Luxury travel is almost impossible to pin down and define (thanks in part to the observation, tweeted by @SeabournCruise, that "choice is luxury,"), but Tweeters seem to agree that a common thread, from luxe-on-a-budget to experiential to traditional luxury, is service.
"Service above almost everything else," said Twitter influencer @LandLopers.
The discussion was part of the December #TWchats, Travel Weekly's monthly chat on Twitter. The chat, which was a wide-ranging discussion on luxury travel, drew more than 230 active participants and was led by co-hosts Seabourn, Abercrombie & Kent, Lufthansa, Four Seasons and Azamara Club Cruises' chief Larry Pimentel, along with editors of Travel Weekly and Travel Age West.
Service stories abounded
It ranged from little things. Literally, "Little things. Remembering how I take my coffee," tweeted @SarahSpagnolo. "People are thrilled by the simple act of somebody remembering their name," said Lufthansa. "It's the little things!"
To the big things. "Guests are always surprised by a BBQ lunch in Ngorongoro Crater or a champagne toast on an iceberg in Antarctica," said Abercrombie & Kent.
There were several lengthy tweet threads, including one about a Sandals butler who recreated a sandy setting on a guest's balcony after rain thwarted his plan to propose on the beach.
At the @fairmontcopley "You get workout clothes and shoes so you don't have to bring" said @TzellTravel.
Co-host @SeabournCruise tweeted a quote from #DannyMeyer. "Service is what you do. Hospitality is how your guest feels."
The splurge
A fun question for Tweeters was what to "splurge" on. And the answers were as varied as the definition of a luxury vacation.
"Fine wine in a great setting...with my wife! The luxury of time together is priceless!" @larrypimentel
"Hands down the spa is my biggest splurge followed by a private poolside cabana" @cruisebuzz
"Will always splurge on the best scholars/guides/expedition leaders. Their insider's access will make or break a trip" @JeanNewmanGlock
"Cruise cabin upgrade" @CharlesMcCool
"I'm willing to pay for a spa treatment and on cruises a lot of times there are great deals on the last day." @CruiseSource
"I'm pretty tall so definitely splurge on legroom whenever possible! in-flight, etc." @HomeAway_Adam
"@AKTravel_USA Speaking from experience, your mobile tented camp safaris are soooo worth the splurge!" @E_Scal
"I think I will always splurge on a great program for my child, too." @producergirl
Frequent contributor @la_vacationista tweeted an important agent maxim. "The key for me is to find out what my clients' definition of luxury is."
And she caught Royal Caribbean's attention when she added: "A top-tier suite on a @RoyalCaribbean ship maybe?"
The line responded: "Sounds good to us!"
Participants included co-host @CruiseBuzz, who was tweeeting live from a @VikingCruises holiday cruise in Europe, and @TWrtobin and @JJainchillTW, Travel Weekly editors who were tweeting from the Four Seasons New York, aka @FSnewyork.