Family and multi-generational travel tops the list of biggest travel trends emerging this year, followed by river cruises, active or adventure trips, luxury cruises and celebration travel, according to luxury travel network Virtuoso.
In the 2012 Virtuoso Luxe Report, England joined the list of the top five international destinations, behind Italy, France, South Africa and Australia. Among top U.S. destinations, Miami/South Beach was new to the list, behind Maui, New York City, Napa Valley/Sonoma and Las Vegas.
For the first time ever, Cuba topped the list of most popular emerging destinations, followed by Vietnam, Cambodia, Belize and the Galapagos Islands.
Top motives influencing travel choices were similar to last year’s list, with seeking authentic experiences in new destinations topping the list, followed by rest and relaxation, personal enrichment, spending time with loved ones, discovering new experiences in familiar destinations and seeking adventure.
The top three most important determining factors for vacation choice were the right destination, once-in-a-lifetime experiences and value for money paid.
Advisors from Virtuoso member travel agencies were invited to take the survey in December 2011 and January 2012, and results were tabulated from more than 420 responses from the United States and Canada.