Soaring Travel Costs Are Weighing on Even the Wealthiest Vacationers, WSJ Study Shows
2 min
Wealthy individuals remain just as interested in travelling as they were last year, but costs have become a larger factor in their plans, according to a Global Travel Study conducted by WSJ Intelligence between June 27-July 19.
Of the 879 Wall Street Journal readers surveyed—who had an average age of 56, were 79% male, and had an average net worth of about US$3.5 million—94% intend to travel for leisure in the next 12 months, down just 1% from 2023. Additionally, 64% plan to travel internationally, up from last year’s 60%.
Travellers are most concerned about costs amid ongoing inflation and other economic challenges, even as 80% of respondents say they plan to increase or maintain their travel spend compared to last year.
The cost of flights and hotels is the top factor of importance for WSJ readers, with 78% concerned about prices, a nine-point increase from 2023.
“Travel is still on the up—our readers are still really enthusiastic,” says Carolyn Romano, associate director of Luxury Lifestyle Intelligence at The Wall Street Journal. “But at the same time, it’s yet another year of market volatility and inflation, so I just think they’re being a little bit more thoughtful about the way that they’re traveling.”
Availability of flights and hotels is the second-biggest issue for travellers, with 76% of readers responding that it is a factor of importance for them.
Notably, as factors of importance, both loyalty programs and discounts and deals are up 10 percentage points year over year. Romano says this increase is “pretty significant.”
“Our reader approaches every purchase as an investment of some sort, and even our reader is still taking all of these factors into consideration,” she says.
Despite rising costs, the post-Covid enthusiasm for travel remains, with 70% of respondents traveling more than they have in the past. Over the next 12 months, WSJ readers’ average anticipated spend on leisure travel is US$18,305, up from last year’s US$18,250.
As for destinations, 86% of respondents are considering traveling to Europe, down just 1% from last year. Italy is the top European country of choice—superseding the U.K.—seeing a 9% annual increase in interest.
Though most destinations, both international and domestic, included in the survey saw similar interest as last year, traveling to Asia is up 10 points from 2023, with 40% of respondents considering booking a trip to the continent. Japan ranks the highest, with 61% of respondents considering traveling there, up 6% from last year.
When making travel plans, 72% of WSJ readers say they go to family and friends for recommendations. Only 13% report consulting a travel agent, though people taking cruises are much more likely to use a travel agent.
Copyright 2020, Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. LEARN MORE
International AI strategist Justin Kabbani will headline the Kanebridge Property Summit in Sydney on June 18, with tickets selling fast.
Scotch whisky expert, luxury hospitality strategist and Keeper of the Quaich inductee Ross Blainey is bringing a new philosophy of luxury experiences to Citizen Kanebridge.
King Living has unveiled a modular version of its Aura Sofa, bringing greater flexibility to the sculptural design collection as demand grows for furniture that can adapt to changing lifestyles.
2 min
Australian furniture brand King Living has expanded its Aura Collection with the launch of a new modular sofa designed to blend contemporary aesthetics with adaptable living.
The Aura Sofa builds on the success of the Aura Island range, first introduced in 2023, which included indoor and outdoor sofas as well as fixed and swivel occasional chairs.
The latest evolution introduces modular functionality to the collection, allowing homeowners to configure the sofa to suit a variety of spaces and uses.
As living spaces continue to evolve, particularly in urban environments where flexibility is increasingly valued, furniture designers are placing greater emphasis on products that can adapt over time.
King Living says the new Aura Sofa has been developed with this trend in mind, enabling customers to create corner, L-shaped or U-shaped layouts, while also allowing additional modules to be added as needs change.
King Living founder David King said the original Aura concept began as an exploration of sculptural design before being reimagined as a modular system.
“Aura began as an exploration of sculptural form. Now, we’ve brought modularity into that design language, giving the freedom to reimagine your space with a modular design made for flexibility,” he said.
The collection’s defining feature remains its soft, flowing silhouette, with curved forms replacing traditional angular sofa designs.
The company describes the sofa as a response to changing lifestyles, where living rooms increasingly serve multiple purposes, from entertaining guests and family gatherings to quiet reading corners and work-from-home spaces.
Its rounded profile and minimalist aesthetic are intended to enhance the flow of contemporary interiors while maximising available space. According to the company, the design is equally suited to compact apartments and larger open-plan homes.
“Today, living space is both a luxury and a constraint. Aura is our response, a purposeful design that proves when intention and fluidity converge, the result can feel both expansive and refined,” King said.
Beyond aesthetics, the new sofa incorporates several engineering features synonymous with the King Living brand.
These include the company’s Postureflex steel suspension system, extra-high pocket springs and its signature steel frame, which is backed by a 25-year warranty. The company says the design has been engineered to deliver long-term comfort and durability.
Sustainability has also been a focus of the design. Each module features a removable cover that can be professionally cleaned, repaired or replaced individually, reducing the need to replace an entire sofa and potentially extending the product’s lifespan.
The Aura Sofa is available made to order in a range of premium fabrics and European leathers, allowing customers to tailor the piece to different interior styles and colour palettes.
Designed, manufactured and sold exclusively by King Living, the Aura Sofa launched in showrooms and online early this month, marking the latest addition to the Australian company’s growing portfolio of modular furniture designs.
From warmer neutrals to tactile finishes, Australian homes are moving away from stark minimalism and towards spaces that feel more human.
French luxury-goods giant’s results are a sign that shoppers weren’t splurging on its collections of high-end garments in the run-up to the holiday season.
