7 Reasons Why Villas Are the Go-To Accommodation for Celebratory Group Travel
When it comes to celebrating life’s special moments — whether it’s a birthday, a wedding, an anniversary, a family reunion, or any other milestone — villas are becoming the go-to accommodation for group travelers. Offering unparalleled privacy, expansive living spaces, and the freedom to customize every detail, villas provide a luxurious and intimate setting that is perfect for creating unforgettable memories together.
Here are seven features about villas for travel advisors to know so they can effectively sell this experience to clients looking to make their gatherings around the globe truly special.
1. All together now
Unlike traditional hotels, villas allow groups to stay under one roof, fostering togetherness while still offering plenty of room for relaxation and personal space.
“The best thing about a villa is all of the common space that allows for all of the celebrations and special moments that traveling with friends and family brings, but having your own bedroom to retreat to if you need some space for a few minutes of quiet,” says Landa Mauriello-Vernon, owner of Memorable Moments Travel, an affiliate of Largay Travel and a Virtuoso agency.
2. Just the way they like it with customized experiences
Villa properties are especially adept at catering to guests for milestone celebrations, offering special event planning services and highly customized experiences.
“Just imagine your private chef creating a menu for your milestone birthday right at your villa … the party starts from the moment you come out of your room to the moment you decide to depart, with every single detail planned exactly as you wish,” suggests Mauriello-Vernon “Or, you are having a special weekend with your girlfriends, and we can create a spa day experience right there on the patio of your private pool. Or, a romantic sunset cruise where the anniversary couple renews their vows and comes back to the villa for dinner and dancing … anything is possible.”
Mark Gerling, owner, Gerling Travel, gives this example of a villa stay he arranged for a group client, filled with customized elements: “We booked a lovely nine-bedroom villa for a husband surprising his wife for her 40th birthday in the Dominican Republic, where he invited friends to join them. The cool part was some came for three or four days, while others did four or five nights. He hosted the party over the night he knew he had everyone in attendance. They had a catered function with great food by a local chef, a DJ for some good music, and lots of libations. They booked golf, spa, and beach time during the week, all done by the villa concierge, including transfers to and from the airport, and local club scene reservations. It was this same client’s third villa rental in three different locations, all with a similar twist.”
3. Privacy for multigen gatherings
Villas provide a more intimate and personalized experience for multigenerational gatherings like family reunions and anniversary celebrations.
“Having booked some multigen clients for this exact reason, I can tell you that a family with adult kids and no grandchildren finds a villa setting much more desirable,” recounts Gerling. “For affluent families, it provides a luxury setting, almost always in a tranquil location where good quality time can mix with family business chats.”
Mauriello-Vernon agrees with booking a villa for a multigen gathering: “Think of a villa as your own private hotel. You don’t have to worry about other people crashing your party or getting in your way. You want music at the pool? It’s your music. The kids want to jump and splash … that’s ok. There are villas with pools, direct access to the ocean, game rooms … even bowling alleys! There is something for everyone!”
4. Caribbean, Europe … and beyond
While the Caribbean and Europe may be the most popular destinations for villa stays, one-of-a-kind villa properties can be found around the world.
In the Caribbean, travelers may opt for a beach vacation in Turks & Caicos, Jamaica, or Mexico; a couple’s retreat in St. Lucia; or a golf trip in the Dominican Republic. In Europe, picture-perfect surroundings and authentic accommodations include charming Tuscan farmhouses, chic Parisian apartments, whitewashed Grecian hideaways, and more. In the U.S., a villa dream getaway might be mountain living in Colorado or a family-friendly escape in Florida.
More far-flung destinations with spectacular villa accommodations include French Polynesia, Brazil, South Africa, Tanzania, British Columbia, Japan, Thailand, Costa Rica, and Panama. Basically, wherever a traveler wants to venture to, a unique villa option is likely available.
5. From a beach getaway to a city escape
Over the past decade, villa options have sprung up in the most sought-after places around the globe. Whether it is a beach getaway or an action-packed city escape, one thing is certain: villas offer an uncommon stay providing a live-like-a-local experience that traditional hotels and resorts simply cannot match.
Gerling offers this advice about choosing the right villa for clients planning a special occasion trip: “The most important aspect for a villa location is really understanding what type of environment your client wants. Assuming tropical and beachy is the answer, only to realize they really needed to be inside a resort setting for more activities was their true need.”
Some resorts even offer villa accommodations within their grounds. So the trick is to ask all the right questions of clients in order to ferret out their most heartfelt desires and expectations for their special trip. Only then can the most appropriate and satisfying match be made.
6. Perfect for groups needing multiple rooms
The most obvious fit for a villa stay is when a client needs multiple rooms for a group travel experience. The best villas provide common space for gatherings and amenities like pools, private gyms, games rooms, yoga studios, and even entertainment theaters. But the five-star experience also includes private spaces where guests can retreat whenever they wish.
“Selling villas usually presents itself when people talk about wanting to spend time together and need multiple bedrooms,” says Mauriello-Vernon. “If they have the time, as we usually need a week-long commitment, it’s an easy proposition.”
7. A reliable partner does the vetting
Staying in close touch with a villas partner that has boots on the ground in key locations around the globe is critical when recommending this type of accommodation.
“Have a good reliable partner that has reputable villas and management in the locations,” recommends Gerling. “Do not confuse a true luxury villa rental with the likes of Airbnb. There is a difference. Know what your clients really want for their villa destination. Beach, isolated, resort setting, city, mountains, etc.”
With an established villas partner, advisors always have someone to call on for suggestions and support during the planning stages, as well as while guests are on location throughout their holiday.
What’s not to love?
For celebratory travel, villas offer a distinctive experience. With privacy, luxury, spacious outdoor areas that are ideal for gatherings, bespoke dining experiences with private chefs, customization and curated itineraries, all in a home-away-from-home exclusive escape, villas are designed to make every travel occasion extraordinary.
Mauriello-Vernon’s comment says it all about selling the villa experience: “If you can truly paint the picture of a beautiful villa with amazing staff that adds to your client’s trip, it’s an easy sell. It’s your client’s opportunity to have the space they crave in a location they desire ─ and be treated like royalty. What’s not to love about that?”
FROM THE SPONSOR:
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