As travel tops the discretionary spend list for Australians in 2023, one of the world’s fastest growing travel companies, Luxury Escapes, has today announced the launch of Ultra Lux – a dedicated platform within the Luxury Escapes website showcasing the world’s very best hotels, resorts, tours and cruises.

A booming luxury travel market The launch of Luxury Escapes Ultra Lux comes as data from the Luxury Escapes’ 2023 Travel Trends Report reveals travel tops the discretionary spend list for Australians in 2023.

This is only reinforced by data from Bain & Company that shows spending on luxury goods and experiences grew by roughly 20 per cent in 2022, with luxury hospitality a key driver in the $2.1 trillion luxury market.

A new hyper-luxurious, curated offering Luxury Escapes’ Ultra Lux platform allows members to indulge with access to a hand-picked selection of the world’s most luxurious travel experiences.

From the world’s best hotels to to once-in-a-lifetime bucket list travel experiences, to exclusive cruise and tour holidays – the very best the world has to offer is only one click away.

Ultra Lux customers also have access to a dedicated Luxury Escapes premium concierge service – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week as well as complimentary airport transfers from home.

An elite partner line-up Launch partners for Ultra Lux include One & Only Resorts, Six Senses, Mandarin Oriental, COMO and Intercontinental plus a selection of world-famous iconic properties such as Maldives’ Soneva Fushi, New York City’s The Plaza, Dubai’s Atlantis The Royal and many more.

Luxury cruise offerings will include Regent Seven Seas, Ponant Yacht Cruises & Expeditions, Silversea and Seabourn plus incredible global adventures with Abercrombie and Kent.

Adam Schwab, co-founder and CEO Luxury Escapes “Luxury Escapes Ultra Lux caters to travellers who want to experience the world’s best travel experiences, curated by our team of experts with an around-the-clock dedicated Luxury Escapes travel concierge.

“With more consumers looking to book those once-in-a-lifetime holidays, we’re excited to bring exceptional luxury travel to even more people around the world,” said Schwab.

Australians willing to spend Responses to Luxury Escapes’ Travel Trends 2023 survey indicate that travel remains the discretionary spend priority for the majority of Australians, with more than half (58 per cent) of respondents saying that cost-ofliving pressures have had no impact on their travel plans for 2023. 60 per cent of respondents said they planned on spending more on travel in 2023 than they did pre-pandemic with the majority of respondents planning on spending more than $10,000 on each international holiday (of 2 nights or more) in 2023.
Demand for exceptional experiences More than a quarter (28.75 per cent) of respondents to Luxury Escapes Travel Trends 2023 survey plan on taking a bucket list holiday in 2023.

Australians are motivated to engage with emerging and established tourism trends from wellness to sustainability – reflected in that, for 75 per cent of respondents, leisure and enjoyment rank #1 on reasons for their travel plans in 2023.

A selection of ultra-lux escapes:

FAR NORTH QLD:

Mt. Mulligan Lodge – 3 nights from $4,499/room (valued up to $6,600)

Luxury Lodge Retreat with All-Inclusive Dining, Drinks & Outback Bush Experiences Embrace the spirit of the outback in style at Mt. Mulligan Lodge, a 69,000-acre working cattle station and proud member of the Luxury Lodges of Australia collection.

Set in the shadow of spectacular Mt. Mulligan, the lodge promises guests laidback five-star luxury amid the untamed natural scenery of North Queensland’s outback. With accommodation for just 28 guests, service is highly personalised, with onsite dining tailored to your tastes and schedule.

MALDIVES:

Soneva Fushi – 3 nights from $6,801/villa (valued up to $8,139)

Maldives Private Island Barefoot Luxury with the World’s First Zipline Fine-Dining Experience Dive into a world of unparalleled barefoot luxury at Soneva Fushi, holding a prime position in the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the Maldives. When you’re not being dazzled by the natural wonders of your immediate surroundings, take a culinary journey into gastronomy grandeur at the 11 onsite restaurants, including the world’s first fine-dining zipline experience. After the sun has set, the open-air Cinema Paradiso located right on the beach is the perfect way to cap off a day of bliss.

NEW YORK CITY:

The Plaza – 3 nights from $3,505/room

One room for Kevin MccAllister, please…
Photo by Tiziano Brignoli on Unsplash

World-Class The Plaza New York Heritage Stay Overlooking Central Park The Plaza in New York City, synonymous with timeless elegance and award-winning luxury, is one of the most prestigious and iconic hotels in the world.

Dining is a royal affair, with the palatial Palm Court serving afternoon tea and delicate bites while the refined Champagne Bar beckons guests to come and sample the world’s finest wines, champagne and caviar while overlooking the famous Pulitzer Fountain.

For more than a century, this world-class chateau has defined elegance, from its historic Beaux-Arts façade to the grand marble lobby, iced crystal chandeliers and gleaming gilded accents.

A stay here places you in a stellar Manhattan location along the southern edge of Central Park, on Fifth Avenue and on the brink of the Upper East Side.

DUBAI:

Atlantis The Royal – 3 nights from $2,903/room

A royal experience in Dubai

Next-Level Atlantis Dubai Palm Jumeirah Luxury with Eight Celebrity-Chef Restaurants & Sky Pool Enjoy total opulence at the glitzy Atlantis The Royal, located on Dubai’s world-famous Palm Jumeirah – home to an abundance of five-star resorts, world-class dining venues and celebrity-grade nightclubs.

A dynamic new addition to the Dubai skyline, this architectural marvel ushers in a new era of experiential luxury.

Discover unforgettable indulgence: swim laps in the 90-metre sky pool, spend each evening dining in a different restaurant, treat yourself at the 5,000sqm wellness centre and gaze in wonder at the beautiful lobby – home to three aquariums, including the world’s largest jellyfish tank.

MALAYSIA:

One&Only Desaru Coast – 3 nights from $3,917/suite

Keen to be the one and only in that pool.

Malaysia One&Only Five-Star Oceanfront Escape with Private Pool Suites Discover the pinnacle of tropical luxury with an escape to the five-star One&Only Desaru Coast, a spectacular retreat perched on the southeastern shore of Malaysia, nestled between verdant rainforests and the pristine South China Sea.

Spend your days on the white sands of Desaru Beach, lounging by the elegant infinity pool while you indulge in a superb meal at the poolside café.

Toast your stay at Dusty Monkey bar, where regional rums, curated gins, fine whiskies, artisanal tonics and house cocktails are guaranteed to delight. An array of watersport activities can be organised or while the children are entertained at the complimentary kids’ club, adults can treat themselves at the onsite Chenot Spa.