2021 TRAVEL TRENDS & OPENINGS FROM LOTUS

2021 TRIP PLANNING

HolidayPirates, the leading online travel platform, has predicted tourism recovery will be led to domestic and short/mid haul travel in 2021. The company, which has a team of travel experts to research the best deals in the market, believes that as safe corridors open up, the shape of the market will be heavily influenced by the incentives and deals put together by destinations, hospitality operators and travel partners.

After a year of no holidays, plan your 2021 trip with genuine and authentic recommendations from TWISPER

Social travel app TWISPER has launched in the UK bringing its innovative online recommendations platform to holidaymakers looking to plan for 2021. The free social travel app allows users to share and discover personal and positive-only recommendations of restaurants, hotels and bars from a community of friends and trusted partners through digital word of mouth. TWISPER includes a host of features that make trip planning easy such as taking recommendations from expert partners such as bartender extraordinaire Erik Lorincz, saving places to try for later, finding inspiration on their personal feed with a layout akin to familiar social media platforms, and making plans using the online chat feature.

TWISPER’s commitment to having a platform free from fake reviews, negative comments, and advertisements as well as its promise to protect its users’ data means that travellers can set up their profiles, start commenting on their favourite spots, receive positive recommendations from the worldwide community and, ultimately, plan their next big trip with peace of mind.

TWISPER is free and available on iOS and Android

DOMESTIC:

Lake District: Celebrates 70 years of being a National Park, and Beatrix Potter’s 155^th birthday

Inspiration for writers like Beatrix Potter, the celebrated children's author and creator of Peter Rabbit, the Lake District is a place of incredible natural beauty and is set to be a hotspot in 2021 as it celebrates its 70^th year as the Lake District National Park. In addition, locals and tourists alike can also join in the celebrations of Beatrix Potter’s 155^th birthday throughout July.

Headwater offers a six-night Literary Walking in the Lake District self-guided holiday that takes travellers to some of the region’s most charming villages nestled against a backdrop of majestic fells and staggering mountains. Guests stay in a four-star country house hotel in Grasmere once frequented by Ruskin and Darwin. The holiday is priced from £895 per person including B&B accommodation, luggage transfers between hotels and route directions and maps. headwater.com

Offa's Dyke Path National Trail: Celebrates its 50th anniversary in July

Celebrations will be taking place throughout 2021 along the length of Offa’s Dyke Path National Trail to mark its 50^th anniversary. Activities will range from walking festivals, a special 50th anniversary weekend, which takes place in July and includes talks about the creation of the trail and guided walks, to an Offa’s Dyke Living History Festival in Moel Famau.

Exodus Travels’ six-night North East Wales Heritage Trail self-guided holiday takes travellers along various sections of Offa’s Dyke Path, as well as over to Moel Famau on the first day of walking. Starting from Ruthin, guests will stay in boutique guesthouses, all offering a warm Welsh welcome along with a hearty breakfast.

The holiday is priced from £949 per person including B&B accommodation, luggage transfers between hotels and route directions and maps. exodus.co.uk

Guernsey: Launches new The Islands of Guernsey Way walking route

The Islands of Guernsey Way is a new marked coastal walking trail across the five beautiful islands of Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, Herm and Lihou, launching in spring 2021. The new trail provides walkers with a comprehensive five-island route for the first time with an accompanying guide, map and a dedicated, free-to-download app, which will feature an audio commentary, local information, interactive map and additional themed walking routes. While the full coastal trail is approximately 50 miles, the route has been created to be easily split into digestible sections for walkers of all levels, or to offer shorter circular routes instead.

Further details of the new walking route will be available on visitguernsey.com

UK Spa and Wellness Breaks: The spa break is on the rise

HolidayPirates.com has noted that in recent months, its wellness page received more increase in impressions than for any other sector and predicts 2021 to be a bumper year for its extensive spa break offering.

EUROPE:

Spain top of the search list for Holiday Pirates

For those wondering when travel is set to make its comeback, HolidayPirates.com has identified a trend that most of the searches for overseas travel right now is for 2021, with 81% of the searches opting for travel in spring 2021 and onwards. In addition, 90% of international holiday offers on its site for UK travellers are for 2021, with Spain being at the top of the list.

Italy: Commemorates the 700th anniversary of poet Dante’s death

Italy will mark the 700th anniversary of the death of the medieval poet and philosopher Dante Alighieri, known as the “Father of the Italian language”, with a series of special exhibitions in Florence in 2021. Born in Florence in 1265, Dante was best known for his classic poem The Divine Comedy, which represents the three tiers of the Christian afterlife.

The Bargello National Museum is organising The Bargello for Dante and The Admirable Vision. Dante and the Comedy in the Symbolist Imaginary exhibitions from 23 March to 25 July and 23 September to 9 January 2022 respectively. Art lovers can further celebrate his life and work in Florence taking in the city’s many monuments symbolising the history of Dante and artistic works that represent him. Travellers will also be able to hop on the ‘Dante Train’ that connects Florence to many other locations associated with the Supreme Poet.

Citalia offers a four-night stay in Florence at the four-star Brunelleschi on a B&B basis from £645 per person. The offer includes private transfers and return flights from London Gatwick. Based on March 2021 departures. citalia.com

Palma: Transitions to a smart tourism model as part of COVID-19 recovery 

Palma Tourist Board is unveiling an ambitious project for 2021 named “Plan Impulso Palma”, aiming to transform the capital of the Balearic Islands into a smart and sustainable destination to help drive the recovery of the tourism industry following the impact of COVID-19.

The smart tourism model will be based around four key pillars: implementation of technological solutions to interact with tourists, boosting the city’s digitalisation, creating new sustainability and quality control accreditations and implementing safety and hygiene programmes and protocols.

The total investment for this project is € 975,000. For further details visit, visitpalma.com

València: Prepares for its title of World Design Capital for 2022 

València has been named the World Design Capital for 2022 by the World Design Organisation (WDO) for its longstanding design legacy, which has made it a leading example of a city’s effective and strategic use of design.

Valencia’s strategic positioning on the Spanish coast, as well as its well-established design expertise means it promises to deliver a programme that reflects its aspirations and commitment at local, regional, national, and international levels. València has impressive urban infrastructures that are directed towards coexisting with the natural and built environment. The City of Arts and Sciences is emblematic of València and is one of the most important modern tourist destinations in Spain. The complex provides visitors with an insight into València’s cutting-edge design ahead of the celebration in 2022.

World Design Capital is a biennial designation celebrating cities that use design to improve economic, social and cultural life. The designation is also a unique opportunity to improve sustainable design approaches at regional and local levels. wdo.org / visitvalencia.com/en

The Netherlands: Efteling opens new children’s play forest ‘Nest!’

Efteling - the fairytale theme park in the south of Holland – is opening a new area for its youngest guests in early summer 2021: a play forest called ‘Nest!’. Located in a forested part of the park, ‘Nest!’ will be an inclusive area for children of all abilities to play together and will include elements themed to the various Efteling roller coasters so that the young visitors can still get a taste of the bigger attractions, which they’re currently too small to ride.

The path that runs through and around the play forest will be accessible for guests in wheelchairs and there will be various play possibilities for children with visible and invisible disabilities. For example, 'Nest!' will have a wheelchair slide, raised sandboxes, as well as places where children can find a little more peace and quiet.

To continue the forest theme, families can stay in a treehouse in Holiday Village Efteling Loonsche Land. Rooms are priced from £330 per night based on two adults and two children sharing, including breakfast and two days entrance to the park. efteling.com

LATIN AMERICA:

LATA identifies signs of gradual recovery to the Latin American region

ForwardKeys research, commissioned by the Latin American Travel Association (LATA) has revealed key Latin American travel trends. The data based on confirmed air reservations illustrates that bookings to Latin America for the period 01 July – 30 September were down 90.1% year-on-year, slightly below the average global decline for inbound bookings (94.1%). Looking forward to Q4 of 2020, there are some signs of recovery with increased seat capacity to the region and a smaller year-on-year decline, with Mexico showing more rapid signs of recovery (-52.2% y.o.y for Q4). Looking at the travel period between October and December 2020, the top searched destinations in the UK are Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica and Argentina. The data shows a gradual increase in flight capacity, following the reopening of key destinations with seat capacity growing considerably from mid-October, whilst fares to Latin America have dropped considerably (between 16 and 30% from key source markets). Likewise, the data illustrates a trend towards later bookings. lata.travel/ / forwardkeys.com  

Peru: Celebrates its bicentenary in 2021

In 2021, Peru will celebrate its bicentennial anniversary of independence. Organisers of the event have planned an extensive programme to showcase this historic anniversary and celebrate Peruvian culture and heritage. Peru is keen to welcome visitors from all over the world to join in with the festivities and help celebrate this landmark anniversary. The programme of events is subject to the travel climate in the context of the global pandemic. lata.travel/ / promperu.gob.pe

Exodus Travels offers a 16-night Essential Peru holiday from £2,849 including flights, B&B accommodation, activities, transport and tour leader. Based on March 2021 departures. exodus.co.uk

Costa Rica: Playa Hermosa named as the next World Surfing Reserve

Costa Rica’s Playa Hermosa has been awarded the title of ‘World Surfing Reserve’ for 2021, becoming the first beach in Central America to hold this title. Costa Rica joins the likes of the Gold Coast in Australia and Malibu in California, positioning itself as a world leader in surfing. World Surfing Reserves (WSR) is a programme created by Save The Waves; an international non-profit organisation dedicated to protecting surf ecosystems across the world. The programme serves as a model for preserving wave breaks and their surrounding areas by recognising and protecting the key environmental, cultural, and economic attributes of surfing areas. Every year, a wider variety of surf communities across the globe apply to receive the WSR title, which is awarded to just one destination. lata.travel/ / visitcostarica.com/uk

NEW HOTEL OPENINGS FOR 2021:

Mexico: New five-star hotels to open in the trendiest area of Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit

Situated in Mexico’s youngest destination, Punta de Mita in Riviera Nayarit will welcome new luxury, sought-after and exclusive hotel properties in the region. These highly anticipated hotels have maintained momentum and continued construction despite the current climate, and will be ready to open their doors to indulgent travellers and position Riviera Nayarit on the map as one of the most desirable luxury resort destinations in all of Mexico.

Riviera Nayarit will welcome in 2021 the world’s first all-inclusive Delta Hotels by Marriott resort. This property is nestled on a hillside in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, one of Mexico’s prettiest destinations, and is ideal for those wanting to indulge in an all-inclusive experience.  AMResorts is making good on its growth plans for Mexico with two new properties in the up and coming destination of Punta Mita.  For families, the new Dreams Bahia Mita Surf & Spa Resorts will provide unparalleled pampering for adults, and non-stop activities for the kids, whereas the new Secrets Bahia Mita Surf & Spa Resorts offers an adult-only escape and is a retreat enveloped by romance and nature. Both resorts are the only resorts in Mexico to feature seismic isolators, one of the most popular means of protecting a structure against earthquake forces. Riviera Nayarit will also welcome a modern Ritz Carlton Hotel, one of the first resorts to be in Costa Canuva, a spectacular new development area. For an even more intimate stay, Susurros Del Corazón will be a “bungalow by the beach” that showcases the depth and flavour of mezcal or overlooks the sparkling blue Banderas Bay. rivieranayarit.com

Dominican Republic: La Coleccion Resorts opens new resort along a private beach of Uvero Alto

Live Agua Beach Resort Punta Cana from La Coleccion Resorts opens in the Dominican Republic in February 2021. It is the first of the group’s properties outside Mexico. The resort, located on a long private beach on the northern shores of Uvero Alto has 347 suites situated in lush gardens containing waterfalls, fountains and relaxation zones. Select junior suites have direct swim-up access from the vast array of swimming pools (over 96,000 squared feet) and those looking for a cool chill-out spot can relax in a water hammock. The brand’s signature Feel Harmony Spa offers a plethora of treatments and a fitness centre has a range of equipment and fitness and yoga classes. Renowned Mexican Chef Gerardo Rivera will spearhead the seven restaurants, and the property offers an impressive array of conference, event and meeting space.

The property opens with Posadas’ Travel with Confidence programme (Covid-19 protocols) which has been successfully implemented in more than 180 hotels across Mexico. Prices from £1308 per person for seven nights all-inclusive accommodation (based on two sharing) including return flights and transfers. Further information from tui.co.uk / godominicanrepublic.com

Sicily: Palladium Hotel Group to open two luxurious beachfront resorts in traditional Sicilian town

Palladium Hotel Group will be opening two new five-star hotels in spring 2020 on a ten-hectare resort on the beachfront of the traditional Sicilian town, Campofelice di Roccella in northern Sicily. Grand Palladium Garden Beach Resort & Spa and Grand Palladium Sicilia Resort & Spa will be designed for all types of travellers, including couples, families and groups, with world class facilities, activities and entertainment to keep every age entertained, and plenty of space to relax and rejuvenate in the Italian sun. Facilities include tiered kids’ clubs, multiple swimming pools, three à la carte restaurants and a Zentropia Spa and Wellness, featuring a thermal water circuit, saunas, steam rooms and treatment rooms.

Rooms are priced from £204 per night based on two sharing on all-inclusive basis. palladiumhotelgroup.com

Menorca: Palladium Hotel Group to open four-star hotel overlooking Arenal d’en Castell bay

Palladium Hotel Menorca is set to open in summer 2021. The four-star hotel is located above Arenal d’en Castell bay on the Balearic Island’s north-eastern coast, overlooking dramatic cliffs, lush pine forests and the sandy beaches that make up the Menorcan landscape. Highlights include two pools, Zensations by Zentropia Palladium Spa & Wellness, entertainment for all the family, and gastronomy drawing on inspiration from cuisines from around the world, including traditional dishes from Menorca and the Balearics.

Rooms are priced from £126 per night based on two sharing on all-inclusive basis. palladiumhotelgroup.com