Gabriela Markova can look back on more than 18 years of experience in the travel industry. Now she has started her own project: Luxury Bloc, a luxury fair for Eastern and Central Europe.
What is the idea behind the Luxury Bloc?
The idea behind the show is to connect top luxury suppliers with the best travel advisors in the region. We want to inspire our top travel advisors with new, refreshing ideas and tips for destinations, foster new partnerships and connections, and strengthen direct business.
How to become part of the Luxury Bloc?
It is very easy for suppliers to send an application through our website. Due to high interest in participating and the limited capacity of the show, we had to set a cap for certain regions. As for Hosted Buyers, we send personal invitations to selected consultants. We know the market very well (due our trade representation company GM Selection) and we invite travel advisors, rather than sending invitations to agencies and leaving it up to them to select an attendee. We adhere to strict criteria, including spending potential, means of travel, and overall match.
What do you think the travel trends of the future are?
The CEE region is not as homogeneous as other markets. While one part of the region is more dedicated to the adventurous and experiential way of traveling, others still focus on the classic beach vacation (albeit at the highest level). We see the wellness trend gaining popularity, from local and regional resorts investing in spa and wellness areas to internationally renowned retreats and clinics, and from the well-known SHA Wellness Clinic in Spain to the epic JOALI BEING, which opened in the Maldives a year ago. We are also seeing interest in luxury cruises in the region increase.
Reading Tip: Why luxury cruises are back in 2023
Why luxury travel?
Nun… definieren Sie Luxury. Luxusreisen können eine luxuriöse Suite oder Villa sein, tadelloser Service, atemberaubende Erlebnisse oder Aktivitäten, echte Abenteuer, aber auch Zeit mit den Liebsten, ein Abendessen zu zweit mit besonderer Aussicht oder ein entspannendes Wellness-Retreat für Alleinreisende….Denn es ist in jeder Hinsicht das Beste. Und davon gibt es viele. Und wir wollen sie alle ansprechen.
Do you have any particular goals for the future?
To be happy and continue doing what we love. I want to grow our team, and as everyone knows, it's hard to find good people these days. Where has everyone gone?
What are your next projects?
I have a million ideas in my head and not enough time. My main focus now is on GM Selection, we represent a very niche portfolio in the European market, especially in the DACH, CEE and Southern European region. We have just set up a PR and communications company covering the whole CEE region, and in between we organize and support various group roadshows in the three markets. Luxury Bloc will take place for the 4th time this year and we already have some great participants.
And where do you prefer to travel to?
Barcelona. I love this city and we would love to move there in the future. As for vacations, I love everything that has to do with history and can't wait until my daughter is old enough to go exploring with me.
Meine letzte lebensverändernde Erfahrung war eine Polarexpedition nach Spitzbergen. Ich mag Kälte und Winter im Allgemeinen nicht und hatte nicht erwartet, dass mich dieser Ort so sehr in Anspruch nehmen würde, wie er es tat, und es war absolut überwältigend. Eine weitere umwerfende Erfahrung war eine Übernachtung in Sambia. Ich bin ein klassisches Stadtmädchen, allergisch gegen Moskitos und fühle mich im “Betondschungel” wohler als im afrikanischen Busch. Aber wenn Sie noch nie eine Nacht unter dem afrikanischen Himmel verbracht haben, dann haben Sie etwas verpasst, denn das ist ein ultimatives Erlebnis für die Bucket-List, das Sie lieber früher als später planen sollten.
If you had to determine the most important must-have luxury piece in your life, what would it be?
My Time. Balancing running 3 businesses/projects and having a 5 year old requires skillful time management, so taking some time for a good book every now and then is my ultimate luxury.
