By Eric Hrubant, Founder & CEO of CIRE Travel
Happy New Year, fellow travelers! I’m kicking off 2025 with a new monthly article where I’ll share travel news and updates, what our expert team is working on, and maybe a few fun personal stories, as well. My very own fireside – or in this case, CIREside – chat! Please reach out to me with any questions or topics you’d like to see covered in future articles. Let’s dive in!
2024 was an incredible year for CIRE Travel. I’m so happy to announce that Iman Childs joined our vacation planning team, and Kipp Grover has joined to our corporate travel team. I’m also especially proud of Melissa Chaquea, who has become our new CLIA-certified cruise expert. When it comes to ocean cruises, river cruises, luxury yachts, or expedition cruises, Melissa is ready to curate and support all of our clients’ luxury trips.
On the personal front, I went on a few exceptional trips myself last year. I took my very first cruise on a Virgin Voyage with ASTA (the American Society of Travel Advisors) and it was a blast. Speaking of Virgin, I visited Necker Island, Sir Richard Branson’s private paradise in the British Virgin Islands. I even took a selfie with Branson himself! Speaking of a different “virgin,” I saw Madonna seven times last year on her Celebration tour! New York, Boston, Miami, Amsterdam, and more. Pretty epic! Speaking of epic, I wrapped up my year of travel in Toronto for a Taylor Swift show! What a year!
Where do you want to go on vacation in 2025? Need some inspiration? A client favorite seems to be Japan. We have a number of trips to Japan planned for our clients this year. Can you believe we actually have curated a luxury vacation to the Land of the Rising Sun without a stop in Tokyo?! I love it when we can focus on more unique getaways, far from the hustle and bustle. The Seto Inland Sea is a stunning destination. Coupling that with a few days in Kyoto, day trips to surrounding cities, and ending in Hakone for the hot springs make for an unforgettable 2025 excursion, don’t you think?
There is so much to look forward to this year when it comes to group travel. We love planning group travel and incentive trips for our clients ranging in size from 10 to 500 travelers. Once again, Mexico is the place to go! In the greater Cancun area, there are resorts to suit every group’s size and budget, each promising a vibrant escape filled with sunshine, relaxation, and thrilling adventures. Outside of Cancun, we also have a few 2025 events taking place in Cozumel, Oaxaca, and Merida.
Corporate travel was very strong in 2024 (we were up 15% over 2023), and we expect an even busier year ahead. We’ve onboarded several new accounts and have clients based around the world. Most of our clients are still headquartered in NYC, New England, and DC, but we have several new accounts based in Singapore, Abu Dhabi, and Addis Ababa.
There are many new luxury hotels opening in 2025. I’m most excited about The Lake Como EDITION Hotel. I was chatting with Stacey Colonna from Marriott Luxury Hotels, and she reminded me that this hotel will be the first luxury hotel in the area under the Marriott Luxury Group umbrella. EDITION’s on-trend aesthetic and gastronomic concepts will attract a new type of client that will elevate the already fabulous Lake Como.
Is it weird that I find myself anticipating the unveiling of Delta Airline’s new seats? Maybe, but we’re talking memory foam here! A new cabin interior with an updated design, colors, and mood lighting is also on the horizon. I mean, they will be “queuing hues” at mealtime that will recreate a candlelit dinner vibe! Red, white, or rose? It’s always Champagne for me! I just love Delta.
What’s on my personal travel list for 2025? Miraval Berkshires, SHA Wellness Mexico, and a longer trip to Italy with stops in Venice and Florence to see Auberge’s new luxury resort – Collegio alla Querce. And, of course, I always travel to see my favorite pop divas! The excitement is building for Kylie Minogue’s tour stop in NYC and Charlie XCX’s upcoming performance in Brooklyn. Trips. Are. Booked!
Until next month…all the best and safe travels!
Eric
CIRE Travel is a full-service travel agency headquartered in New York, NY. Our expert corporate travel planners, honeymoon travel agents, and luxury travel planners support clients across the country and around the world.