2019 Luxury Hotel Trends To Watch

Experts predict that the global luxury hotel market will reach $232 billion by the end of 2025. It’s an increasingly crowded marketplace, and that requires properties to be increasingly on top of the latest and greatest happenings. Here’s a quick roundup of 2019 luxury hotel trends.

Authentic F&B

“Travelers now want to peel back the layers of a destination, and luxury increasingly means authentic experiences,” reports Luxury Travel Magazine. And authentic experiences often are centered around food and beverage (F&B). Food offers a way for visitors to experience a new destination in a (literally) bite-sized package. Luxury hotels are tapping into this desire for cuisine focused exploration by hiring some of the best local chefs in the destination to mastermind their in-house restaurants. It’s the perfect way to infuse a hotel with a healthy dose of local flavor.

Higher Tech

High tech innovations no longer surprise luxury travelers. They expect them. That means being able to book additional services (like spa sessions or restaurant reservations) within just a few keystrokes. It means in-room voice-activated AI that will give guests the ability to personalize their stays. It means seamless booking processes that are mobile-friendly and simple. Of course, the tech should work hand-in-hand with the personal touch. Alongside the futuristic amenities, the human side of things is essential too.

CBD Goes Mainstream

Cannabidiol – AKA CBD – is having a moment in 2019. People who might not have ever had anything to do with a cannabis-derived previously are discovering its (non-psychoactive) benefits. And now, luxury hotel spas are getting into the CBD game. Brides reports: “for the first time ever, top-tier hotels such as the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek and the St. Regis San Francisco are introducing restorative treatments that incorporate this holistic healing ingredient.” Watch out – CBD is going mainstream …

Social Scenery

By definition, luxury hotels have always looked good. But now they’re getting increasingly hip to the Instagram aesthetic. Upscale travelers want to be able to show off on their social feeds just like everyone else. So we’re seeing a lot of spectacles – cascading waterfalls, grand staircases, spectacular rooftops – that cater specifically to the ‘gram. However, simple is also good. The minimalist-but-still-strikingly designed room can still earn a ton of likes. Here are some of the luxury hotels that are currently killing it on Instagram.

Conscious Travel

The “conscious travel” trend is spreading far and wide. According to Skift, the terms describes “any travel experience that empowers people to make meaningful or lasting changes in their lives.” The concept began in the adventure travel zone, but it’s becoming a part of luxury landscape, too. “[Luxury travelers] don’t just want a luxurious product or service,” says Jenni Benzaquen, vice president of luxury brands in Europe for Marriott International. “They want the brands that they are loyal to have some element of something they identify with from a value-driven point of view. So, whether that’s women’s rights or equality or sustainability, it’s more and more important.”