In the run-up to MASTERS SUMMER EXPO, MASTERS speaks to various remarkable companies that are making their mark on the event. This week: Harco van Uden from ExperienceTravel, on the latest travel trends, the shift from vacations to experiences, and why reserving sunbeds with towels seems to be a thing of the past for good.
Looking ahead to the coming period: what are the three most visible trends within the travel sector?
“Looking ahead to the coming period, I see that unique experiences are by far the top priority. It is no longer just about the destination, but about what you experience there together. Think of a safari where you experience wildlife up close, or an expedition to Antarctica to see penguins in their natural habitat. In addition, gastronomy plays an increasingly important role, with dinners at unique and often exclusive locations. We also see that people are traveling together more often, with family, friends, or colleagues, for example to Lapland, to play golf or attend a special event.”
Do you see that this development also translates into different behavior towards the summer?
In the summer, we clearly see a shift: people are opting for vacations more often than for extensive, well-planned trips. What stands out is that they wait longer to book. They take more time to weigh their choices and only want to commit when everything is exactly to their liking.
What are people looking for most right now when planning a trip?
“Today, customers are primarily looking for certainty, safety, and flexibility. They want to feel that everything is well organized, without worries. At the same time, they seek enrichment: a trip must add something, inspire, and be memorable. That combination of unburdening and experience has become essential.”
If you take that to its logical conclusion: what really doesn't fit this summer anymore, and what actually does?
What really no longer suits the modern traveler this summer is the idea of lying on a towel all day without any further activity. Of course, relaxation can be part of a trip, but it is no longer the main goal. What is central, however, is sharing unique experiences and collecting memories that will stay with you for a lifetime.
What really doesn't fit anymore this summer is lying on a towel all day.
What does Brabant mean to you?
Brabant is home to me. It is the place where people are open, warm, and sociable. An environment where you quickly feel at ease and where life is just a little more easygoing.
What are you personally looking forward to the most this summer?
My ultimate summer consists of a special trip with my family to Peru and the Galapagos Islands. Discovering new places together and making memories that will stay with us forever—that is what it is all about for me.
What do you hope visitors to MASTERS SUMMER EXPO will come to discover or experience at your venue?
I hope that visitors experience that we are genuinely proud to help them fill their free time. That they notice that our approach goes beyond expectations, and that they ultimately look back on a trip that was arranged down to the last detail and that they will never forget.
MASTERS SUMMER EXPO
MASTERS SUMMER EXPO is the summer sister of MASTERS EXPO. In June, The Duke Business Club in Nistelrode transforms into an exclusive summer paradise. Amidst the lush Brabant countryside, golf, gastronomy, and good times come together for four days. Inside the stylish clubhouse and outside on the sun-drenched terraces, grounds, and the beautiful golf course, a unique atmosphere of relaxation and inspiration emerges. It is an environment where entrepreneurship and Brabant conviviality effortlessly blend with sport, where wonderful encounters are formed at the table, in the suites, lounges, at the bar, on the green, and over a drink. Where you come not just to network, but to experience. By invitation only.