Industry NewsBoutique & IndependentFive Luxury Travel Trends to Watch in 2018

Five Luxury Travel Trends to Watch in 2018

Small Luxury Hotels of the World, in partnership with global trends analysts Trendwatching, released a report on what will shape the luxury boutique hotel experience in 2018. Below are five luxury travel trends that are expected to influence the global lodging market this year.

Hands-On Luxe

While the hyper-competitive experience economy is nothing new, the travel industry hasn’t yet seen the full impact of the Instagram effect. In 2018, travelers will be looking to design their own experience. One example of how hotels are tapping into this trend is the scents program at Hotel Magna Pars Suites Milano where guests can choose the fragrance of their room while staying in an old perfume factory. At The VIEW Lugano in Switzerland, guests can choose in advance the color of their toilet paper, brand of toiletries and linens, and when to have their bag unpacked to customize their experience.

Spiritual Stories

The wellness industry has always been entwined with spirituality. In 2018, the focus will be on those spiritual experiences that enable guests to seek out one-of-a-kind moments to focus their independent minds. From visiting rejuvenating ancient Power Spots at the Sankara Hotel & Spa Yakushima in Japan to night-time spa treatments under the stars, floating on water, or being lapped by the waves at Spa Village Resort Tembok Bali, the nature of these immersive experiences goes far deeper than a deep tissue massage.

Novel Gazing

A complete digital detox might be too much for some. However, the desire to take a vacation from modern technology and nostalgia for times when life seemed simpler has led to a resurgence of literature in small hotels. Providing a taste of the timeless, hotels are paying homage to esteemed writers or classic novels, as well as offering libraries, reading rooms, and library butlers. The Betsy South Beach in Miami celebrates its Pulitzer connection with bedtime poems and a writers room where guests can interact with local creatives. Le Pavillon des Lettres in Paris offers literary room service and Kristiania Lech in Austria has a book butler who creates a reading list to reflect a guest’s tastes. Rockliffe Hall in the United Kingdom plans to open a Lewis Carroll-inspired parkland in 2018 as a nod to the author’s love for the area, and the Owl and the Pussycat Hotel in Sri Lanka crosses the divide by using Instagram to recreate the non-sensical world of Edward Lear.

Night Nurses

It is no longer enough to offer a pillow menu and a comfortable bed to guarantee a good night’s sleep. Some brands are now introducing pioneering bed linens that prevent sweating and eliminate bacteria, including DasPosthotel in Austria. In 2018, hotels will be competing to guarantee the optimum night’s sleep. 137 Pillars Suites Bangkok and 137 Pillars House in Chiang Mai offer Sleep by Design therapy and a Sleepdown service conducted by a dedicated sleep curator. Sometimes, however, it’s worth having an interrupted night, as demonstrated by the Hotel Ranga in Iceland’s Northern Lights wake up call.

Intuitive Dining

While data capture can promise optimum personalization, in small luxury hotels nothing beats a thorough and instinctive understanding of each guest to get everything just right. Dar Ahlam in Morrocco, Ett Hem in Stockholm, and Foxhill Manor in the United Kingdom each disregard menus and inflexible dining rituals. Instead, guests can eat what they want, where they want, and when they want, or are conveniently surprised just when they are feeling hungry.

RELATED ARTICLES

CoStar: U.S. Hotel Industry Continues to Report Negative Yearly Comparisons

ARLINGTON, Virginia—The U.S. hotel industry reported negative year-over-year comparisons, according to CoStar’s latest data through July 12. U.S. Hotel PerformanceJuly 6-July 12, 2025Percentage change from comparable...

Charlestowne Hotels Adds Two Hotels to Managed Portfolio

CHARLESTON, South Carolina—Charlestowne Hotels announced the addition of two university-affiliated properties to its portfolio: Granville Inn in Granville, Ohio, and The Inn at Patrick...

Extended Stay America Select Suites Wildwood – The Villages Opens

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina—Extended Stay America announced the opening of the Extended Stay America Select Suites Wildwood – The Villages. Located in Wildwood, Florida, the...

CoStar: U.S. Hotel Construction Fell for Sixth Consecutive Month

ARLINGTON, Virginia—The volume of U.S. hotel rooms under construction decreased year over year for a sixth consecutive month, according to CoStar’s June 2025 data. U.S....

Marcus & Millichap Closes Sale of Sleep Inn Sumter

SUMTER, South Carolina—Marcus & Millichap announced the $3.5 million sale of Sleep Inn Sumter, a 63-room hotel located in Sumter, South Carolina. "We were able...

G6 Hospitality Launches 24/7 Customer Support Service

DALLAS, Texas—G6 Hospitality, the parent company of Motel 6 and Studio 6, announced the launch of its new 24/7 customer support service exclusively for...