American Specific Journey’s trending locations embrace the anticipated and surprising: Journey Weekly

American Specific Journey (No. 6 on Travel Weekly’s 2022 Power List) has launched its 2023 Trending Locations, and it is a listing of locations the place American Specific prospects have lengthy wished to go to, mentioned firm president Audrey Hendley. 

Primarily based on American Specific Card member bookings, 10 widespread locations vacationers are going subsequent 12 months are Copenhagen, Denmark; the Florida Keys; Istanbul, Turkiye; Lisbon, Portugal; Mexico Metropolis; Montenegro; Paris; Sydney; Yaukuve Levu Island, Fiji; and Woodstock, Vt.

“Journey has returned sooner and at a better tempo than all of us anticipated,” Hendley mentioned.

Whereas quite a few favourite locations are represented, she added, “I additionally suppose that lots of people are saying, ‘The place are the locations that have been on my listing that I did not get to go to?’ They usually deliver them to the highest — I believe that is what we’re seeing.”

She pointed to Sydney, for instance. Australia was closed to guests for therefore lengthy, individuals wish to go to now that they are in a position. 

Based on Hendley, American Specific Journey’s mixture of worldwide and home bookings has returned to 2019 ranges. Round 70% of bookings are home, whereas 30% are worldwide. 

The company can be seeing a excessive variety of superior bookings. In truth, superior bookings for 120 days-plus are up 40% this 12 months in comparison with the identical time frame in 2019.

“That is an unbelievable quantity, and it is a large amount of momentum for us to take into year-end journey,” Hendley mentioned.

Clients are very fascinated with “purpose-driven journey,” Hendley mentioned, together with the type of cultural actions they will immerse themselves in whereas in a vacation spot. They’re additionally fascinated with purchasing at regionally owned shops with regionally owned operators.

“The philosophies we have had round being extra cautious with our footprint and the way we spend our cash — [that goes] for our journey life, as properly,” she mentioned.

Clients and colleagues are additionally asking about variety and inclusion, and if they will really feel welcomed and valued after they arrive.

“I believe the pandemic has definitely modified how lots of people consider journey,” Hendley mentioned. “We’re not taking it without any consideration anymore. We all know it is one thing we love. We all know it is one thing we wish to do. However we have had time to sit down again and suppose slightly bit about why we journey — what’s significant to us once we journey.”