Dubai

12 Great Reasons to Visit Dubai

Published April 18, 2022 | By Clark Norton

Back in 2003, during a round trip flight from New York to Bali, I had layovers in the Dubai International Airport in both directions. Located in the United Arab Emirates on the Arabian Peninsula, it’s a convenient stop between the East Coast of the U.S. (or Europe) and Southeast Asia.

Even then, the airport had a kind of fantasy-land feel to it, with the latest technologies and striking decor. It has since become the world’s busiest airport for international travelers, having served well over a billion passengers on more than 7 million flights.

Now, though, many of the passengers are leaving the airport to enjoy a vacation or long stopover in Dubai itself, which has taken the fantasy-land feel to new heights (literally). It’s become kind of a cross between Las Vegas (without the “sin city” element) and Disney World (without the humidity and mandatory high prices, though you can… Continue reading →

Posted in airports, Baby boomer travel, cultural travel, Middle East, Theme Parks, travel tips | Tagged Ain Dubai Ferris wheel, Al Bastakiya Quarter Dubai, Best Things to do in Dubai, Bollywood Dubai, Desert Safari Dubai, Dhow Cruise Dubai, Dubai, Dubai Museum of the Future, Dubai souks, Dubai travel, IMG Worlds of Adventure Dubai, Legoland Dubai, Madame Tussauds Dubai, Travel Guide to Dubai, View at the Palm Dubai | 5 Comments

Baby Boomer Travelers Develop Taste for the Exotic and Unusual

Published July 8, 2013 | By Clark Norton

Dubai’s Burj Al Arab — Often Voted the “World’s Most Luxurious Hotel”

When baby boomers travel, surveys show, they aren’t generally looking for familiar amenities – they’re looking for exotic (or at least different) foods, people and experiences that they can’t find at home.

In other words, the old “ugly American” stereotype of folks who will only eat hamburgers in France or who stare goggle-eyed at someone dressed a bit differently cannot be applied to most boomers. (Thank goodness.)

Furthermore, many baby boomers are sophisticated travelers who have journeyed abroad multiple times in their lives, both on vacation and on business. They long ago developed a taste for Thai food (very possibly in Thailand), have long since done the Eiffel Tower, Tower of London and the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and can speak authoritatively on the relative merits of the Spanish Costa Brava and the French Riviera.

I don’t like… Continue reading →

Posted in Baby boomer travel, Cities, Hotels, Luxury travel, Marketing | Tagged baby boomer marketing strategies, baby boomer travel, baby boomer travel trends, baby boomer travelers, baby boomers, baby boomers and tourism, boomers, Dubai, marketing baby boomer travel, selling travel to baby boomers, travel, travel marketing, traveling baby boomers | Leave a comment

According to government and private surveys:

Leading-edge baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1955) and seniors account for four out of every five dollars spent on luxury travel today.
Roughly half the consumer spending money in the U.S.--more than $2 trillion--is in the hands of leading-edge baby boomers and seniors.
Baby boomers (born 1946-1964) travel more than any other age group.
When asked what they would most like to spend their money on, baby boomers answered “travel” more than any other category, including improving their health or finances.