The Insider’s Guide to What’s In—and Out—in Luxury Travel

Virtuoso travel advisors and other experts around the globe tell us what’s in (and out) in the world of luxury stays.

In The Big Hotel Report, we’re checking in on the world of luxe retreats now.

No surprise here: We’re obsessed with hotels in all their stylish, five-star glory, and we’re always turning to fellow hotel aficionados to find out what’s new and exciting. The truth is, these properties are often the front door to discovering what’s next in travel.

Naturally, Virtuoso travel advisors are on top of all things luxury hotels right along with us, and they’re doing a little trendspotting of their own. At the moment, wellness innovations are everywhere, says Virtuoso advisor Kelly Gelfand. “Hotels are offering more comprehensive experiences such as meditation and sleep programming to go along with their traditional gym classes,” she says. Expanded sustainability and social responsibility initiatives loom large, too, according to advisor Urvashi Marwah. “Travelers are more mindful of the environmental and social effects of their trips, and they want options that reflect their values,” she says. “Hotels are prioritizing eco-friendly practices and community support.”

Other hotel trends Virtuoso travel advisors are observing: multigenerational families searching for villas (more on that below), on-site speakeasies (“It’s all about the secret invite right now,” says advisor Beth Flowers), custom welcome amenities (“I love a good make-your-own-margarita kit,” advisor Erica Jones says), and hotels breaking free from cookie-cutter design. “Travelers crave a genuine sense of place in their hotels,” Gelfand says.

But you can’t just hop off to many of these places on a whim: Most Virtuoso advisors we spoke to noted that hotels are filling up a few months out, especially for in-demand spots such as Japan and Italy. There’s some room for spontaneity, but planning ahead is key. “Waiting is costly,” says advisor Wendy Davis. “You’ll have limited options and higher prices.”

And while travel tech is evolving – real-time WhatsApp chats with concierges, for example – personalized, five-star service never goes out of style. “Regardless of changes in design or technology, hospitality’s fundamental essence remains constant,” says advisor Rebecca Masri. “Guests want to feel valued and cared for.”

We also asked our contributors around the globe – the people who hotel-hop professionally in pursuit of the latest and greatest – to share what other trends they’ve clocked. Their answers ranged from odes to the new hotel gym to unabashed praise for really good snacks. Fresh air and organic cuisine at Mexico’s SHA Wellness Clinic.

Hotels want to make you healthier
There’s a real fountain-of-youth vibe coming from the spa-retreat world these days: Hotels are promising better, longer, and more satisfying lives through treatments and consultations.

The minibar gets a glow-up
“You touch it; you buy it” used to be the de facto rule of the hotel minibar, those predictable countertop arrangements of cellophane-packaged chips and imported wine. Nothing makes our late-night-snacking alter egos happier than the rise of complimentary in-room minibars, especially when they’re stocked with local surprises.

Hotel gyms are expanding their offerings
As more and more travelers commit to keeping up their fitness routines on vacation, hotel gyms are looking less like a box to check and more like flagship Equinoxes. (So much so that even Equinox itself launched a lifestyle-hotel brand.)