Travel Weekly sat down with Pearl Expeditions executive chairwoman Sarina Batton to hear her views on the changing landscape of the luxury and experiential travel market.
How would you describe the state of the luxury and experiential travel market right now, and how has demand shifted compared with this time last year?
Despite geo-political unrest, fuel and global financial uncertainty combined with unknown investment return horizons, the HNW and affluent traveller market remains robust.
These ‘uncontrollable’ elements have powerful and varying affects across all markets in different ways.
In our HNWI and UHNWI market we are experiencing heightened interest in multi-generational family travel, mainly through sole use charters. Warm climate, active expeditions, involving cultural and wildlife immersion, slow-paced sustainable travel approaches, and rare access to destinations, is resonating strongly within our boutique expedition market segment.
This is perfect timing for Pearl Expeditions, approaching our one-year operational anniversary, as word of mouth within this cohort of travellers is extremely powerful.
Have you seen an increased demand in Luxury travellers seeking itineraries within Australia due to the geopolitical uncertainty?
Yes, we are very happy with the demand that has been growing for our business, currently enjoying an 86 per cent occupancy across our mainstay Kimberley operations spanning from April through September. The Kimberley is Paspaley’s heartland and the place where the family’s pearling story first began 90+ years ago. Motor yacht Paspaley Pearl’s ability to engage in the operational technology around growing the most beautiful pearls in the world, holds intrigue for many. Access to 68 anchorages throughout the Kimberley’s vast coastline, access to Kuri Bay, the only privately held leasehold in the Kimberley, access to Paspaley’s specialised pearling vessels, their vintage Mallard flying boats for sight-seeing, and indulging in the coveted Paspaley pearl meat is something only available via invitation – these experiences cannot be replicated.
Our Australian itinerary and deployment reach also extends to Arnhem Land where we have a different market demand – investment quality indigenous art collectors. We provide access to what are usually considered inaccessible indigenous art communities. This drives wonderful economic benefit to these very remote NT communities.
Another focus of ours has been Torres Strait Islands and the Great Barrier Reef. We are not constrained by the “shipping channels and designated anchorages” as are larger expedition or cruise ships. We can curate exclusive experiences covering a broad range – Torres Strait Islands culture, artists (whom we feature onboard Paspaley Pearl), fishing, snorkelling, hiking.
What are the biggest concerns travel advisors are raising at the moment?
Travel advisors are (again) navigating a highly complex environment with the issues in the Middle East impacting confidence in long-range planning. In this context, Pearl Expeditions is privileged to operate within a closer-to-home footprint, with voyages focused on Australia and its neighbouring regions, including Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. This regional focus offers a sense of reassurance and accessibility for both advisors and clients, while still delivering ‘warm climate, active expeditions, involving cultural and wildlife immersion, slow-paced sustainable travel approaches, and rare access to destinations.’
We have seen a handful of travel companies fully embrace our new Australian product and within a short period of time, each of them generating multiple millions of dollars of sales across all our destinations. This is not only Australian agencies, but a growing support from our key international distributors.
Another issue is the use of AI tools by travellers in the early stages of itinerary planning, which can be helpful for inspiration but often lacks the nuance, lived experience, and destination-specific insight that comes with first-hand expertise from a travel advisor. This is reinforcing the value of human-led curation, where real operational knowledge, relationships, and on-the-ground understanding makes an invaluable difference to the quality and realism of an itinerary.
Have you noticed any emerging trends among high-end travellers in 2026, whether that’s around spending habits, booking windows, wellness, sustainability or demand for more personalised experiences?
In 2026, we’re seeing high-end travellers continue to be more intentional and refined in how they design and experience their journeys. HNW travellers are seeking itineraries that feel entirely tailored to their interests, pace, and values.
Sustainability continues to evolve as an expectation, with stronger focus on measurable impact, conservation outcomes, and meaningful engagement with place. At Pearl Expeditions, this is reflected in how our journeys are designed, grounded in respect for the environments we travel through and the cultures we are privileged to engage with. Our itineraries are created with a light footprint and a deep emphasis on genuine connection, ensuring that experiences in remote regions remain authentic, respectful, and mutually beneficial for local communities.
A key strength of our business is the expertise of Mick Fogg, general manager, with more than three decades of experience designing expeditions into some of the world’s most remote regions. This ensures each expedition is shaped by personal knowledge. Mick’s long-standing relationships and on-the-ground understanding mean our voyages are not only operationally refined, but thoughtfully curated with a deep sensitivity to place, culture, and access.”
Looking ahead to the second half of the year, are you optimistic about the outlook for the travel industry, and what do you think will shape demand moving forward?
We remain optimistic about the outlook for the travel industry. The sector has consistently shown resilience and adaptability. We expect this to continue provided there are no new significant geopolitical or global health disruptions. High-net-worth travel demand remains robust and highly responsive to new and differentiated offerings.
Pearl Expeditions has entered the market not quite a year ago with a highly curated product, accommodating just 30 guests across 15 staterooms with a dedicated crew of 22. This intimate scale reflects where luxury travel has been trending over more recent years. Immersive, access-led, shared adventures with few. Experience-rich expeditions shaped by expertise and deep regional knowledge and commitment.
Demand will continue to be shaped by confidence, trust in operators, and a desire for a product unashamedly different.
