The New Luxury Traveler


By Mark Slatko

Luxury travel as we’ve known it – or at least defined it – has gone the way of the dinosaur (literally and figuratively). Today, affluent travelers are rejecting the commonplace, seeking way-off-the-beaten- path bucket list experiences: did someone say dinosaur dig with a world-renowned paleontologist?

Bespoke travel is no longer about having the biggest and the most lavish. It’s about feeling rich and inspired through personalized, unique experiences not found in a guidebook, glossy brochure or even page- one Google results. It could be a once-in-a-lifetime trip to witness the Northern Lights, or a private dinner in an 18th-century castle complete with a celebrity chef. Because while cookie cutter might work for cookies, baked-in sameness no longer satisfies the distinct cravings of today’s affluent globetrotter.

And the more unusual the activity, the better. Well-heeled travelers are requesting everything from stargazing with noted astronomers to reaching the edge of space in a MiG-29 flight in Russia. Yet while space might be the final frontier, so are down-to-earth experiences where travelers can immerse themselves in the local culture. How does herding a flock of Cheviot sheep in New Zealand sound about now? And the accommodations travelers seek are as rare and experiential as the activities themselves, from spending the night in an igloo in Norway to sleeping in the Sahara under the stars.

Speaking of rest and relaxation, today’s high-end experiential travel is the stuff dreams are made of. With the CDC citing sleep deprivation a public health epidemic, getting your share of shut-eye isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. That’s why more and more upscale hotels offer sleep-related therapies dispensed by dedicated sleep curators and sleep butlers. Also provided: room aromatherapy options, pillow menus and linens that remove bacteria for a healthy slumber. After all, getting a restful night’s sleep is nothing to sneeze at.

Of course, this new definition of luxury travel isn’t reserved for couples and small families. Multigenerational travel continues to be a firmly entrenched travel niche, as more and more extended families choose to connect through shared travel experiences. Whether you choose a European villa for a celebration with loved ones, an African safari or snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef, a family trip will strengthen bonds and create memories that last a lifetime (remember that time in Australia when grandpa lost his swim trunks?).

John Steinbeck, who was moved by a desire to see his country on a personal level, once wrote, “People don’t take trips, trips take people.” Give today’s luxury travelers what they want – customized local experiences along the road less traveled – and there’s no telling where it could take you.

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Tinsley & The Florida Keys Dominate The Governor’s Conference!

By John Underwood

At the September 2018 Annual Governor’s Conference on Tourism in Orlando, Tinsley Advertising cleaned up with seven Flagler Awards for our creative work for The Florida Keys & Key West. The multiple awards won were more than any other DMO or tourism-related business received in the state!

Tinsley’s award sweep included two Henrys (the top honor) for our thirty-second “Sustainability” television spot as well as our Philadelphia out-of-home (outdoor) campaign. The agency also won five more Flagler awards in the following categories: Radio Advertising, Direct Marketing, Promotional Material, Mobile Marketing, Mixed Media and Print Advertising.

“I am particularly proud that we received top honors for our sustainability television commercial,” said TDC Marketing Director Stacey Mitchell, noting that The Florida Keys TDC won more awards than any other destination marketing organization. “There’s much competition in a shrinking leisure travel market, and the awards demonstrate that our marketing efforts are on target,” she said.

The annual Flagler Awards are named after developer and railroad pioneer Henry Flagler and were established by Visit Florida in 2000 to recognize excellence in the Florida tourism marketing industry.

Tinsley Advertising has been the official Agency of Record for The Florida Keys & Key West since 1986. We are thankful for our long-standing partnership, that has allowed us to create award-winning work that has been extremely successful for this remarkable travel destination.

 

The Story of Your Life Begins in Key West

By Dorn Martell

In a new video for Key West, the viewer is asked a simple question: “If you were to read the story of your life, would it move you?”. Makes you think, doesn’t it? Have you lived life to the fullest, taken chances, and chased your dreams? Luxury travel today is all about collecting experiences and in this new video, we explore everything from historical Old Town and it’s artistic treasures, to the magical world below the sea on North America’s only living coral reef. In Key West, you can experience innovative cuisine delivered directly from sea-to-table or “go pirate” and have rumrunners on a historical sailboat at sunset. Key West is best known for it’s funky spirit and laid-back atmosphere, but many people are not aware of the many upscale resorts, hotels and guesthouses that are available in Key West. If you want to make the story of your life more interesting, work on the next chapter in Key West.

New Campaign Makes Waves for the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show

By Dorn Martell

When I was I kid, I had a globe in my room. I would trace my finger across the oceans and waterways pretending that I was sailing around the world. Our ad “Dream Big” tapped into the spirit that made us fall in love with boating to attract a new class of potential boat owners. The 58th Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show ended Sunday and it appears to have been a huge success.

“It’s the best that we’ve seen,” said Brian Hermann, who represents Clearwater-based MarineMax, the nation’s largest recreational boat and yacht retailer. “There’s a considerable number of buyers coming through here.”

Our strategy was to attract a more sophisticated audience with non-traditional ads, in order to bring more serious buyers to the show.

“I think we had more qualified buyers and less tire kickers.” said Chris Flounders of Marine Connection.

We know our messaging had a direct impact on attendance based on metrics. For example; our TV spot led visitors to a micro-site where they could win a chance for a VIP Experience enabling us to track them and capture leads.

“While attendance figures are still being calculated, we have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from exhibitors who have been reporting boat sales, leads and more qualified buyers than ever before,” said Mary Bender, vice president of marketing for Informa Exhibitions, the boat show’s producer.

“We are one” campaign brings visitors back to the Florida Keys

By Dorn Martell

A month ago we were dealing with the arrival of Hurricane Irma and now we are welcoming the arrival of visitors to The Florida Keys & Key West. We have received an outpouring of positive feedback for our new “We are one” television commercial as well as our radio campaign for the entire Florida Keys.

Hotels are filling up as soon as they come back online and we have seen our “We are one” message go viral on social media as well as in real life.

Though some areas in the Keys will take some time to get back to normal, the rate of recovery has been impressive. The resilience of the natural world can be seen in the green sprouts of the mangrove and buttonwood trees and the tenacity of the Keys people is visible everywhere you look. Come on down and see for yourself!