Where do top travel and tourism bosses REALLY want to visit?

The world is your oyster – so, where will you venture to next?

Here the top travel and tourism bosses help us come up with a shortlist of dream destinations for 2020…

Sacred serenity: Mount Fuji in Japan

California

Joe Thompson, MD, Virgin Holidays

I can’t get enough of classic road trips on the U.S. West Coast — combining incredible cities (LA, San Francisco, Las Vegas), amazing coastlines (Big Sur) and thrilling landscapes (Yosemite, Grand Canyon).

Who goes there? People looking for a sense of adventure.

Any tips? If you’re suffering from jetlag, a great trick is to head to the theme parks when you wake up early and avoid the queues.

How to do it: I fly with Virgin Atlantic, of course, and stay at the new Virgin Hotel in San Francisco, which opened last February. Rooms from about £197 per night for two people (virginholidays.co.uk). Virgin Holidays has other deals to San Francisco from £689 pp for five nights.

Japan

Debbie Marshall, founder of silvertraveladvisor.com

Japan is an amazing country in every way; the food, culture, scenery, the temples, the history, the public transport and the warmth and friendliness of everyone you meet, despite the language barrier. A sensory overload.

Who goes there? Experienced travellers of all kinds.

Any tips? Listen out for the announcements in small villages at 7am telling everyone to get out of bed.

How to do it: Great Rail Journeys (greatrail.com) has a 13-day tour exploring Japan by rail from £3,995 pp, including return flights and hotels.

Sicily

Sir Rocco Forte, chairman, Rocco Forte Hotels

I find it difficult to holiday in one of my own hotels but within a few days, Verdura makes me completely relaxed. For a family, there is plenty for everyone to see and do within a half hour’s drive, from the Greek Temples of Agrigento and Selinunte to Caltabellotta with its Norman church perched up in the hills above Verdura.

Who goes there? People who just want to relax.

Any tips? Visit Mazara del Vallo, the Phoenician fishing port where wonderful prawns come from.

How to do it: British Airways Holidays (britishairways.com) has seven-night deals to Verdura, including flights, from about £1,080 pp in June.

St Lucia

Dana Dunne, chief executive officer, Opodo

We keep returning to this lush Caribbean island because of the amazing beaches, mountains, and the lovely local people.

Who goes there? It’s great for families and people who love activities, adventure and being surrounded by nature.

Any tips? ‘Green Figs and Salt Fish’ is the local dish and everyone must try it.

How to do it: First Choice (firstchoice.co.uk) has seven-nights at the Harbor Club, Rodney Bay, from £952 pp, including flights.

Puglia

Lisa Fitzell, managing director, Elegant Resorts

It’s Puglia for me this summer. It is less visited than other better-known parts of Italy so doesn’t feel as busy. Top choice to stay is Masseria Torre Maizza.

Who goes there? Super-chic European families and the odd Italian banker taking time off.

Any tips? You must see the town of Ostuni, especially at sunset. And try the Stracciatella cheese, the gooey bit in the middle of a Burrata. It’s only found in Puglia.

How to do it: Elegant Resorts (elegantresorts.co.uk) offers seven nights in a superior room at the Masseria Torre Maizza from £2,100 pp, including flights and private transfers.

Austria

Andrew Dunn, founder, Scott Dunn

It has to be St Anton especially now as, ski-lift wise, it is totally linked with Lech. It’s an awesome ski area and the best bit about it is that the Austrians are incredibly friendly, and they also make some amazing wines (Schloss Gobelsburg Lamm is one of my favourites).

Who goes there? European royalty and hardcore skiers who like to party at night.

Any tips? The powder in the Arlberg area of Sonnenkopf can be really spectacular.

How to do it: Scott Dunn (scottdunn.com) offers Chalet Artemis from £2,800 pp for seven nights, including flights and transfers.

Greek islands

Mark Duguid, MD, Carrier

Island hopping around the Cyclades in June, using Santorini or Mykonos as a base, before exploring the more remote islands.

Who goes there? As they are so far off the beaten track, the smaller islands attract adventurers happy to forgo some creature comforts.

Any tips? The Greek island of Serifos has the best beaches you’ll find anywhere.

How to do it: A week’s b&b at Carpe Diem in Santorini costs from £1,685 pp through Carrier (carrier.co.uk). For some of the smaller, off-the-beaten track islands you need to arrange travel locally.

Mallorca

Jo Rzymowska, VP and MD, UK & Ireland and Asia, Celebrity Cruises

Even though the cruise business is my job, my ‘spiritual’ home is Mallorca. Both my partner and I ‘grew up’ in the travel industry as Mallorca was blossoming and I was an overseas rep for Intasun Holidays during the early Eighties. So we return to the island every year.

Who goes there? Lots of people who work in the travel industry have their own places in Mallorca, so we can often bump in to folk we know in the old town of Pollensa.

Any tips? Avoid Magaluf and Arenal.

How to do it: A week’s self-catering in June at the Hoposa Montelin hotel in Puerto Pollensa is offered by Easyjet Holidays (easyjet.com) from £509 pp, including flights and transfers.

South Africa

James Jayasundera, founder and MD, Ampersand Travel

7 KOPPIES, Franschhoek, South Africa, in winter. It’s a gorgeous little five-bedroom property that is fun, relaxed and beautifully put together with views over the winelands. It happens to be mine — but having inspected several thousand properties across the world over the past two decades, I know with certainty that it really is one of a kind.

Who goes there? Sophisticated foodies, photographers and wine buffs.

Any tips? Work up a sweat in the Mont Rochelle hiking area in hills above Franschhoek.

How to do it: British Airways (ba.com) offers five-night holidays at the Franschhoek Country House & Villas from about £1,094 pp including flights and transfers from Cape Town. Rooms at 7 Koppies (7koppies.co.za) cost from R3,500 (about £189) a night.

Provence

Jocelyne Sibuet, owner of Maisons & Hotels Sibuet

I want to do a healing week at La Bastide de Marie, in Ménerbes, one of the most beautiful villages of Provence, between Avignon and Aix-en-Provence.

Who goes there? People who are searching for relaxation.

Any tips? The town of L’Isle sur la Sorgue is a treat, especially on market days on Thursdays and Sundays between 7am and 1pm.

How to do it: One-week b&b packages to La Bastide des Magnans in Ménerbes cost from £635 pp through expedia (expedia.co.uk), including flights. Rooms at La Bastide de Marie in Ménerbes (labastidedemarie.com), cost from about £171 a night for two.

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