25Jul 2018 by Peter Bates
Discover the Unfamiliar Australian Coast of Margaret River

Discover the Unfamiliar Australian Coast of Margaret River

Luxury Beat
I rarely write about my own travel experiences in this space, preferring to discuss a topic of interest to all of us in the industry, to help set the agenda and stimulate conversation. But once in a while I visit a place so extraordinary that I want to share with as many colleagues as I can. So please indulge me as I recount a recent trip to an area that’s unfamiliar to most luxury travelers but deserves greater attention: the Margaret River region of Western Australia. I found its combination of scenery, surfing, and wine unique, and its unhurried yet sophisticated vibe utterly captivating.   I’ve been to Perth several times and have even made it up to Broome, the remote beach…
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10Jul 2018 by Peter Bates
The Everlasting, Indestructible, Unbreakable Industry

The Everlasting, Indestructible, Unbreakable Industry

Luxury Beat
For those of us in the travel industry, the 24-hour breaking-news cycle is a real stress-inducer. What terrorist attack, natural disaster, international crisis, or tweet-storm is going to be next? Will we see a wave of cancellations? How is it all going to affect our bottom lines? But after a particularly terrible string of events—I can just name-check the places, like Paris, Nice, Puerto Rico, or Hawaii, and you’ll know what I’m talking about—I’ve come to realize that the travel industry is much more resilient than it ever was. Something awful happens, a few people cancel or reroute their trips, occupancy rates drop... and then people start traveling again. Even if travelers temporarily steer clear of certain destinations, their appetite for travel per se is undiminished. They’re not afraid to…
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