Virtuoso Travellers Looking at North America and Europe for Fall

Europe is holding its own, but many high-end Canadian travellers are staying closer to home this fall.

Virtuoso has drawn upon its extensive network of travel advisors, preferred partners and high-net-worth clientele across Canada to determine what's new and next in luxury travel. Virtuoso based its findings on USD$80 billion in transactions and an ongoing series of surveys.

Top Fall 2024 Destinations for Canadian Travellers

  1. United States
  2. Italy
  3. France
  4. Canada
  5. Japan

Canadian luxury leisure travellers said beach getaways and city adventures are atop their list for the upcoming fall and festive seasons. Canadians also enjoy exploring their own country, as staycations surpassed cruise holidays.

  1. Beach (53%)
  2. Exploring a city (49%)
  3. Foodie/culinary adventure (21%)
  4. Staycation (20%)
  5. Cruise (18%)
  6. Museum/historic tour (18%)

Relax, Rejuvenate and Repeat

Canadians prioritize fulfilling their mental and emotional needs through travel, focusing on joy and happiness (70%), mental reset (58%) and curiosity and exploration (52%). Secondary motivations vary based on travel companions: couples often choose romantic getaways, families with adult children favour nature and eco-tourism, and trips with extended family or friends are celebratory or adventurous. Overall, 72% of Canadians continue to take leisure trips primarily to relax and disconnect, a trend unchanged since 2023.

Virtuoso Canadian Travellers Set the Bar High

Canadians travel longer and spend more than the average traveller, which is why they highly value the expertise of professional travel advisors.

  • Travellers who use Virtuoso advisors plan to spend twice as much as travellers who use non-Virtuoso advisors and three times more than do-it-yourself planners.
  • Virtuoso-advised travellers are expected to spend an average of 14 nights at hotels in 2024 vs. 12 nights in 2023. That's 50% longer than non-Virtuoso-advised travellers and a 16% increase year-over-year.
  • Virtuoso travellers spend an average of 21 nights on cruises, three times more than the number of nights spent by non-Virtuoso travellers.

For more information on Virtuoso, visit www.virtuoso.com.

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Jim Byers

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Jim Byers is a freelance travel writer based in Toronto. He was formerly travel editor at the Toronto Star and now writes for a variety of publications in Canada and around the world. He's also a regular guest on CBC, CTV News, Global News and other television and radio networks.