Matthew Upchurch, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Virtuoso, is a happy man. Addressing the audience during the latest edition of the ILTM, he shared key findings of the 2024 Luxe Report released by the network every end of year.

In 2023, outbound travel registered double-digit growth year-on-year, marking another big step in returning to the travel volume of 2019. Compared with 2022, this was a 33 per cent increase, only 12 per cent short of the base year level before the pandemic. Positive signs are above all the gradual return of outbound travellers in Asia and the upward trend in vacation travel. Despite rising travel costs, interest in outbound travel this year remains high – what is noticeable is that travel satisfaction is becoming an increasingly important factor.

Four Seasons Hotel Madrid announces the appointment of Alejandro Bernabé as its General Manager and Regional Vice President after more than five years as the General Manager of Four Seasons Hotel Seoul, making it his second hotel with the company.

Design Hotels is delighted to announce the appointment of Stijn Oyen as Managing Director. Bringing more than 20 years of industry experience to the business, Stijn will lead Design Hotels into its fourth decade of operation—shaping the future vision of the travel industry’s most forward-thinking brand.