I found some of these emerging trends quite interesting and thought provoking. Hope you enjoy them too and can interpret them for your  own business and market. Wilna 

Keeping with its annual tradition, Cox & Kings - the world's most enduring luxury travel brand, with a legacy of over 250 years - announces its forecast on the travel trends to watch in 2013.

Headed up by Scott Wiseman, new President of Cox & Kings, The Americas, the company's team of expert Destination Managers - all veteran travelers themselves - name the top experiences, travel styles and destination picks to look forward to come January. "Authentic, life-changing moments are still high on travelers' priorities list, and - with this age's tech savvy - sharing these moments instantly with those back home is more convenient and exciting than ever, creating a rich, dynamic dialogue about travel and new cultures," says Wiseman.

1. Insta-Travel - Five years ago, during the first wave of smartphones, the travel industry could not have anticipated the effect posting, liking, picture-taking, video-ing, re-pinning and sharing would have on how consumers experience their journeys. Today, one needn't fret on where to buy the best postcard - Tweeting a picture or simply sharing one on Instagram drives the "Wish You Were Here!" message more effectively (not to mention with better photo-enhancing filters). "Sharing instantly allows travelers to give to-the-minute updates on where they are, illustrating exciting on-the-ground experiences as they happen - a real-time guide book, of sorts," says Wiseman. The armchair travelers back home also have the opportunity to enjoy - after all, all they would need to discover a new destination is a great WiFi connection.

2. The Art Collector's Guide to Travel - Some argue that there's no better travel memento than a piece of art from an exciting destination. Art collecting on the go is on the rise, with street art - including one-of-a-kind, yet relatively inexpensive pieces - being particularly in demand among hip travelers with a keen design eye. "There's nothing that tells the story of where you've been quite like an amazing work of art," says Ignacio Vallin, Destination Manager, Latin America & Antarctica, who praises the art scenes of São Paulo and Mexico City. "Now with the ability to share images of the work you're collecting - through visual apps such as Instagram and Pinterest - art hunting while abroad is as covetable as it is personally enriching."

3. The Return of the Big Trip - As the economic climate steadies itself - with luxury advertising for global brands a driving force - consumer confidence in extended luxury vacations is returning, with tour operators such as Cox & Kings seeing a strong increase in long-lead bookings, several as remarkable as a year out from departure dates. "We remain confident in continued growth and look for these trends to continue into 2013," states Wiseman, who will oversee further development and evolution of Cox & Kings' luxury offerings across the globe.

4. Safe Solo Female Travel - Traveling solo as a woman can be a particularly complicated endeavor with many elements to consider, including general safety precautions, physical appearance and dress, and specific cultural norms and etiquette. "Traveling with an expert - such as a luxury tour operator like Cox & Kings - helps to make far-flung travel safe, comfortable and highly attentive to the individual's needs and interests, without sacrificing the experiential rewards to be reaped," says Denise Gogarty, Destination Manager, Asia & The Pacific. With Cox & Kings' destination know-how, areas that women can navigate with safety, style and ease include Southeast Asia, India and Mexico.

5. Epicurean Latin America - There has been an increased emphasis on the "personal touch" travel companies can deliver to clients, with customized culinary adventures chief on the list. "Latin America is a phenomenal destination to wine and dine your way through, and working side by side with its talented chefs and wine connoisseurs is a highly intimate way to literally ‘sample' the region," says Vallin. Food and wine tours through Argentina, Chile and Peru are ever popular, and Cox & Kings is soon launching brand-new, historically-driven trips to Mexico City and Nicaragua that spotlight modern-day foodie moments.

6. Journey to Cold War Remnants - Cox & Kings is encouraging travelers to get beyond politics and explore countries that have figured heavily in our national history, many of which there is little experienced firsthand. With its new 2013 Discovery Group Journey "North Korea Explorer," Cox & Kings invites travelers to experience one of the most mysterious countries in the world: from hiking through its mountains and rivers to strolling the grounds of its majestic imperial palaces. "Travelers have the opportunity to witness some of North Korea's extravaganzas that demonstrate the nation's cultural hidden gems with epic Mass Dance performances in celebration of their nationwide holidays," says Janice Decker, Director of Group Sales. 

7. Global-ympian Travel - Travelers are encouraged to venture to global hotspots - Russia (Winter Olympics 2014 in Sochi), Brazil (World Cup 2014, Summer Olympics 2016 in Rio) - prior to their hosting of massive world events. It helps that these countries are also emerging world powerhouses. "It's a crucial time to venture to the BRICS countries such as Brazil and Russia, as these cultures are rapidly changing due to the speed of globalization, economic growth and world-scale recognition," observes Thor Forsberg, Destination Manager, Europe. "Each of these countries has their own special rhythm, from the contemporary design culture in São Paulo to the dynamic art scene in Moscow."

8. Retracing Footsteps: Historical Trails - The opportunity to venture down old paths is enticing to travelers eager to make new discoveries along the way. "Storied journeys such as the Inca Trail and the Spice Route hold enormous appeal to travelers. This, after all, is how the world as we know it came to be, by explorers forging all of these connections, first geographically, then economically and culturally," states Seema Prakash, Destination Manager, India & The Sub-Continent. 

9. Meaningful Far-Flung Family Travel - "Travel is an exceptional tool for personal education, and it's no surprise that some of the most tight-knit, open-minded families are also the most traveled," observes Yvonne Whitcomb, Destination Manager, Africa & Indian Ocean. Traveling with family in tow can seem daunting at first, but with the planning and expertise of companies like Cox & Kings, family adventures can also be among the most valuable, bonding experiences in life. Whitcomb notes an increase in far-flung bookings by families to countries as exotic as India, China and South Africa - all of which offer activities and highlights enticing to all ages. 

10. Top Destination Picks for 2013 - Cox & Kings' picks for emerging destinations in 2013 are based on a place's unexpected offerings - the element of surprise that these countries and cities bring to the table:Myanmar, for its incredible cultural history and low level of Westernization; India, for the Maha Kumbh Mela Festival taking place in early 2013, one of the largest holy gatherings on Earth; Southern India and Sri Lanka,Nepal and Bhutan, for new perspectives on the sub-continent; the Baltic states Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia- formerly of the Soviet Union - boast incredible medieval architecture; Colombia, a diamond in the rough, home to some great South American adventure, culture and food; and Botswana, its Okavango Delta remarkable for being Africa's "last wilderness."

For more information on Cox & Kings, please visit www.coxandkingsusa.com.

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Wilna 

This really made me think! We are all busy introducing free wi-fi etc,  but maybe we are missing the small details? Be creative and provide the 'unexpected' ...but loved little luxuries, just when your guests want them. Singita Lebomobo gets this sooooo right. Wilna 

Little Luxuries – How Hotels Can Do Better
By Andrea

It's amazing how it's the small luxuries we remember from a really good hotel visit.  I still remember my joy on visiting one little bed and breakfast when I found real milk in a jug (protected by a bead-weighted embroidered doily), five different types of tea including Earl Grey and proper china teacups.  Little luxuries are how hotels earn their five stars  - see for example our review of The Baglioni where my colleague Jules was greeted with cold towels and drinks after arriving to check in on a scorching hot day.

So what small luxuries should hotels be giving us?One idea is a shoe shine - still offered by some of the more traditional hotels. But I think the shoe shine is obsolete.  How many of us wear suede, or trainers or sandals these days - none of which take a shine.

I'm more interested in the free soft drinks now offered by many hotels.

When I get into my hotel room, I want to put my bags down and relax.  Part of the ‘relax' is a cool drink if I've arrived on a hot day, or a cup of tea or coffee on a cold one - a complimentary soft drink is always a nice touch.

Red Carnation Hotels (which runs six boutique London hotels) specialises in "tiny noticeable touches" including free seasonal treats for guests - we recently blogged for example about their strawberry season treats.  We're sure they'll soon also be offering some soothing winter warmers like the free hot chocolate and homemade biscuits we enjoyed during our free WiFi touchdown at the same group's Rubens at the Palace Hotel.

As for tea and coffee in-room, it's amazing how few hotels really excel here. Even in a 5 star hotel, you'll often find just one generic tea - no green tea, no fruit teas, no Lapsang or Pai Mu Tan - and a choice of caff or decaff.

Again The Baglioni has the right idea by putting Illy coffee machines in its London luxury suites.  But I'd definitely like hotels to be more adventurous here - particularly the ones that serve the best afternoon teas.

Fresh fruit is another little luxury that some hotels provide and I love seeing a fruit basket in the room.  It looks good even if you don't eat any!  Luxury hotels should mean luxury fruit - fresh figs, for instance.  I've even had dried fruit - easier to eat (generally anything that needs a knife doesn't make the cut, so to speak).  But I'd love to see fresh mango or pineapple in the room, sliced and served by a butler!

Not so good for you are the occasional little sweeties that a hotel can provide. A chocolate on the pillow is perhaps one of those touches that looks a bit naff these days - but I still like it and the darker the better!.

Turning to the bathroom, hotels are now well aware of the importance of the right toiletries.  But how many let guests pamper themselves in the bathroom?  I know there's a spa downstairs but what I'd really like is to pamper myself a bit more in my room - some aromatherapy oils or a nice moisturising body rub, rather than just the usual soap, shampoo, shower gel combination.  The lovely Floris toiletries which I mentioned in my review of The Stafford are a big pamper-zone for me.

Actually, come to think of it, I'd love the ability to use aromatherapy oils in the main bedroom.  Though I suppose it might be difficult for housekeeping to return the room to scent-neutral in time for the next guest!

And the best luxury provided by any hotel ever?  It came from that same delightful B&B with the milk jug, when I found that my bed already had an occupant - a mature ginger cat who looked up at me adoringly and chirrupped. When I mentioned him to the proprietor, alas, I found that this was not a free gift. "Cat on the bed - a pound extra!" he quipped.


From, Rajul Chande, Managing Director, Positive Partnerships Ltd