Ultra-luxury travelers are redefining high-end experiences. The good news for travel agents? Not only are nearly half of travelers who already spend $25,000+ per vacation preparing to spend substantially more in the coming year, but they also consider travel agents indispensable partners in crafting their dream vacations.
Flywire’s report, Unlocking ultra luxury travel in 2025 uncovers critical insights to help travel agents capture and cater to this growing and lucrative market. Here are 4 for travel agents looking to exceed expectations in 2025.
1. Personalized experiences are the very definition of ultra-luxury travel
Ultra-luxury travelers believe luxury travel is defined by highly-personalized, once-in-a-lifetime experiences as much as it is opulence and exclusivity.
As two travelers in the survey put it, highly-personalized travel involves "trips completely curated to my likes and schedules" and is when the "entire process is tailor-made, including activity arrangements and dining all in line with personal preferences". This is where travel agents' expertise really shines: most ultra-luxury travelers cannot imagine taking a trip without you, with 96% believing travel agents are the best way to create these personalized experiences. In fact, 89% state that working with travel experts is the only way to have a truly luxury travel experience, relying on you because you provide the knowledge, connections and deep understanding to design a trip that is both stimulating and stress-free.
2. Ultra-luxury travelers turn to wellness retreats and slow travel in effort to switch off and recharge
As an antidote to increasingly frenetic lives, wellness has become a priority for Americans, and this extends to the vacation plans of ultra-luxury travelers. A staggering 97% say that they are likely to take a trip specifically to reduce stress and anxiety, or to fully unplug in the next year, and interest in dedicated wellness vacations is peaking: 94% of ultra-luxury travelers say they are interested in taking a self-discovery retreat, spa vacations, or nature experiences among others.
Beyond traditional “wellness”, ultra-luxury travelers are embracing slow travel to help them switch off from the frenetic energy of real life. 93% say they have taken at least one “slow travel” trip in the past year, and 95% say they are likely to take the same number or more slow travel trips in the next year.
Rather than dashing from place to place during a vacation, ultra-luxury travelers want highly-personalized itineraries designed with cultural immersion and deep engagement in mind, but with ample downtime and flexibility to allow for spontaneity and discovery.
3. Privacy, space and sustainability are key factors in ultra-luxury accommodation choices
While premium accommodations remain important, ultra-luxury travelers prioritize private space and personal service above all else when choosing where to stay. Beyond 5 star chain and boutique hotels, 86% said they consider private villas/residences when choosing their accommodation, perhaps reflecting the importance of privacy to this group of travelers.
Sustainability is no longer a niche consideration; 86% of ultra-luxury travelers are looking for accommodations that have sustainability-focused policies and/or products all or some of the time. This indicates a conscious decision-making process where ethical and environmental considerations play a role.
4. Ultra-luxury travelers seek convenience, particularly when it comes to payment
Operational excellence is a non-negotiable for ultra-luxury travelers, and this includes payment. Over 90% expect and prioritize easy and efficient payment processes throughout their journey, from travel to accommodations and excursions. Crucially, 95% of ultra-luxury travelers say they choose who they book travel with based on the payment experience, which signifies that a seamless payment process is not just a convenience, but a powerful tool for client attraction and long-term retention.
Despite this high expectation, a striking 86% report experiencing some pain with their travel payments and 72% report having concerns over the security of their payment. The pain points experienced by ultra-luxury travelers, when making payments, include concerns about payment security, unexpected fees, exchange rate confusion, and the inability to use their preferred payment method, pay in their local currency, or use their preferred credit card. All in all, the report demonstrates a significant opportunity to improve payment to enhance the overall client experience.
Find out more:
- Discover more insights in Flywire’s full report, “Unlocking Ultra Luxury Travel in 2025”
- Find out more about how Flywire simplifies travel payments with local payment methods through a secure and easy payment experience
- Learn more about how Flywire helps simplify commission payment management for travel agents