Luxury Travel Magazine | Issue 80

Welcome to our 20 Year Anniversary Edition! Did you recognise our special issue cover star? It’s none other than InterContinental Hayman Island Resort and there are two reasons we’ve opted to give the much-loved Queenslander top billing. Firstly, and we think you’ll agree, she’s a true beauty. Secondly, and perhaps most significantly, it is a nostalgic return to our innocent early days: Hayman Island was the cover star of our debut issue back in 2000. It’s a pleasure to welcome the iconic resort back, both to our cover and to the luxury travel scene. Read more on Page 96.

Putting this magazine together is a constant source of inspiration for the Luxury Travel team. We are forever being wowed by the most unforgettable destinations and experiences – some we actually get to enjoy first-hand while others go straight to the to-do list.

This was the experience for me after we put our Autumn issue to bed earlier this year. The ‘Feed Your Senses’ cover featured a spectacular image of The Dolomites in Italy and as soon as I saw it, I knew I had to go. And I did. In fact, I stood in the exact spot the image was taken and it was everything I imagined it to be. No, better. You can read about the experience on Page 130. For me, after so many years, it is a thrill to know I can still be inspired by the journeys in our magazine. I hope you will be as well.

And we have plenty of them. To help us celebrate two decades in the game, our cover story this issue highlights 20 genuinely immersive experiences in luxury travel. Our feature writer, Madelin Tomelty, searched high and low for the once-in-a-lifetime experiences that would allow travellers to dive deeper. Contributing Editor Kate Symons takes a look at the rise and rise of wellness travel, and what’s next for the booming industry. We also head to Siem Reap, Alaska, New York, Vietnam and Tahiti, to name but a few.

I hope you enjoy the issue and thank you for flipping our pages.

Gary Allen | Publisher