Elite Traveler HRS 2020-2021

elite traveler HOTELS, RESORTS & SPAS 2020/2021 09

Welcome

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Anyone else need a vacation right now? Like, desperately? It’s been an interesting challenge putting together this edition of our Hotels, Resorts and Spa Guide, as the hospitality industry has spent the better part (or, if we are being blunt, the worst part) of the year at a standstill. But what we aimed to create among these pages is a wanderlust- inspiring rundown of some of the best places to travel as soon as you are able to — a hit list for you to use to start planning the next few trips. We’ve covered some incredible hotels such as the Hotel Château du Grand-Lucé in France’s Loire Valley,

where you’ll find historic drama and regal intrigue. Some of your old favorites such as the Mandarin Oriental Marrakech, where the Atlas Mountains provide a powerful backdrop for this tranquil oasis in the bustling metropolis. Or Hotel del Colorado — its 130 years of seaside charmmake it perfect for a quintessential American staycation for the whole family. What are hotels going to look like post-pandemic? That’s something that seems at the top of your minds as we all cautiously hope for a world where we can travel once again. Speaking to senior figures in the hotel industry, these measures range from the expected (sanitation increases for staff, guests, and the hotel itself) to the more imaginative (partnerships with transport companies to ensure that getting to their resort is as safe and unexposing as possible). Travel companies are also acutely aware of the feeling of apprehension that surrounds traveling — or anything you’ve been banned from doing for such a long time! So they’re coming up with new and ingenious ways to make you feel a little bit safer. From closed-loop trips where you are in the same, safe pair of hands from the moment you leave your home for the entirety of your journey, with your exposure limited to only those inside your bubble, to resort buyouts that ensure you’re the only group of guests in your hotel of choice. These are trends that will dominate the luxury travel landscape for the foreseeable future. You play an important role in the hospitality sector’s journey to getting back on its feet. Reports show that, though small in number, those that partake in luxury travel vacation more frequently and for longer periods, and spend more while they’re there. So with the new normal being these safety procedures, and the new ingenious options for travel, we urge you to get out there, safely, and help rejuvenate this sector. We want to ensure that the places that give us such pleasure and create such special memories for our families will be able to do so for generations to come.

Elite Traveler ’s Top Suites Database If the Hotels, Resorts and Spas Guide has inspired wanderlust, head online to elitetraveler.com and explore the newly launched Top Suites database. It is the definitive online search tool for finding the best hotel accommodations on the planet. Constantly updated throughout the year, and presented alongside stunning behind-the-scenes images, descriptions and luxury rankings, the database lets you search for your next hotel stay using over 60 different criteria including size,

bedroom number, privacy and access.

Thea Halstead Head of Luxury, Editor thea.halstead@elitetraveler.com