The faith-based tours are expected to debut in the first quarter, available to book for group travel only. 

The move comes on the heels of a strong year for the Italy specialist, prompting the tour operator to expand its product offerings. 

“This year was one of the best in the company’s history, and with that kind of growth comes new considerations,” said Perillo Tours COO Keith Baron, who was hired last month to expand the business in Italy and beyond. “We’re going to spend a lot of time focused on our group programs, in terms of enhancing and expanding our marketing and sales approach.” 

Steve Perillo, the third-generation owner of Perillo Tours, said the company hopes to expand faith-based tours to Israel in the future, after war ends. Egypt and Jordan are also being considered. 

For now, the company’s deep ties to Italy make the destination the best place to launch this new program.  

“We’re already going to the Vatican and Assisi, Padre Pio Sanctuary,” Perillo said, among other religious sites in the country. 

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“Choice has, once again, failed to address the major value gap and risks of their offer — which remains virtually unchanged from the terms outlined in their previous unsolicited proposal,” said Wyndham chairman Stephen Holmes. 

He cited “core issues” like the uncertainties tied to an extended regulatory review, the fact that the board views the offer as inadequate from a valuation standpoint and that Choice has shown disregard for what he described as “Wyndham’s superior, standalone growth prospects.”

Holmes also accused Choice of “repeatedly proposing illusory and unrealistic offers while making inconsistent and misleading public statements.”

Concurrently, Wyndham released a new presentation outlining the proposed deal’s antitrust risks on StayWyndham.com. 

Wyndham’s response comes after Choice Hotels’ launch of a hostile takeover attempt on Dec. 12. Choice announced that it had acquired an ownership position of roughly 1.5 million shares of Wyndham stock and was preparing to nominate candidates to Wyndham’s board of directors as well as starting the regulatory approval process.

Choice publicly disclosed its pursuit of Wyndham in mid-October, indicating a potential transaction value of approximately $8 billion.

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Making up for lost time was a big travel motivator that arose from the pandemic, but it is no longer the top reason to travel for a number of people, including families, according to industry surveys. 

Instead, simply making time to spend with family through more meaningful travel experiences, and in smaller groups, has become more prevalent in family bookings this year, with suppliers expecting these behaviors to grow in 2024.

Custom-travel specialist Audley Travel said 72% of its clients cited checking off long-awaited experiences from their bucket list as a top reason behind wanting to travel in 2022. That figure dropped to 36% in 2023.

According to a Deloitte 2023 holiday travel survey, travel motivated by time lost during the pandemic dropped seven points between the summer and the start of the holiday travel season at Thanksgiving, from 19% of respondents to 12%.

Meanwhile, the Family Travel Association’s 2023 study found that among the grandparents surveyed, the top motivation for taking a multigenerational trip was that it is a great way to bond as a family (76%), followed by enjoying spending extended time with grandchildren (63%). And 82% of survey respondents overall said that travel brings their family closer. 

New reasons for family travel

As these motivators take hold, so too have new family travel patterns. 

“I am seeing a lot of kids graduating from high school, their parents are about to be empty nesters and so a family of four, a family of six want a small, privatized group because they think this is their last chance to have these experiences,” said Christina Turrini, a Frosch Travel advisor based in Larkspur, Calif. “They want to make these memories last before the kids go off to college.”

Time with loved ones was the top travel motivator in the Deloitte survey, rising from 47% over the summer to 58% by the end of September, while celebrating personal milestones was the reason behind 24% of trips at Audley Travel this year. 

Celebration travel — trips centered around birthdays, graduations and other milestones — is on the rise among Tauck clients.

“We’re seeing an increasing number of families using our Tauck Bridges trips to mark milestone moments and celebrations, such as major birthdays and school graduations,” said Julia O’Brien, vice president of marketing for Tauck. “For many grandparents, it’s become a tradition to bring each grandchild on a Bridges trip when they reach that same milestone.”

Downsizing groups, upsizing fun 

Smaller group trips with immediate family members are more prevalent in 2023 bookings, advisors say, providing more intimate family bonding experiences than large family groups might offer. 

Trips between one parent or grandparent and their child or children, whether young or adult, are also growing in popularity.

“What I’m seeing is a lot of mother-son trips, which is really nice,” said Laurence Pinckney, CEO of ZenBiz Travel & Events in New York. “I have two or three of those trips right now — a son taking his partner and mother on a trip over Christmas.”

Luxury yacht and custom travel specialist Pelorus has noticed that children’s interests are leading the way when it comes to planning family trips, more so than in previous years.

As a result, education, adventure and more conscious travel experiences are at the center of those trips.

“I’ve finished the first of a three-year series of planned trips in which considerations guided by the children are based on what school topics they are studying, including foreign languages,” said Jimmy Carroll, co-founder of Pelorus.

The company is also seeing an uptick in families wanting to learn new skills — or upskilling — on trips, through experiences such as karate with a martial arts master in Japan.

Pinckney is also seeing more in multigenerational safari bookings. 

“This year, we have three or four families doing South Africa for Christmas and New Year’s, which is exciting because normally I book adults on those trips,” Pinckney said. “With kids, it’s a totally different curated experience. Family-friendly safaris are much more sensitive to how kids are, there’s more control over where you take them, like petting zoos and more cultural experiences.”

Hyper-personalization for large groups

Despite greater interest in smaller family trips, large, multigenerational family groups, which boomed once Covid-related travel restrictions lifted last year, remain popular.

And those larger groups are giving rise to the newer trend of group hyper-personalization. 

Pelorus co-founder Geordie Mackay-Lewis predicts that 2024 will see more effort made to meet everyone’s needs and interests on large family group trips, from the youngest to the oldest. 

“We see 2024 being the year family travel becomes all about hyper-personalization, really getting to know clients and their intent to the finite level to plan something no other family will experience and that is completely bespoke,” Mackay-Lewis said. “Time off is precious, and it needs to be spent on experiences and memories that will be treasured for a lifetime.”  

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Let’s file this one under “not surprising:” early indications point to Italy being the top international destination for U.S. travelers in 2024.

Europe, and Italy in particular, has enjoyed several blockbuster years, drawing tourists in droves as pandemic-era restrictions disappeared. And two new travel advisor surveys — one from First in Service (F1S), the other from American Marketing Group (AMG) — both put Italy in the top spot again for 2024.

“The ongoing desire among Americans to visit Italy simply can’t be overstated,” Fernando Gonzalez, CEO of F1S, said in a release. “It is as popular as ever.”

F1S advisors were asked in the survey to name the top three international locations they are booking for 2024. Italy was first with 46%, marking the third year in a row it was the top destination for F1S advisors’ clients.

Why is Italy so popular, though? 

F1S advisors have some theories: It’s often portrayed in films; it has both well-known and off-the-beaten-path destinations, making it an ideal spot for repeat visits; and it offers a mix of history, food, wine, cities and beaches, all in one destination.

Other top international destinations for 2024 include, in order of most popular, France, the U.K., Japan, Croatia, Greece and Spain.

Travel to Japan surged this past year, and that popularity appears to be continuing, Gonzalez noted. 

Alaska holds its own

AMG’s survey asked advisors for their top destinations, not just top international destinations, but only one domestic destination made it into the top five: Alaska at No. 2, just behind Italy. The list was rounded out by Greece, the Riviera Maya and Portugal.

“People’s sense of adventure has been awakened,” AMG chief marketing officer Nicole Mazza said in a release. “They’re hungry for far-flung international experiences. They want to spread their wings and try something they’ve never done, whether it’s a new place, new activity or new style of travel.”

With the popularity of countries like Italy soaring, alternative destinations have come to the forefront in recent years, as well. Oftentimes they are less crowded, especially at peak travel times in the summer, and sometimes they are less expensive, a draw for the more budget-conscious travelers.

Evidence that alternative destinations are on the rise appeared in the F1S survey. Croatia appeared on the list for the first time this year.

“It has emerged over the past decade as a prime alternative to Italy, thanks to its historic treasures like Dubrovnik and Split that are situated on the pristine Adriatic coast,” Gonzalez said.

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The trip will happen just one time, June 20-23. 

The three-night itinerary will take travelers through the French countryside to the Italian Riviera on an overnight journey, along with two nights in Portofino at Splendido, a Belmond Hotel. 

Onboard the luxury train, guests will be treated to a tasting menu by the train’s resident Michelin-starred chef Jean Imbert, who will curate a gastronomic experience inspired by the new route. 

Guests can also expect a continental breakfast served in their cabins as the train makes its way through Cannes, Nice and Monte Carlo along the French Riviera before crossing the Italian border. 

In Portofino, Imbert will join guests at Splendido for a five-course tasting menu at La Terrazza restaurant. There will also be a private film screening for guests in Portofino’s Piazzetta, the heart of the port town. 

Prices start at approximately $8,525 per person, based on double occupancy.

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The center will be led by Adrian Lopez, who is assuming the new role of head of AI for corporate. Lopez and his team will work to use AI for everything from customer experience to employee productivity.

“Adrian and his team will ensure the company is maximizing the potential around generative AI, while doing so effectively, responsibly and in alignment with its business objectives,” Flight Centre said.

Lopez was most recently FCM Digital’s global chief technology officer. In 2014, he co-founded corporate travel tool Sam. Flight Centre acquired Sam in 2019.

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A favorite of Fontainebleau Miami Beach architect Morris Lapidus, bowties are everywhere and easier to spot than right angles in all the glamorous, curvy spaces.

They’re on the carpet and tiles, utensils and glassware, even on the bottom of the dangling chandelier crystals of the Bleau Bar, the centerpiece of the casino and what is sure to be a popular spot for photos to post on social media.

What would the late Lapidus think of the shimmering $3.7 billion resort, which opened on Dec. 13?

“I think he would be thrilled. … tickled pink, or tickled blue,” said COO Colleen Birch, after leading members of the media on a quick tour less than a week from its opening.

Birch was reminded of a Lapidus quote: “If you create the stage setting and it is grand, everyone who enters will play their part.” And what a delightfully deco stage it is, from the majestic porte-cochere to the massive oval lobby with six artfully represented columns, from the serendipitously floral arrangements to the thought-provoking fine art. 

Wavy textures, creamy colors and other flourishes articulate specific spaces but also work in concert to convey a glamorous aesthetic. Steep escalators throughout the high-ceilinged casino provide peek-a-boo moments — glimpses that intrigue and engage guests. The steep escalators are practical, too, of course, helping guests limit their steps in what is a massive structure.

“Art, architecture and design are key components of our Fontainebleau culture and guest experience,” Fontainebleau Development president Brett Mufson said. “The caliber of artists that we have collaborated with to create never-before-seen pieces that will be talked-about for generations is unprecedented.”

At the southwest entrance is an interactive kinetic art sculpture, “Oceans” by Brooklyn-based Breakfast Studio.

Innovative spinning bricks called brixels compose the arch. Real-time data of ocean tides from around the world trigger its movements and transitions. The sculpture’s curve mimics the shape of the Fontainebleau Miami Beach, while its marble and brass-tinted steel are inspired by the design ethos of the iconic 1950s property.

Another massive piece of art, “Lovers #3” by Swiss artist Urs Fischer, dominates the south lobby. The 46-foot sculpture, crafted from aluminum, stainless steel and gold leaf, depicts two forms meeting, one balanced on top of the other.

“Lovers #3 is the connective tissue that draws together a vast body of clever work, oscillating between the absurd and the unfeigned,” Fischer said. “It’s tender and torrid, enveloping and invigorating us through myriad emotions that invite us back into a post-lockdown world, where we seek to connect with individuals, experiences, and objects that genuinely feed our psyche.”

Dining at Fontainebleau Las Vegas

Literally feeding guests in beautifully appointed restaurants is another Fountainebleau trademark.

David Grutman’s Papi Steak at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, like its original Miami location, blends Hollywood swagger with David “Papi” Einhorn’s modern sensibility to create a unique steakhouse. Lights and speakers are built into the walls to create a nightlife vibe.

Diners can order a “Beefcase,” an Australian wagyu tomahawk, first brought to the table raw in a gold case with diamonds. The meat is branded amid a presentation of lights, music and smoke, then cooked in the kitchen and plated.

Don’s Prime, another steakhouse, evokes midcentury glamour, with trolley carts, tableside service, pre-Prohibition cocktails and prestigious wines. Successively more intimate green-, blue- and red-accented rooms add to the allure. Mother Wolf, chef Evan Funke’s iteration of his L.A. spot, explores and conveys historic Italian cooking traditions and culture.

Bolstering the three dozen restaurants and lounges is the Promenade, a 600-seat food hall reminiscent of a European piazza, with coffee, bagels, burgers, tacos, sandwiches, omakase and Miami Slice pizza.

Collins, a bar adjacent to the lobby with a soundtrack of American classics and jazzy standards, is named after the avenue where Fontainebleau Miami Beach was built. The Nowhere bar and lounge is a reference to the iconic Lapidus-designed Stairway to Nowhere, a longtime spot for glamorously composed photos.

Fontainebleau has hired just under 5,800 employees to help guests bring that Lapidus-inspired “stage” to life.

“You saw the beauty of the resort,” Birch said. “But one of the things that we’ve invested a lot in is hiring and making sure that we get good fits, and then create a culture of collaboration and innovation. … If we do that with each other, we believe that will translate into the way that we service our guests. Our intention is that our members find out something about the guests, the guests maybe find out something about the member, and then there could just be conversations.” 

Guest service that goes beyond tourists’ typical transactional experiences is the goal, Birch said.

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Attendees can get up to 30% off flights to and from Dallas for the event, which will be held May 29 to 31 at the Hilton Anatole.

To take advantage of the offer, attendees should use the code ASTA2024 when booking. It is applicable for flights to and from Dallas Love Field from May 28 to June 1. 

ASTA last month rebranded its conference, which was previously known as the ASTA Global Convention. This year’s event will feature keynote speaker Venus Williams and new, tailored educational tracks for all levels of experience.

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Towering over the north part of the Strip, the 67-story resort features a 150,000-square-foot casino; 3,644 rooms and suites; three dozen restaurants and lounges; a two-level, 90,000-square-foot luxury retail area; a 55,000-square-foot spa; and 550,000 square feet of meetings and convention space.

Construction on the 25-acre site next to the Las Vegas Convention Center began in 2007, and the main structure was topped off in 2008. But several factors — the Great Recession, financing problems, ownership changes and the pandemic — delayed progress until 2021.

“With Fontainebleau Las Vegas, we have transcended aspiration and set the stage for a new era of luxury hospitality defined by innovation, sophistication, and opulence, with an inextricable link to our roots at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach,” Fontainebleau Development chairman and CEO Jeffrey Soffer said. “This building represents a remarkable new chapter in our storied legacy and will be a beacon for those seeking to indulge in the unforgettable.”

The top five floors of the tower will be Fontainebleau Fleur de Lis, a luxurious hotel-within-a-hotel concept with suites designed by the David Collins Studio.

The 50,000-square-foot LIV Las Vegas, a nightlife experience created by hospitality pioneer David Grutman of Groot Hospitality and the first expansion of the iconic LIV Miami Beach, will host DJ John Summit, Puerto Rican rapper Myke Towers and music producer Metro Boomin this weekend. 

Rapper, singer and songwriter Post Malone will perform on Dec. 30 and 31 at the 3,800-seat BleauLive Theater.

Self-parking is included in the resort fee for hotel guests, and all guests receive up to four hours of complimentary self-parking.

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And according to at least one industry analyst, the two sides are likely heading into battle. 

Robert Cole, Phocuswright’s senior research analyst for lodging and leisure travel, said both parties “intend to prevail.”

“I think Wyndham’s thinking that they can successfully fight it off,” Cole said. “While Choice is working to win the hearts and minds of the franchisees, the investment community and everybody else. I think it’s ultimately going to get fought out and basically become a decision by the creditors, because there are questions being raised about the amount of debt involved.”

Since October, Choice’s offer for Wyndham has remained unchanged, comprising $49.50 in cash and 0.324 shares of Choice common stock per Wyndham share. Shareholders have the flexibility to choose between cash, shares or a combination.

The offer is set to expire March 8, unless terms are extended or terminated.

“Wyndham is saying that they don’t think [the offer] is enough,” Cole said. “But Choice is saying that it’s above their current share price and that that seems fair, and so you have that sort of back-and-forth happening.”

But the major wild card, Cole contends, will be related to government approval.

“This could take forever when it comes to regulatory scrutiny,” he said. “And the question is whether the Federal Trade Commission is really going to say, ‘Hey, you guys are pretty big in the hospitality sector.’ But at the same time, if you look at things from a global scale, Choice and Wyndham aren’t the biggest players in terms of number of rooms. You can make arguments for both sides.”

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