Travellers who look for authentic, personalised experiences and consumers with "limitless budgets" have been identified among the new trend setters emerging within the luxury travel market - according to a report by leisure consultants Horwarth HTL.

The report, The Future of Luxury Travel, was commissioned by the International Luxury Travel Market and highlights the most likely profiles of luxury travellers for the next 18 months.

The four profiles are:
• the Independent Minded - seeking the authentic, active and personalised
• the Explorer - seeking incredible experiences at limitless budgets
• Candidates to Luxury - seeking high quality, high service
• Streetwise Purchasers - younger, social media experts

Robert Hecker, Chairman of Horwath HTL said, "The report has been fascinating to produce because of the implications for travel in a post credit crunch environment. The high end of the market is often seen as the barometer for trends that will be picked up in other areas of the industry."

Travellers who fall into the "Independent Minded" segment seek authenticity, simplicity and a commitment to the local environment, paying greater interest in closer contact with local culture as an integral part of their travel experiences.

The Explorers are very similar but have even more spending power and so are ready to pay a higher price for that outstanding experience off the beaten tracks.

For Candidates to Luxury, time is tantamount and there is a need for all elements of their travel plans to work seamlessly.

Equally important for all three of these groups is the development of the personal relationships between luxury buyers and their clients - 'knowledge is power'.

Streetwise purchasers, meanwhile, increasingly utilise social media in their decision making process. These travellers are seeking value for money as well as a return on their personal values. For the full report, click here.