St Maarten destination for affluent Americans in 2014

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[h=2]St. Maarten target destination for affluent Americans looking to travel more in 2014[/h]SUNDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2014 21:29

PHILIPSBURG--According to a report authored and published by travel and hospitality marketing communications firm MMGY Global, St. Maarten is among the Caribbean destinations that affluent Americans would choose to visit in the upcoming high tourism season.
The report points out that affluent Americans will be a key driver of the continued growth of the U.S. travel industry and they plan to take significantly more trips in the coming year than last year and are interested in visiting a wide range of destinations across the globe.
The report is entitled Portrait of Affluent Travellers 2014. It is a national US survey of the travel habits, preference and intentions of 1,250 active travellers with an annual household income of US $125,000 or more.
Inspiration for travel comes from a variety of sources, with survey respondents citing friends and family as the source consulted most when considering destination and experience options. Affluent travellers also prefer visiting travel service providers' websites to those of online travel agencies, with nearly 50 per cent agreeing these sites offer greater convenience and the best prices of note. While travel service provider websites are popular, 20 per cent of affluent travellers now rely on a travel professional to arrange their trips.
The top Caribbean Destinations for these travellers: Fifty per cent of affluent travellers are interested in visiting the Caribbean, specifically the U.S. Virgin Islands (27 per cent); the Bahamas (25 per cent); and the Cayman Islands, St. Maarten and Aruba (each at 23 per cent).
In another noteworthy finding, 50 per cent of respondents said they are willing to pay more for the very best quality hotel/resort accommodations, while approximately 30 per cent would pay more for luxury cruise cabins or an upgraded class of service on a flight.
"Affluent travellers are willing to spend more on enhanced travel experiences," said Steve Cohen, vice president Insights and Research, MMGY Global. "This translates into a wonderful opportunity for travel and hospitality brands to engage – both online and in real time – with this attractive market segment. And 'better' and 'personalised' are key words to keep in mind when marketing travel services to this group."
For these travellers relaxation and new experiences are a priority: 75 per cent cite the desire to have enough time to relax and unwind, 64 per cent want to explore new cities and attractions, 59 per cent wish to experience different cultures and 54 per cent want to enhance their relationships.
One property on St. Maarten looking to capitalise on this travel trend is the Sonesta Group of Companies. With a soft opening in October 2014, Sonesta Ocean Point Resort will be the premier five-star, all-suite property in St. Maarten, bringing a new brand of style, luxury and outstanding service to St. Maarten.
After a multi-million dollar renovation to the former Ocean Terrace building, the 129-room Sonesta Ocean Point emerges as a sophisticated resort option for adults combining high design and personalised service with private concierge as well as everything today's modern traveller has come to expect.
 
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