Listen up Hoteliers: What Will Make Your Hotel Stand Out In 2017
Photo courtesy of Velaa Private Island, Maldives
From a global perspective, 2016 represented a bit of a rough ride, but with the new year comes the promise of a far more favourable future. 2017 is a beacon of hope for many and with it come some exciting prospects and openings including a plethora of spectacular additions to the luxury travel, wellness and gourmet sectors. For the hottest new trends for 2017 read on…
Getting Back to Nature
With the average person in the UK spending 23 days a year on their mobile, 2016 saw a wave in the increasingly popular digital detox holiday. However, simply sitting on the sun lounger and soaking up rays of tropical light are not enough for the 2017 traveller; expect immersive experiences away from tech that reconnects the holiday maker to nature. The ultimate in completely naturally immersive experiences has to be Velaa Private Island’s ‘Robinson Crusoe Escape’ where guests are cast-away on a nearby deserted island for the day and left to indulge in a touch of luxury with a champagne picnic, or test their bravery by being left untamed with nature.
United Family Travel
Holidays will see a return to the entire family spending quality time together and experiencing shared memories. Award winning family resort Domes of Elounda, Autograph Collection pioneers this trend by taking family holidays in 2017 to the next level. Launching their all-encompassing family focused experiences where all of the family takes part, together, including: Cretan cooking classes; private treasure hunts; boat trips to nearby islands and experiences the history of the area with family expeditions to the ancient ruins of Knossos.
Mexican Food
Mexican food has been on the rise, with burrito outlets now the fastest growing eatery on the high street, the luxury sector is taking note and launching authentic Mexican offerings to their gastronomic offerings. Situated within The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain, marking its grand opening ‘Cantina Kahlo’ artfully blends 5-star service with Mexican culinary authenticity for a dining experience like nothing else. Working with a fully dedicated team of chefs from Mexico and primarily with ingredients imported directly from Mexico, Chef Torres has composed a menu of authentic dishes and flavors unique among restaurants in Bahrain.
Holidays With a Difference
Holidays used to eponymous with indulgent menus full of calories and post-holiday guilt… Now, travellers seek health and vitality upon returning home from their holidays. Dramatically elevating the world of wellness, Miraggio Thermal Spa Resort is setting a new standard in healthy travel. Committed to offering wellness throughout, guests are offered endless ways to enjoy a healthy, yet indulgent holiday including: fitness related activities for children at Kid’s Planet; healthy menus; personal training and group work-out sessions; thermal and thalasso therapies as well as traditional spa treatments; and nutritionally beneficial culinary offerings by partnering with “The Queen of Detox”, Amanda Hamilton – throughout the hotel.
Heartfulness – The Wellbeing Buzz Word for 2017
If the word in wellness for 2016 was Meditation, Heartfulness will be the word of 2017 – a state of being and approach to life from our heart space rather than our minds. With more and more celebrities speaking out about their battles with self-esteem and general wellbeing, mindfulness and therapy surged in 2016, Heartfulness is a more profound way to connect to our inner wisdom allowing us to better cultivate clarity, insights and understanding in our lives. Wellbeing guru Akcelina Cvijetic says ‘Those who practice Heartfulness are able to tune into an emotional intelligence that can transcend intellectual rationalising, taking them straight to the heart of the matter for deeper insights and solutions.
Targeting The Adult-Teenager
Hotels have always catered for younger children and adults, but now, 2017 sees them considering the grown up child too. A wave of luxury hotels have opened with this new target audience in mind, concentrating on offering a superlative experience to families with children 15 years plus and adult couples only. New hotels spearheading this trend in luxury travel are the stunning Hurawalhi Island Resort in the Maldives, the chic Domes Noruz Chania in Greece and the vibrant Akyra Beach Club in Phuket Thailand.
Art is the New Food
Last year over 130,000 photographs of food were shared each day on Instagram in the UK alone, equating to one in five adults posting a picture every month. Trend analysists predict that ‘Art is the new Food’, pushing gastronomy aside art is stepping into the limelight for 2017. Social media art lovers should head to Es Saadi Marrakech Resort which houses over 400 pieces of art and sculptures from a range of young emerging artists to well-known established talents adorning the walls of this iconic Moroccan hotel.
And Finally…
For all those Night Manager fans out there, not only is the stellar TV show nominated for a Globe Award, which was also filmed at Es Saadi Marrakech Resort, but it will also be the forerunner hairstyle for 2017. Think a messy, dramatic version of the pixie cut with ‘shorlage’ (short balayage) colour for that extra edge. Edward James Salons’ in London have perfected this look to ensure their clients have the cutting edge of style in 2017.