Today's travelers are looking for a journey with the purpose of having a special and original experience. Now, they are paying attention to independent luxury hotels that offer innovative ideas and high-quality hospitality. This new endeavor has had a strong impact on hotel chains and the travel industry around the world, becoming the source of the latest travel trends.

SLH (Small Luxury Hotels of the World), a group of over 520 independent luxury hotels, recently released an analysis and report on travel trends for 2020. Based on this report, we will pick up the latest travel trends in 2020 from a Premium Japan perspective.

Continuing from the first part, which explores today's most luxurious travel experiences, this second part explores the growing popularity of decentralized hotels, food trends that focus on local ingredients and traditional foods, and hidden gems to satisfy your curiosity about unknown cultures. We will introduce six hotels that offer special experiences to their guests from three destination perspectives.

1. The pleasure of traveling around the cities and towns you stay in. The choice of a “distributed hotel” that meets the needs of advanced travelers

The interests of advanced hotel and travel professionals who seek originality in their travels are not just about how to relax inside the hotel, but are also changing to the surrounding natural environment and community. A new type of hotel called a ``distributed hotel'' has given shape to what they were looking for. The concept is to spread out the facilities into several areas and enjoy your stay by touring the area.

``The General Kyoto'' is a dispersed hotel located in five locations in Kyoto City, including ``Takatsuji Fuyacho'' and ``Takatsuji Tominokoji.'' Each hotel's facilities, such as restaurants, bars, and gyms, and the interior design were designed by different artists, and you can freely travel between the five hotels and use the facilities at each of them while strolling around Kyoto. Each hotel will hold original workshops by Kyoto craftsmen and traditional bearers. It offers a valuable experience of experiencing life in the ancient capital that you cannot find in guidebooks.

Located in Méribel, one of France's leading ski resort areas, "Refuge de la Trey" forms a village consisting of scattered mountain cabin-style guest rooms, a farm, a church, a shepherd's hut, a spa, etc. It's a hotel that feels like Once you return from the ski resort by shuttle bus, you are free to enjoy the experience as you like. It's nice to spend time in a comfortable guest room with tasteful beams and elegant furniture. While admiring the spectacular scenery, you can also enjoy delicious Savoyard cuisine and Savoyard wine. Distributed hotels that integrate with local communities and cultures are likely to gain increasing attention in the future.

2. Healing and power from locally produced ingredients. Encounter with a “food experience” that makes your body happy

Eating local ingredients using traditional cooking methods and seasonings is one of the joys and purposes of traveling. In recent years, diets centered on plant-based foods, such as vegans and vegetarians, have become a trend around the world. Hotels that entertain guests with beautiful dishes that make full use of natural ingredients such as locally grown vegetables and herbs, and that satisfy both the eyes and the palate, have gained a high reputation. The use of herbs and vegetables is not limited to food, but is also used in spa treatments.

The Arima Hotel in Spain's Basque Country is located along the coast of San Sebastian, a gastronomic town that attracts foodies from all over the world. Surrounded by the Miramon Forest and in harmony with nature, the hotel's dining room offers a ``Vegetarian Tasting Course'' featuring a variety of locally grown fresh vegetables and herbs.

Anxi in southern Fujian Province is a teahouse known as the birthplace of Tieguanyin tea. ``Elite Spring Villas'' is a luxury resort that respects the Chinese culture that has been nurtured through history. Surrounded by rich nature, the hotel interior is filled with a calm atmosphere that makes you forget the hustle and bustle outside. At this hotel, you can not only taste the famous tea with your tongue, but also experience it with your skin by taking a bath. Taking a slow soak in a bath with your favorite tea is said to be effective in relieving stress and controlling blood pressure. I want to enjoy the special menu that can only be experienced here.

3. What we look for in unknown destinations is curiosity about unknown cultures.

In addition to the famous tourist spots that many tourists visit, there are unknown destinations around the world with attractive culture and nature. Let's introduce new travel destinations that you should pay attention to in 2020.

Bhutan, known as the ``happiest country in the world,'' has restrictions on the number of travelers who can travel to the country, so the country's unique culture and customs are preserved. There are luxury hotels like Ganthi Lodge introduced here that incorporate ethnic style but have modern facilities, allowing you to enjoy an elegant stay and the opportunity to experience rare culture. For example, morning prayers called Shedra, meditation lessons with lamas (an honorific title for monks) in a monastery built in the 17th century. Or take part in Bhutan's national sport of darts, which uses wooden arrows, at a nearby farm.

If you want to spend an elegant stay in a classic hotel with a vast view in front of you, why not consider Villa Geva, an elegant hideaway in Montenegro, a small country on the Balkan Peninsula. This city, with its beautiful contrast between the blue sea, green mountains, and red-roofed streets that seem to have stopped in time in the Middle Ages, is perfect for the luxurious needs of travelers who want to enjoy both an elegant stay and the exploration of history and culture. I'll answer without hesitation. A trip to the medieval fortified city of Kotor offers panoramic views of the Bay of Kotor and the Old Town, known as the hidden treasure of the Adriatic Sea. The spectacular scenery is sure to fill the hearts of travelers.

A trip to visit untouched nature and unknown, unexplored areas, and stay at a luxury hotel where you can fully enjoy the charm of the area. A premium trip that allows you to experience local culture, respect nature, and have heart-pounding experiences may be a journey that will change your life.

→2020 A premium hotel that will change your life (Part XNUMX)