Travel organisers and host destinations will be able to learn all about what motivates the world’s affluent travellers to push themselves ever further on their trips at WTM London 2019.
Speaking to experts in the rapidly evolving field of ‘epic travel’, April Hutchinson, editor of TTG Luxury, will uncover what drives these consumers to seek out experiences that really test them, and what a travel company has to go through in order to create such trips.
“We have seen a number of companies emerge in recent years that have identified this niche, one where high net-worth individuals, often with a high threshold for adventure, really want to get a whole lot more out of a holiday than just a tan,” said Hutchinson.
“They work hard, and travel hard, exploring the limits of what they are capable of, pursuing a real passion, or sometimes, taking the whole family to remote places for incredible trips.
“These trips involve intense levels of logistic nous and imagination from the organisers, who will often go on a recce and run the whole trip beforehand.
“The rewards are high for all concerned, but it’s not the kind of travel to be taken lightly.”
Joining the panel to assess why more and more affluent consumers are looking for a seriously adventurous slant or life-changing challenges on their trips and how to create them will be Jimmy Carroll, co-founder and business development director, Pelorus; Adam Sebba, chief executive, Cookson Adventures; Tom Marchant, co-founder, Black Tomato Group; and Justin Wateridge, managing director, Steppes Travel.
They will all share how companies in this market operate, what their clients look for, how they deliver it, and also explore ideas on some of the last remaining unexplored adventure destinations out there.