Time is luxury, and having it all means squat without the calendar space to enjoy it. For ultra-high-end travel operators, the search for lost time has led to demand for a product that may sound slightly down market: package itineraries. “More and more, travelers are looking for immersive, personalized, and worry-free travel experiences,” says Marc Speichert, executive vice president and chief commercial officer at the Four Seasons .
There is, however, one massive difference between these package itineraries and the geriatric-themed bus tours of yore: They’re by private jet, yacht, and Bentley. For years, the Four Seasons has offered a Private Jet Experience , which Speichert says is about creating “a seamless end-to-end journey with our legendary comfort, service, and amenities.” In a similar vein, White Desert speeds up Antarctic exploration by replacing the multi-day southward cruise with a private jet, a luxury whip.
“Many of our clients are company owners or entrepreneurs with highly pressurized jobs,” says Mindy Roberts, the company’s CMO. “When it comes to leisure travel, they’ve said they enjoy that the decision-making has been taken away from them and they can completely relax and be on holiday.” Another factor driving growth in ultra-luxury, pre-planned, package bookings is their ability to facilitate slow travel.
Both the Four Seasons and White Desert offer tours lasting upwards of three weeks, leaving plenty of time to explore each stop thoro.