“The growth of the experiential travel market is well reported.  Luxury travellers aren't merely buying a destination anymore, they are seeking engagement.  Terms such as “authentic”, “transformational experiences”, “meaningful connections” and such, are populating travel companies brochures and websites.   Travellers are looking to relax through participation, thus enriching their lives and leaving them with lasting memories.  You could say that today, people are no longer buying travel, they are buying an experience. Could this be the end of the travel industry and the beginning of the experience industry?” comments Lindy Andrews, CEO of Luxperience

With the growth of the experiential travel market, Luxperience's role as a business exchange, connecting specialist agents and suppliers, is even more relevant.  Studies show there is a shift in the growing number of high end experiential travellers going to bespoke travel agents rather than risk booking their trips online.

In response, Luxperience 2014 (31 August to 3 September) has further revised its programme, tailor-making appointment schedules to ensure that delegates at Luxperience can maximise their time over the three day event. This new system will allow a 20% increase in the amount of meetings made, taking the total number of appointments from a potential 60 to 73 and thereby delivering exhibitors with enhanced return on investment.

Luxperience 2014 has a wealth of experiential travel experiences attending the show including:

• Lindblad – National Geographic Expeditions
• Aqua Expeditions
• Chimu Adventures
• Independent Aviation
• Trans India Holidays
• Private Safaris Kenya
• The Great Escape Charter Company

Jeremy Lindblad, business development director at  Lindblad - National Geographic Expeditions  says, “We find the majority of our bookings come through a network of global high-end agents who have a database of High Net Worth clients that they work with every year.  They are more trusted travel "experts"  than an agent for our clients, frequently booking complex products and tailor making  holidays that take in several different experiences.  .”   

Lindy Andrews says, “We are also finding that tourism boards are recognising the importance of working with these experiential travel companies as well; we have seen increased support from them at an international level at Luxperience 2014”.  The following tourism boards have confirmed either their partnership, support or attendance at Luxperience 2014:

• PromPeru
• Tourism New Zealand
• Tahiti Tourisme
• Tourism Council of Bhutan
• India Tourism
• Tourism Authority of Thailand
• Shanghai Municipal  Tourism Administration
• Macau Government Tourist Office
• Tourism Fiji
• Philippine Department of Tourism
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For further information on participation at Luxperience 2014, please contact:

beinspired@luxperience.com.au or visit www.luxperience.com.au

For all media enquiries, please contact: 

Singapore - Poppy Mason-Watts 

Poppy.Mason-Watts@mangopr.com /+65 6536 6527 

Hong Kong - Samantha Organ 

E: Samantha.Organ@mangopr.com / +852 2862 8003

About Luxperience Luxperience is an exclusive business exchange for local and international travel trade held in the Australasia and Pacific region connecting the world's most elite travel providers. The three and half- day business exchange from 31 August - 3 September 2014 is a forum for ideas and collaboration dedicated to matching the needs of high-end experiential travel buyers with inspiring suppliers. The inaugural Luxperience in September 2012 laid the foundations for an event in Australasia and the Pacific that aims to raise the profile of the region as an innovator in true experiential travel. Future events will maintain the intimacy of a growing community that is committed to high quality and inspirational travel experiences. For further information on Luxperience, please visit: www.luxperience.com.au.

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