With a network of more than 450 independent luxury advisors, Travel Edge, the North American leader in luxury travel, released a report on its findings for travel trends in 2022. No doubt the pandemic can be blamed as the main culprit behind many of these changing trends in travel, with travelers attempting to regain moments lost over the last two years.

Travel Edge found travelers’ perception of private air travel drastically changed since the pandemic. The report discovered private aviation was the only sector of air travel to boom 2020–2022, increasing 35 percent. Several factors explain why this sector increased more than others, including safety, ease and the providing of a solution for extended, multigenerational friends and family trips in a post-pandemic world.

People’s concept of living also changed since 2020, and the pandemic altered travelers’ approach toward the speed of living. Travel Edge found slower and more immersive experiences in travel have grown in popularity. Not only are trips of 21 days or more more common, but travelers also seek more purposeful experiences during these trips. As a result, slow travel influences physical destination behaviors, something that might not have been previously considered. For instance, Travel Edge noticed more bookings at resorts like Amangiri in Utah, Desert Night Camp in Oman, and Amanjena in Morocco.

As the pandemic subsides, travelers also plan to return to their favorite urban destinations. Travel Edge noted major luxury hotels like Four Seasons saw a demand growth of 80 percent in 2022, a compounded annual growth rate of 4 percent from 2020, in cities like London, Paris and New York. While travelers would only spend four or five days on a trip to a city before 2020, 2022 sees travelers booking stays for weeks and even months in just one destination. Because of this, Travel Edge estimates the luxury hotel market will top $115 billion by 2025.

People’s refocusing of goals, from checking a destination off a bucket list to embarking on once-in-a-lifetime experiences, is another growing trend Travel Edge discovered. In Africa, Travel Edge insiders found a 45 percent spike in interest for safaris in Kenya since February 2022. In addition to an increased interest in gorilla treks in Rwanda, travel advisors report increasing interest in travel to Egypt, Australia and Japan.

Travel advisors have a busy year ahead, with reports indicating 47 percent of travelers are more likely to use a travel advisor when organizing travels, compared to pre-pandemic numbers. Additionally, travelers’ increased interest in cost-effective air travel providing comfort and space sees demand for premium cabins skyrocket. The demand increased so much, in fact, airlines have been forced to swap aircraft routes that, at one time, rarely demanded a premium service option. Routes to destinations like Mexico and the Caribbean have seen the bulk of this increase.

What type of travel are you planning in 2022? Do you find you fit into one of these trends? How has the pandemic affected your outlook on travel? Tell us your thoughts. Email us at letters@globaltravelerusa.com. Please include your full name and location.