As the Asia Pacific region continues to be the growth engine for luxury travel, a new comprehensive report from the Luxury Group by Marriott International has identified new expectations and travel preferences among high-net-worth (HNW) travelers in Asia Pacific. Across the region, 68% are planning to spend more on travel over the next 12 months – 89% among Indians - with 74% planning to travel within Asia Pacific and 88% prioritizing gastronomy as the reason to travel. One in four of all holidays planned (25%) are celebrations. Three distinct new groups of luxury traveler have emerged – the ‘Venture Travelist’ who seeks business opportunities when traveling, ‘Experience Connoisseur’ Millennials who are traveling for enrichment and ‘Timeless Adventurer’, over 65s who are building their own itineraries and exploring places before they become popular.
Banyan Tree poised to open brand’s first hotel in Japan
19.06.2024 - 18:29 / thepointsguy.com
Banyan Tree is coming to Kyoto.
Officials from the brand announced this week that it plans to open a new property in the historic Japanese city during the third quarter of this year. Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto will feature 52 guest rooms, a Banyan Tree Spa and two restaurants.
The property is on the site of the former Hotel Ryozen, close to Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Kodai-ji Temple. Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto will also feature the Higashiyama Onsen hot spring and get bragging rights for being the only hotel in Kyoto with a Noh stage for performing the 650-year-old Japanese art of Nohgaku, which features supernatural themes of ghosts and gods.
The hotel's Yukio Hashimoto-designed guest rooms will feature traditional Japanese materials, large cypress wood bathtubs, tatami mats and gold leaf accents. The rooms are meant to embrace a sense of hidden and quiet beauty.
The luxury brand is well known for its emphasis on local experiences at its hotels, such as Banyan Tree Phuket, the company's first location, and Buahan, a Balinese resort that's part of Banyan Tree's Escape offshoot brand. Expanding to Japan is a logical next step for the brand, given the significantly high level of international tourism to the country.
Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto will include a Banyan Tree Spa with Kyoto-specific treatments, and two dining experiences meant to similarly embrace the city's culture.
Bookings, as well as special opening offers, are now available for stays beginning July 26.
Related reading:
I spent $38,000 to take my toy poodle on a private jet to Japan. I want to plan a trip for my other dogs next.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Gladys Tsoi, a 29-year-old dog owner and investment banker based in Hong Kong. This essay has been edited for length and clarity. Business Insider verified Tsoi's receipts.
What’s the world’s best airline in 2024? Three European carriers made it into the top 10
Smiling service, snacks, and a great movie selection: these small things make hours spent on a plane just a little more bearable. But the experience can vary wildly depending on which carrier you pick.
Blackstone Buys British Brand Village Hotels From KSL
Blackstone, one of the world’s largest real estate investors, said Wednesday it had acquired Village Hotels from KSL Capital Partners, a private equity firm specializing in travel and leisure. The deal expands Blackstone’s footprint in the British travel sector amid an apparently growing consumer demand for experiences over goods.
These Are the Best Airlines in the World, According to Skytrax
Qatar Airways is known for its excellent service and top-of-its-class business suite, and now those have helped propel the carrier to become the overall best airline in the world.
Vitruvian Boosts Civitatis with $50M for Latin America Growth
Vitruvian Partners, an international investment firm, made an additional $50 million venture investment in Civitatis, a curated marketplace for tours and activities mainly serving travelers from Spain and Latin America.
Visit Oslo’s Ironic New Ad Goes Viral Asking: ‘Is it Even a City?’
“I wouldn’t come here.” That’s the opening of a new ad from from Visit Oslo that promotes the relative ease of Norway’s capital as a tourist destination.
Viator Taps Amazon's Alexa to Boost Experience Sales in Hotels
Viator, a TripAdvisor brand, has partnered with Amazon.com to integrate its vast inventory of tours, activities, and experiences into Alexa-enabled devices in hotel rooms. This marks the experience sector’s first major push into voice-activated travel bookings.
This Summer’s Most Exciting Hotel Openings, From California to Cape Cod
Start your engines—summer has arrived, and with it, all sorts of new hotel options to explore. There’s a major renovation of a Cape Cod classic with an unbeatable beachfront location. Near Yellowstone, design-forward cabins come with their own private wood-fired hot tub. And on the banks of the Kiawah River in South Carolina, a new Auberge Resort offers some serious Lowcountry R&R just minutes from downtown Charleston, yet worlds away from the hustle and bustle. This summer’s most exciting openings aren’t merely places to rest your head—they really help you disconnect from your home life in order to savor the great outdoors. And isn’t that what summer is all about?
Hilton is making a luxury play in Greece with a new hotel and branded residences
Greece just keeps getting better and better — especially for Hilton Honors loyalists looking to visit Athens.
New first class, business class and the rest: Flying the Japan Airlines A350-1000 in all 4 cabins
We boarded the rather new and rather lovely Japan Airlines A350-1000, which has all-new products in every cabin. In particular, the first- and business-class cabins are now some of the world leaders in commercial aviation. We flew this aircraft on a 13-hour jaunt from Tokyo's Haneda Airport (HND) to New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to showcase four wonderful cabins, all on the same flight.
One Price for Locals … 6x for Tourists? When Foreigners Pay More
Hideyasu Kiyomoto, the mayor of Himeji City in Japan, this week proposed a significant price hike for foreign tourists visiting Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Currently, the entry fee is JPY 1,000 (about $6) for all, but the mayor suggested increasing it to around $30 for foreigners, while locals would pay $5.