News and Insights

Craftwork: Luxury travelers are seeking artisanal retreats

September 17, 2026

“We’re seeing many travelers trading tours for seats at the workbench, seeking thoughtful, immersive experiences that offer direct access to the artists, craftsmanship and traditions that define a destination’s soul.” That’s Catherine Colford, senior partner at Maverick Creative on the growing demand for luxury hotel-driven experiences that connect hotel guests to communities and local cultures.

As summer unwinds, crafting on holiday is rising, with programming encouraging people to peel themselves off poolside loungers and skip past gift shops to hone hands-on skills with local artists and artisans. According to a recent roundup of hidden travel trends from the travel experiences platform Get Your Guide, some 31% of vacationers are “skill seekers,” preferring to “learn something new rather than buy a keepsake.” Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal recently framed “craft retreats” as an alternative to “soul-sucking ‘follow-the-flag’ tours,” with appeal for overworked travelers and solo women travelers in particular.

At the newly refurbished Mount Juliet Estate, for instance, guests can take deep dives into the legendary makers of County Kilkenny, Ireland, by blowing glass under the eyes of Master Glassblowers at Jerpoint Glass Studio in nearby Stoneyford. Or they can see looms in action at Cushendale Woolen Mills in Graignamanagh, which has been family-operated since 1778 on a site where wool was first milled in 1204.

Rocco Forte Hotels is shaping crafting experiences through its Artisans of Style series celebrating artisanal excellence across Europe by opening doors to private ateliers. Guests of Hotel Amigo in the heart of Brussels can fashion bespoke leather products at the renowned design studio and fine leather workshop Niyona, while those enjoying Hotel Savoy in Florence can sharpen their silk weaving chops learning centuries-old techniques through private workshops at Fondazione LISIO.

Fancy crafting something to look at rather than wear? Rosewood San Miguel de Allende in the central highlands of Mexico is bringing to life Rosewood’s ‘A Sense of Place’ philosophy by guiding guests to local artisans to create traditional papier-mâché puppets (mojigangas). Castiglion del Bosco, A Rosewood Hotel in UNESCO-listed Val d’ Orcia in Tuscany offers private workshops with landscape painters for aspiring paesaggisti to enhance their technique.

In Oman, locals invite travelers to connect with the surrounding environment and past generations through engagement with traditional, centuries-old crafts. In Al Dakhiliyah, travelers can try their hands at the art of Safeefah, the traditional Omani trade of weaving palm fronds into baskets, mats and the like. In Bahla, home to Oman’s oldest pottery traditions, visitors can tap techniques passed down through generations to create everything from large pots to decorative vases to traditional serving bowls and more.

This crafty shift toward culturally immersive travel is further reflected in Oman’s evolving hospitality sector, says Elly Babe, account manager in London, pointing out renowned properties such as Six Senses Zighy Bay on the Musandam Peninsula, which offers tailored experiences such as ‘Sense of Oman: Through a Woman’s Eyes’ for guests to engage with traditional crafts. 

“We are seeing a mix of luxury and experience-led travel come to the forefront in Oman. Beyond luxurious amenities, it’s focused on storytelling, local knowledge, artisanal heritage and human connection,” Babe added.

In the resort town of Karuizawa, Japan, near volcanic Mount Asama, Shishi-Iwa House recently turned the adage, ‘You break it, you buy it’ on its head with an exclusive experience offered in partnership with POJ Studio of Kyoto. Guests learn and practice the ancient art of Kintsugi, a century-old method of honoring and repairing ceramic and porcelain tableware that highlights rather than hides cracks to symbolize the beauty of Zen imperfections.  

Held just prior to the release of this summer’s TrendHawk report, the program went beyond hands-on crafting to include dining occasions, tours, hikes, and accommodation within award-winning retreat houses of Shishi-Iwa House designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Shigeru Ban.

“The property debuted the Kintsugi stay package in 2024, and has brought it back year after year, based on its growing popularity,” says FINN’s Allison Tong, adding the extended program not only checked boxes for cultural immersion, “it also gave repaired pieces time to dry.”

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