Travel/Tourism
4 Reasons Why Luxury Travel is Heating up in 2023
Trends indicate that luxury travel and tourism around the world will see considerable growth from 2023 onwards. This is both local but predominantly international travellers with a sense of adventure who look to explore new sights with the addition of added pampering, care and all the finishings. Research shows that, globally, travellers are keen to spend more on trips than ever before due to a long period in which no travel was possible.
Interestingly, it’s not only well-heeled executives and the like looking for luxury travel. Trends indicate that middle-class travellers are increasingly interested in spending more money on travel as they carve out itineraries that lean towards ‘premium leisure’. This explains why some of them are interested to know Bronx Zoo tickets prices.
To unpack this phenomenon more, Shaun Wheeler of the newly opened Radisson Blu Mosi-Oa-Tunya, Livingstone Resort, Zambia, gives insight into why this type of travel is back in demand.
Long, luxurious stays
Entrepreneurs, executives and leaders at the top of their industries are increasingly opting for longer self-care holidays that include not only holistic attention to body, mind and spirit but also experiences that allow guests to dive deeper into a destination.
“Guests no longer want a quick in-and-out holiday,” notes Wheeler. “They want to stay for longer so they can truly enjoy their downtime in a destination. And a hotel such as ours is perfectly positioned to meet these needs. Not only do guests of Radisson Blu Mosi-Oa-Tunya, Livingstone Resort get to enjoy the resort itself, but we are located close to some of the top attractions in Zambia, such as Victoria Falls and the historic city of Livingstone, making it easy for guests to see the best that the country has to offer during their stay.”
Complete disconnection
Life is busy enough, and those opting for a luxury holiday want to feel as though they are far away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Wheeler explains: “Luxury holidays are increasingly popular. This type of break allows guests to disconnect from everyday life. At a luxury resort or hotel, guests are able to choose from a range of activities that will almost force them to disconnect from the pressures of the day-to-day. For example, we give guests a chance to immerse themselves in unique on and off-the-river adventure activities, from Victoria Falls bridge activities, water rafting, canoeing and game drives to helicopter rides, river cruises and more.”
Five-star experiences away from the crowds
As a result of the pandemic, travellers are considering options they haven’t looked at before – and tending towards remote destinations away from the madding crowds and destinations that they have all seen before.
“Unless you’re visiting specifically to see Victoria Falls, Zambia is still a rather niche destination for many global travellers,” says Wheeler. “This is all good news for exclusive resorts such as ours. Unless you live in Southern Africa, Zambia can feel a bit exotic for your everyday Western traveller who might have a different idea of the country in mind before they get here. Once here, however, and once they experience our resort, they see that this is luxury travel at its finest. You are able to enjoy a holiday here and feel as though you are in an undiscovered location.”
It’s about doing something different
In a world where everyone has London and New York City on their ’must-see ‘ lists, there’s something to be said for those who venture to uncommon destinations. And luxury travellers know this. Being able to say that you’ve been to a top destination that is almost a best-kept secret makes travellers feel as though they are part of an exclusive club.
Wheeler concludes: “While luxury travel is about enjoying the finer things in life, it’s also great to be able to say we’ve been somewhere our friends and family have not. And what better location than a top luxury resort in Zambia? Not only do visitors get that five-star treatment, but they get to snap the Instagram photos their friends don’t have, and they get the bragging rights, too!”
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
About 14.12 per cent stake in Ikeja Hotel Plc has been acquired by Honeywell Group Limited, a notice on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited has revealed.
Honeywell Group took up the part of the hospitality firm through one of its affiliates known as HGL Real Estate Limited.
Ikeja Hotel, in the disclosure filed with the NGX on July 2, 2026, said the stake comprised 305,323,525 units of its equities.
“Ikeja Hotel hereby notifies the Nigerian Exchange Limited and the general public that it has received notification from HGL Real Estate Limited, an affiliate of Honeywell Group Limited, that it has acquired 305,323,525 units of Ikeja Hotel Plc’s shares, representing 14.12 per cent shareholding in the company,” the notice stated.
Ikeja Hotel is one of Nigeria’s leading hospitality investment and hotel management companies with premium hospitality assets.
It operates two leading hospitality organisations in Lagos, the Sheraton Lagos Hotel and Balmoral Convention Centre.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
About 10 hospitality establishments, including hotels and restaurants, were sealed on Wednesday by officials of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA).
The affected businesses are located in different locations in the Alimosho Local Government Area of the metropolis, Business Post learned from a statement from the agency.
It was stated that they were sealed by LASEPA for persistent violations of environmental regulations despite repeated warnings, abatement notices, and several opportunities to comply with the agency’s directives.
According to the notice, the enforcement exercise was carried out in line with the directives of the Lagos State government to ensure strict compliance with environmental laws and to safeguard public health.
The affected facilities were said to have breached various environmental regulations, including noise pollution, air pollution, unlawful discharge of untreated effluent, obstruction of official duties, among others.
LASEPA closed the premises of Granduer Meridian at Obasa Akiniyi Street, Oluwaga, Ipaja for non-compliance with the agency’s directives; Lasola (Spazio Bar), located on Ipaja Road, Fatolu Bus Stop, Ipaja, was sealed for noise pollution and non-compliance with directives; Millennium Restaurant, located at Gate Bus Stop, Ipaja, Ayobo, was shut down for non-compliance with directives; O2 Exquisite Suites & Tower on Jimoh Akinremi Street, Jimoh Bus Stop, Akowonjo, was sealed for non-compliance with directives; and Chirozz Hotel & Suites, located on Samuel Street, Akowonjo, by Vulcanizer Bus Stop, Egbeda, was closed for noise pollution and non-compliance with directives.
In addition, House 7 Hotel, located at Remi Akande Street, Egbeda, was sealed for non-compliance with LASEPA’s directives; House 48 on Isiba Oluwo Street, Egbeda, was sealed for non-compliance with directives; Exclusive Hotel, located at Ishan Kimishe, Akesan Bus Stop, was shut down by non-compliance with directives; Sabola Ventures Limited, Iocated at Km 11, LASU–Isheri Road, Igando, was shut down for operating without evidence of an Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP), and discharging untreated effluent into public drains; and City Int’l Motel, located at Chief Olu-Adegbite Street, off Oladun Street, Council Bus Stop, Idimu, was sealed for non-compliance with directives.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Emirates has become the first airline cargo carrier to deploy the Boeing 777-300ERSF passenger-to-freighter converted aircraft.
The aircraft (A6-EBK) will enter commercial service with a flight from Hong Kong to Dubai carrying over 100 tonnes of cargo, a statement from the airline operator stated.
The converted Emirates Boeing 777-300ERSF offers 100 tonnes of payload capacity and 811 m³ of cargo volume, representing a 25 per cent increase in cargo volume over the Boeing 777-F production freighter.
At 47 pallet positions, the converted aircraft also accommodates 10 additional pallet positions when compared with the Boeing 777-F production freighter, making it ideal for transporting volumetric cargo such as e-commerce goods, which currently constitute around 20 per cent of global air cargo tonnage with further growth projected in the next few years.
The converted Boeing 777-300ERSF is the sixth new freighter, following five Boeing 777-F production freighters, to join Emirates SkyCargo’s fleet since March 2026.
As part of its ambitious expansion strategy, Emirates SkyCargo will also be taking delivery of five additional Boeing 777-F aircraft as well as one additional converted Boeing 777-300ERSF by December 2026.
Emirates SkyCargo will also be introducing three additional converted Boeing 777-ERSFs into its fleet in 2027.
“The induction of the first converted Emirates Boeing 777-300ERSF into operational service represents the next step in the expansion of our fleet and operational agility.
“We are optimising our fleet assets by converting older Boeing 777-300ER passenger aircraft to meet the growing demand for air cargo capacity to transport goods rapidly across the world,” Emirates SkyCargo’s Divisional Senior Vice President, Badr Abbas, commented.
“Combined with our growing fleet of Boeing 777-F production freighters, we have already been able to scale our global freighter network from just over 40 destinations in February this year to 62 destinations currently and growing.
“We are providing our global customers with scalable cargo capacity and ultimate flexibility and connectivity when moving cargo to and through our hub in Dubai,” Abbas added.
