Wendy Wu has revealed to Travel Weekly that she will be relocating from her London home to Japan, to help immerse herself in the culture and get to the know the people, much as she has done elsewhere.
Travel Weekly: You are making a personal move that will shape your Japan product. What can agents expect?
Wendy Wu: Yes, I’m relocating to Japan. We already send thousands of travellers there each year, and so many want to return but go deeper. We’ve developed more specialised itineraries, including Kyushu and South Japan, aimed at repeat visitors.
By living there, learning Japanese and immersing myself in the culture, I want to build even more in depth, immersive experiences – especially for repeat and higher end travellers.
We’re also seeing strong interest in very specific experiences, like visiting the Ghibli Studio, inspired by films such as Howl’s Moving Castle and Spirited Away. Access is tightly controlled, but we can incorporate it into tailor made itineraries.
TW: Does that mean a shift further into high-end bespoke?
WW: Tailor made naturally leans high end, but our core remains four star comfort with the flexibility to include five star elements. We’re not positioning ourselves as ultra luxury only. The real focus is on depth and authenticity – whether that’s standing among the Avatar style peaks of Zhangjiajie, sharing tea in a Saudi home, sleeping in a Mongolian ger or exploring a lesser-known corner of Japan.
Ultimately, what ties it all together is our commitment to real people, real culture and truly memorable, once off experiences.
TW: Wendy, you’ve just launched something new and quite different in China. What can agents expect?
WW: We’re incredibly excited about a new 20-day China itinerary that brings together some of the country’s most dramatic contrasts. On one side you have Zhangjiajie, the landscape that inspired the Avatar mountains – ancient, towering sandstone pillars set in pristine nature. On the other, we’ve added Chongqing, now China’s number one attraction and often described as an “8D cyber city”.
Chongqing is extraordinary: layers of overpasses stacked 15-20 deep, world record breaking drone shows that move people to tears, hot springs, wellness and spa culture, and a futuristic skyline that feels almost surreal. We then link these with the classic highlights – Beijing, Xi’an, Shanghai and Guilin – plus the rural charm of Yangshuo, which many travellers tell us ends up being their favourite, “real China” experience.
This combination only became available last week, ahead of October departures, and there’s really nothing comparable on the market.
TW: You’ve always been strong in Asia. How has your portfolio evolved since Covid?
WW: Customer demand during and after Covid pushed us to broaden our reach while staying true to our specialist positioning. We now have very strong programmes in Egypt and Jordan – which can be sold separately or combined – and we’ve expanded further into Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
These aren’t bolt-ons; they’re carefully curated, culturally rich itineraries that sit comfortably alongside our Asia offering.
TW: Saudi Arabia is still new territory for many. How do you approach it?
WW: Our philosophy in Saudi Arabia is to show guests what’s happening behind the veil. We work with female guides, which is critical for understanding real life there today. On the surface visitors may see women fully covered, but behind that is a story of rapid progress and professional success.
We visit the home of one of our key female partners, a highly respected figure in the travel industry. Guests meet her, see her environment, and learn that her children are studying in places like the UK and Australia. It’s a powerful way to challenge preconceptions and connect with Saudi culture at a personal level, rather than just ticking off sights.
TW: Central Asia and Mongolia are also part of your specialist portfolio. What’s driving interest there?
WW: There’s growing demand for more frontier style journeys. Our Journey Through Central Asia covers the five ‘Stans’, but for those who want something slightly shorter, we offer Road to Samarkand, focusing on three. For first timers, we often recommend starting with Uzbekistan, which is visually stunning and very accessible in terms of culture and comfort.
Mongolia has transformed. Years ago, I would ring every client personally to warn them: the roads were rough, the food was basic – it was a real expedition. Now the standards are much higher. Guests stay in private, ensuite gers with far better food and infrastructure, while still enjoying that sense of wild, open steppe adventure.
