China Leads Fora’s 2027 Hot List as Bookings Nearly Triple
Malta and Slovenia round out the top three, while a total solar eclipse over Luxor gives travelers a reason to plan an Egypt trip around Aug. 2.
Photo: Edward Zhu
A total solar eclipse over Luxor and a new nonstop to Slovenia give travelers two reasons to rethink their 2027 plans. But the biggest jump in Fora’s bookings came in China, where hotel reservations made by the agency’s U.S.-based advisors nearly tripled year over year. That put China at the top of Fora’s annual Hot List, ahead of Malta and Slovenia.
For its fifth annual Hot List, Fora introduced a Taste Index that weighs booking growth, advisor feedback, upscale and luxury hotel openings, and new nonstop routes from the United States. Hotel booking growth accounts for half the score and is measured against growth across the agency’s U.S. bookings. Feedback from 713 advisors accounts for another 35%. Egypt, Vietnam, Finland, Taiwan, Alaska, and the U.S. Virgin Islands’ St. Thomas and St. John complete the nine-destination list.
Hotel bookings in China rose 184% year over year. “It combines ancient culture, futuristic cities, spectacular landscapes, and an increasingly impressive hotel scene,” said Fora advisor Flavia Bottura. Recent Shanghai openings include Waldorf Astoria Shanghai Qiantan and Andaz Shanghai ITC. The country’s high-speed rail network gives advisors room to build itineraries beyond Beijing and Shanghai, with stops such as Hangzhou for its tea culture and West Lake or Chengdu for its panda sanctuaries.
Fora’s Malta bookings rose 129%, and Delta’s seasonal nonstop from New York–JFK makes a short stay more practical. The report highlights two historic hotels. Rosselli AX Privilege occupies a palazzo in the capital, Valletta, while The Xara Palace Relais & Châteaux is built into the walls of Mdina’s medieval citadel. Slovenia’s bookings grew 152% ahead of United’s planned Newark–Ljubljana nonstop in May 2027. Travelers can pair a few nights in the capital with hiking in the Julian Alps or wine tasting in Goriška Brda.
Egypt’s bookings rose 140%, and the Aug. 2 eclipse gives advisors a reason to start planning summer itineraries early. “The opportunity to experience a total solar eclipse in Luxor, alongside ancient temples and the Nile, adds an extraordinary reason to visit,” said Fora advisor Jelena Kaplan. Mandarin Oriental plans to relaunch the Winter Palace in Luxor and the Old Cataract in Aswan in July, ahead of the eclipse. On the river, recent additions include Abercrombie & Kent’s all-suite Nile Seray and AmaWaterways’ AmaNubia.
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Fora’s survey also found demand for trips with fewer stops: twenty-eight percent of respondents said clients wanted fewer destinations and a slower pace, while 7% reported clients taking shorter, more frequent trips. Some travelers are asking for recommendations beyond the properties that dominate their social feeds, and 13% of advisors cited avoiding overtouristed places as a priority. “They want to miss the crowds and instead discover somewhere that still feels special to them,” said Fora advisor Heather Farrington.
The report’s opening picks include Singita Elela, Singita’s first property in Botswana, slated to open in December with eight private camps in the Okavango Delta. Each has its own pool and a dedicated host who helps guests set their schedule, from game drives to guided bush walks. Fora also highlights Aman’s first yacht, the 47-suite Amangati, slated to launch in spring 2027 with Mediterranean and Caribbean sailings, and The Nell New York, expected to open in fall 2027 as Rockefeller Center’s first hotel.
Expedition cruising also makes Fora’s list of trends, with itineraries ranging from a week to more than three months. Seabourn’s first Pole to Pole Grand Expedition spans 94 days, from the High Arctic to Antarctica. Antarctica21’s new Magellan Discoverer will offer seven-night itineraries that fly travelers over the Drake Passage before they board.
