Barcelona ranked as 6th the world’s top most popular cities in the 2019 Virtuoso® Luxe Report

Barcelona ranked 6th on this year’s Luxe Report list of Most Popular Cities category. Exploring new destinations is the prevailing travel motivator for 2019, followed by crossing off bucket-list items and seeking authentic experiences. Multigenerational travel continues to top the list of hottest trends for 2019, a position it has held every year but one since 2011. Adventure travel and river cruising rounded out the rest of the top three. The 2019 Virtuoso Luxe Report also revealed that ultra-personalization is trending with upscale travelers, as their requests illustrate the desire for a deeper level of customization and one-of-a-kind experiences. Social media is motivating them to find the most intriguing backdrops and book on-site photography sessions. Arriving in style, whether in a state-of-the-art first-class cabin or private helicopter, is growing in demand. Travelers are craving stays in unconventional accommodations such as monasteries, treehouses and igloos. People want to explore their passions while traveling through rare experiences such as attending world-class sporting events and private tours of museums. As well, travelers are expressing heightened interest in animal-related experiences, including direct interaction with them. A total of 1,071 travel advisors from Virtuoso-affiliated agencies globally were surveyed, drawing on their vast experience as well as client requests to provide insight into 2019’s hottest trends.