding rainforest, an excursion to the grave of renowned primatologist Diane Fossey, and a hike through Volcanoes National Park to view the golden monkey troop, only found in the Virguna Massif.

Wellness – Reconnect with Yourself

New Optimal Health Retreats with Aman Resorts – Launching in October, Aman's new wellness programmes are designed to bolster and support the body's natural defence systems, with the aim of enabling guests to be at their optimum health. Drawing on the most advanced medical and scientific knowledge, as well as the wisdom of ancient wellness traditions, each new programme will tackle every aspect of immunity and reflect Aman's signature integrative approach to wellbeing. 

New Opening - The brand-new Banyan Tree Wellbeing Sanctuary in Phuket features an intimate enclave of 12 eco-sustainable pool villas, nestled within lush tropical gardens. Each villa comes with a 17.5 sqm swimming pool with whirlpool and is surrounded by a generous sunbathing area. This stunning sanctuary is designed to empower every individuals' wellbeing potential. The concept is set up to enhance overall health by following essential rituals, most importantly sleep, as well as incorporating some of the 50 dynamic-wellbeing activities on offer, ranging from Muay Thai to Mindful Meditation. 

Stunning Landscapes – Reconnect with the Beauty of the World

One&Only Mandarina in Mexico – Opening in November this year, this ultra-luxury property on the Pacific coastline of Riviera Nayarit, overlooks the Pacific Ocean amidst the jungle, along a stretch of pristine white sand beaches and sapphire blue waters. The destination encompasses the surrounding mountain peaks, and rolling, green flatlands, creating an idyllic tropical landscape. Designed to coalesce with the diverse and stunning landscape, One&Only Mandarina offers a combination of 104 free-standing villas that float above the treetops or perch against the cliffs – each with their own private plunge pool – as well as 54 Private Home Villas. 

Camp Sarika at Amangiri – Launched in Spring 2020 in Utah, Camp Sarika comprises of 10 tented-pavilions, each with individual private plunge pools, located on a luxury encampment surrounded by 600 hectares of raw wilderness in the heart of the desert, close to Amangiri. Camp Sarika is set on more than 55 hectares, overlooking iconic flat-topped mesa rock formations. Surrounded by five national parks; each offering unique and diverse scenery, numerous national monuments and the Navajo Nation Reservation, the camp will enable a back-to-nature, wilderness experience for guests who enjoy the utmost comfort alongside mesmerising, otherworldly landscapes and intriguing remnants of Native American culture.

Responsible Travel – Reconnect with the Planet

Gili Lankanfushi in the Maldives – The resort reopened earlier this year with an all new design and the largest overwater villa in the world. An intimate and sustainable island paradise, Gili Lankanfushi exists in harmony with its natural surroundings, offering a laidback atmosphere and impeccable service. The island's resident Marine Biologists work to protect the reef, track and identify marine life and educate guests, whilst the resort has been built with eco-friendly materials which blend seamlessly into the natural landscape. 

Lisa Fitzell, Managing Director at Elegant Resorts commented: “These are unprecedented times and the scale of the crisis is beyond anything the travel industry has ever experienced, but the positive story is that we are seeing a week on week increase in enquiries and bookings for the end of 2020 and indeed 2021. Our clients are passionate about travel, and for some of them, now is a good time to start thinking about those big trips that take longer to plan. Organising these is also part of the fun and offers the opportunity for some armchair travel. There are so many fantastic places opening and due to open this year, the team at Elegant Resorts cannot wait to go and visit them and get our clients to see them when the time is right to travel again.”

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For further information on Elegant Resorts, please contact Charlotte Wilmots at Charlotte's Web PR.

Telephone: 07867785091

Email: charlotte@charlotteswebpr.co.uk