Prepare for space travel and electric jets – futurist tells Travel Counsellors gathering

The glittering annual gathering of fast growing Travel Counsellors were told on Saturday embrace a future of space travel, longer experiential holidays and destinations affected by climate change.

Manchester-based applied futurist Tom Cheesewright told a 2,100 strong audience at Manchester Central that extended “grand tours” offering formative, globally connected experiences for children are likely to become more popular as workplace trends shift.

The author of recently published book See Inside The Future, Cheesewright said: “We’ll bend our careers around our desire to travel, working away, or taking short sabbaticals to gain new experiences.”

“With companies increasingly battling for the best talent and recognising the shift to more creative work driven by the adoption of AI, employers will be keen to support such endeavours.  And they will accept that a few weeks away is the price to pay for recharging the mental batteries of their most valuable staff.”

The founder of Pomona Partners also said holidays to space are predicted to be the top travel trend of the future.

“In the 1960s it cost £100,000 per kilogram to put something into orbit. Now it’s in the £00s, and companies are aiming to bring it down to around £10. This means that not only will it be cheaper to put satellites and structures into space, it will be cheaper to carry humans too. But, the costs involved- even if they’ve fallen by a factor of a hundred from now – will mean you’ll want it to be a luxurious, once in a lifetime experience,” he said.

Space travel will require some training to handle the G-forces, and while your actual time in space might only last a few spins around Earth, the whole process – from take-off to touch-down recovery – could be a multi-week trip. Seeing the sun rise over the curvature of Earth will take holiday experiences to a level that is truly out of this world.

Also on the agenda, he said, the holiday of the 2050s might be going analogue as people seek escape from being constantly connected via screens. True luxury will mean stepping away from tech and embracing the richness of human connections – the kind of genuine, personal care that no device can replicate.

Hotels where technology is hidden from view and real face to face connection may increase in popularity, he said. 

Holidays may likely be the perfect antidote to the relentless digital overload of both work and personal lives, underscoring how vital relationships are to our wellbeing. In a fast-paced, digital world, holidays of the future will remind us of the joy and meaning that real, undistracted connections can bring to our lives.

Cheesewright also predicted that by 2054, supersonic battery powered jets may take to the skies, offering premium long-haul travellers unparalleled speed and convenience. As battery technology doubles in capacity every 5-7 years, the 2050s will usher in fully electric passenger aircraft, reducing noise and emissions. 

The event also featured renowned celebrity host Vernon Kay who marked his triumphant 10th return appearance, as well as Tom Cheeswright’s forward looking pitch, the event featured its largest-ever line-up of external speakers including human rights award winner Lurata Lyon, Olympian and sports scientist Greg Whyte OBE, stress and wellness podcaster Alice Law, former Chief Business Officer of Google X Mo Gawdat, perfumer and entrepreneur Jo Malone CBE, G Adventures Founder Bruce Poon Tip, and entrepreneur Sara Davies MBE.

Additionally, performance poet Tony Walsh captivated the audience with a bespoke poem handcrafted for Travel Counsellors and its customers. The event also featured spectacular entertainment, with performances by the phenomenal Ibiza Symphony Orchestra, Ellie Sax, MadHen, Abba Revival, and Nile Rodgers, who delivered an intimate set and spoke to the audience on Sunday.

Speaking about future findings, Steve Byrne, CEO of Travel Counsellors, commented: “It’s exciting to envision the future of travel and the ways these advancements could transform our experiences. While technology plays a strong role in creating seamless, cutting-edge ways to discover the world, people’s desire to make the most of their leisure time, along with the need for authentic human connection, remains just as essential – both in the holiday experiences themselves and in the personal touch that travel professionals provide.”

“Holidays are a chance to create lasting memories, explore new locations and step outside our comfort zones. At Travel Counsellors, we’re dedicated to making these moments possible in our focus to deliver truly bespoke services, driven by our commitment to care and innovation.”

On the event itself, Byrne said: “Our success is rooted in the strength of our community and our commitment to caring for our people, our customers and our valued supplier partners through the bespoke travel experiences we create. By combining cutting-edge technology with the power of the personal, human touch, we’re empowering our community to grow, be the best they can be and make a lasting difference in the lives of others. Together, we are building a future and a community where meaningful connections and shared achievements are at the heart of everything we do which ultimately will drive our success.”