The Monocle Minute

Hoping for a hint of the future, thousands of travel-industry executives descended on Marrakech last week for the experiential travel show Pure. The big question being asked in the halls of the Palais des Congrès was how to reimagine travel as something more conscious and valued, instead of the pre-packaged and taken-for-granted experience that it has become. Hoteliers, eco-lodge entrepreneurs, tour-operators and emerging destination delegations all talked about travel as a tonic but not all of the medicines on offer seemed to get the prescription right. Two very different worlds seem to be on offer – one that is secluded, gilded and privileged, and one in which travel is both a right and rite of passage. Given that everyone seemed united around the idea of tourism as transformative, it’s the latter that the industry should focus on.

Privacy has been a key buzzword. The promise of disconnection was pushed by a clutch of private islands, full-buy-out resorts, independent instructors and personal guides. Another was authenticity. Instead of serving as yet more social-media simulacra, hotels are tilting back to the simplicity of regional food in the kitchen, ancient traditions in the wellness spa and local stories told on excursions. More worrying, perhaps, was the candid admission that travel is merely escapism. “Guests want to be made to feel good,” said one off-the-record representative from a destination-management company.

A glimmer of optimism came from several properties founded on regenerative ideals, such as the Anavilhanas Jungle Lodge in the Brazilian Amazon or the Sol y Luna Hotel’s foundation in Peru’s Sacred Valley. Both champion transformative change, giving travellers a chance to contribute to surrounding communities while also striking a balance between peace, comfort and wonder.

Much of the industry is eager to find a better way forward, and not just for the biggest spenders. It should focus on the charm, passion and ventures that encourage travellers to connect with the world around them, not turn their backs on it. One thing that everyone at Pure seemed able to agree on is that nobody wants to go on a guilt trip.

Liam Aldous is Monocle’s Madrid correspondent. For more opinion, analysis and insight subscribe to Monocle today.

In a bold move to address the escalating housing crisis, the Greek government has announced a new initiative offering three-year tax breaks to homeowners who convert their short-term rentals into long-term leases. This measure is part of a broader strategy aimed at curbing soaring housing costs and alleviating the chronic shortage of rental properties in the country’s urban centres.

The rise of platforms such as Airbnb has contributed to the significantly reduced availability of long-term rental housing, driving up prices and putting pressure on residents, particularly in Athens and Thessaloniki. By incentivising property owners to switch from short-term tourist lets to longer-term leases, the government hopes to stabilise the market. The move comes as Greece grapples with a surge in tourism that has boosted the economy but has exacerbated the housing problem for many. The tax breaks are a start but for real change to happen, property owners currently enjoying quick profits will need significant incentives to change course.

Last week some 33,000 Boeing employees voted to go on strike, effectively halting the production of planes (including the bestselling 737 Max jet) at the aircraft maker’s factories in Renton and Everett, Washington state. At the centre of the dispute is a pay-rise deal that workers claim doesn’t go far enough to address years of stagnant wages and cuts. Also at play is the long troubled relationship between the company and its employees, some of whom have alleged that they were pressured to prioritise profits over safety.

It’s clear that Boeing needs a hard reset, not only in terms of its corporate culture but, crucially, in its relationship with those who actually build its planes too. Whether the company’s newly appointed CEO, Kelly Ortberg, can make the necessary changes remains to be seen – but Boeing’s chances of repairing its tattered reputation depend on it.

If you’ve ever wondered how cowhide or lambskin ends up as a pressed, coloured and treated final product for your fashion accessories, the family-run Nuti Ivo Group in Tuscany is the place to visit. Monocle travelled to Santa Croce sull’Arno to find out more about the craft and global ambitions of the company, which in May 2023 sold its majority stake to fashion behemoth LVMH.

To read thefull article, pick up a copy of Monocle’sSeptember issue, which is available online and on newsstands now.

We meet Dan Anton of London’s Lahpet to learn more about his most recent opening, Lahpet Larder, and talk about the appetite for Burmese cuisine. Also on the programme: we’re in Finland to meet the founder of Do Good Brew Co, who tells us about his mission to pair beer with fine dining. Plus: Monocle’s Tomos Lewis heads to Archestratus Books and Foods in Brooklyn, New York.