ILTM North America will introduce The Sail as a new area to showcase luxury cruise, yacht and boating brands at its 2026 event in The Bahamas. More than 550 luxury travel agents from 250 cities across Canada, Mexico and North America are expected to attend this leading event in the region, 25% of buyers are looking for more cruise product at ILTM North America.
First launched at ILTM Cannes 2025, The Sail is a beautifully designed, dedicated space for the luxury maritime sector within the ILTM events to connect with industry's most influential buyers. “The Sail is clearly a strong platform for cruise, yacht and boat brands to connect with the luxury travel trade,” Event Director, Simon Mayle, said. “Following the response at ILTM Cannes, expanding the concept to ILTM North America was a natural step.”
The Sail reflects the pivotal moment for the luxury cruise and waterways sector. ILTM's consumer research report, The Sail: A New Era for Luxe Cruising, produced in partnership with luxury insights specialists Altiant, surveyed 670 affluent and high-net-worth individuals across the UK, France, Germany and the US, and highlighted an industry experiencing a genuine renaissance.
The research revealed that three in five affluent travellers (59%) have already taken a cruise, with the majority intending to do so again, and American affluent travellers are the most enthusiastic of all, with three-quarters confirming prior cruise experience. The generational shift is just as compelling: 39 per cent of under-45s report taking more cruise holidays than two years ago, compared to just 23 per cent of over-45s, with younger travellers sampling a far wider variety of ship types and styles.
Today's luxury cruiser is discerning and experience led. Variety of dining (89 per cent), authentic local shore excursions (89 per cent), and well-appointed outdoor deck spaces (84 per cent) are the top considerations when booking. The Caribbean, cited by 57 per cent of past cruise travellers overall and 77 per cent of affluent Americans, remains the most coveted destination, making The Bahamas a fitting stage for The Sail's North American chapter.