Why will this matter in 2023? Many new hotels and experiences will launch in 2023, but with jet-setters already thinking beyond the current year, eyes will be on options for 2024 and beyond. Itineraries will include the likes of the first Orient Express hotel, Minerva, to Romecruises aboard MSC Group’s new Explora II ship (arrival summer 2024), Six Senses Svart in the Norwegian Arctic Circle, Accor’s Mantis Masai Mara Eco-Lodge in Kenya, Rosewood Miyakojima in Japan, and Amanvari from Aman on the Sea of Cortés in Mexico (all in 2024). The Cheval Blanc Beverly Hills, Edition Lake Como and the Park Hyatt Riyadh Diriyah Gate in Saudi Arabia will be on the list of must-sees for 2025. Jenny Southan
17. Pedagogical routes
What’s the trend? After missing out on two years of adventures, travelers are on a mission not to waste another second. Instead of visiting a destination and barely scratching the surface, travelers want to ensure their experiences are deeper and more meaningful than ever, learning something new in the process.
Why will this matter in 2023? “After a wave of post-pandemic revenge spending, we can now expect travelers to be more selective, placing greater value on fulfilling experiences that fuel their thirst for knowledge and personal growth in 2023,” says Adam. Sebba, CEO and founder of The light. In fact, in a recent survey conducted by the luxury travel provider, nearly 90% of respondents rated the appeal of “luxury educational travel experiences” as 8, 9 or 10 out of 10. According to Tom Marchant, co-founder of black tomato, it’s a trend that we can expect to see a lot more next year. “We have seen demand for routes designed with the purpose of gaining knowledge increase in 2022, and this trend will only accelerate next year,” he says. Their immersive and educational journeys in 2023 include gaining a deep understanding of Japan’s traditional architectural style by spending time with one of the country’s leading architects and participating in the fight to protect Kenya’s rare black rhino with indoor access to a team of veterinarians and rangers to learn about conservation efforts. Sarah Allard
18. The Sound of Silence
What’s the trend? Silent retreats, of course, date back millennia, but the idea that silence is golden is at the heart of a growing trend in transformational journeys. the quiet parks movement, founded in 2019, is a grassroots organization inspired by the idea that natural calm has become an endangered species and must be protected. Annual awards are given to parks, trails, marine sanctuaries and urban spaces that provide long periods of natural calm, based on research showing how it helps reduce stress and anxiety, improves mental well-being and encourages wildlife. It’s a movement that’s gaining momentum, with indigenous Cofans in Ecuador hosting tours of the first-ever park to receive Quiet Park status, Zabalo River Wilderness Quiet Park, and a US-based tour operator. reminder redefining adventure travel for the conscious generation with deep listening nature journeys. Closer to home in Carmarthenshire, the lockdown inspired Lisa Denison to start Quiet walks as a blog, but she has since launched it as a guided walks business, taking small groups on off-road routes in the Welsh countryside. They cater to introverts like her, who may feel overwhelmed in larger groups; but the leisurely walk benefits all types of hikers. “That’s not to say that my walks aren’t sociable – they really are – but they also allow for moments of calm, even if it’s just to hear a moment of birdsong or experience nature to the fullest,” she says.
Why will this matter in 2023? Three years after ‘lockdown’ first became a word used outside the prison system, we don’t miss much of that time – but, well, it was perfectly quiet, was it? not ? We could hear birdsong rather than traffic, the wind in the willows rather than planes overhead. With human-generated sound decreasing by as much as eight decibels, it was the longest period of quiet in recorded history. It’s no wonder, then, that with the return to normalcy and noise pollution, many of us are looking for respite: according to a recent survey by Booking.com, 40% of respondents said they would consider a silent retreat in 2023. In the new year, Quiet Park status will be awarded to American Prairie Reserve in Montana, Haleakala National Park in Hawaii and Namibrand Nature Reserve in Namibia, among others, while Quiet Trails will include the Kvarken Archipelago in Finland, and Urban Quiet Parks will be tested in Paris, Thessaloniki, Toronto and Brisbane. For many of us, 2023 will be a year to cut more than our Zoom calls. Rick Jordan
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