Travel Weekly Group’s luxury brand Aspire is to expand its portfolio and team as part of ambitious growth plans.
The brand’s print magazine will be published bi-monthly rather than quarterly in 2024, with two special editions and additional supplements also produced to support agents selling luxury travel.
The decision to increase the magazine’s frequency follows feedback from agents wanting more content dedicated to high-end travel and suppliers wanting additional opportunities to present their brand to luxury sellers.
To support the growth, Travel Weekly’s sister title is recruiting for two additional writers and a dedicated sales resource.
As part of the new team’s structure, Hollie-Rae Brader (pictured, right) will continue as Aspire editor and Erica Rich (left) has been promoted to deputy editor.
Brader said: “Our print publications continue to go from strength to strength and research carried out with our readers shows a huge desire for more luxury travel content.
“Aspire is at the heart of the luxury travel industry and our plans show that our dedication to the sector is completely unwavering.”
She added: “I’m delighted that Erica has been promoted to deputy – she is my righthand and so admired in the sector by the Aspire community. I’m excited for us both to lead Aspire into what promises to be a very exciting year.”
The brand’s events portfolio is also set to grow, as it looks to help facilitate more connections between agents and suppliers in the luxury sector. Annual conference Leaders of Luxury will remain a staple date in the travel calendar and will once again be held in June.
Overseas event The Retreat will be held twice in 2024 in two different destinations, highlighting its success since its inception in 2018, while in the UK, the team will deliver a minimum of seven Aspire Escapes events.
These intimate overnight networking events see 15 agents and 15 suppliers gather to strengthen their relationships.
Brader added: “Our events are hugely popular and something we take great pride in. This year’s Aspire Retreat has a waitlist of dozens of agents keen to take part, and our supplier slots fill out each year too – running two of these events will ensure we can offer more first-hand destination experiences to our partners.”