Hospitality leaders chart future of luxury travel at Riyadh event

The future of luxury travel lies in experiences that are “slow, small and special”, according to industry leaders speaking on a panel discussion at Tourise, a tourism event held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in November 2025. 

Speaking during the session, Sharan Pasricha, founder and Co-CEO of Ennismore, said the definition of luxury continues to evolve as travellers increasingly value meaning over material excess. “It’s no longer about show and extravagance, it’s about small moments, the ones you remember and can take with you,” he said.

Geoffrey Kent, founder and Chairman Emeritus of Abercrombie & Kent, agreed that modern luxury travellers seek deeper engagement with the destinations they visit. “They don’t want to sit and look, they want to participate,” he said. “They want to come back having done something.”

This desire to participate rather than observe is also influencing the pace of luxury travel. Once synonymous with opulence and excess, today’s luxury is defined by more meaningful connections and authentic experiences rooted in local culture.