NEW YORK -- American Express card members will flock to Savannah, Ga., in 2019, based on American Express Travel booking data.
Travel to Savannah is up a whopping 96% year over year, landing it a spot on the agency's top trending destinations for 2019.
American Express Travel on Wednesday released its top trending destinations for next year at an event at Lightbox here, held in partnership with the James Beard Foundation award-winning chef David Chang.
The list of trending destinations includes both domestic and international destinations, introduced by American Express Travel president Audrey Hendley.
Card members "create experiences that are individual to them, and that's what you'll see in some of these destinations," Hendley said. "They're looking for unforgettable places and experiences. They want to know what's around the next corner. They want to know what's in the next restaurant. They want to know where the emerging destinations are."
She emphasized that customers are looking for local cuisine and authentic experiences.
The trending destinations are: Barcelona, up 26% year over year; Doha, Qatar, up 31%; Hamburg, Germany, up 62%; Marrakech, Morocco, up 89%; New Zealand, up 25%; Nassau, Bahamas, up 63%; Savannah, up 96%; Singapore, up 24%; Tuscany, Italy, up 25%; and Washington, D.C., up 21%.
Hendley offered some insight into why each destination is trending. Barcelona remains "a great destination for art, architecture, food and experiences." Doha was boosted by hotel investments, shopping and beach experiences, and a number of sporting events in 2019. For Hamburg, she said, it was likely recent investments in the arts.
American Express Travel customers said they were visiting Marrakech because they like its history, but also the more modern parts of the destination, Hendley said. New Zealand's draw is it's a mix of sights like glaciers and countryside.
Nassau is "the heartbeat of the Bahamas," Hendley said, noting it has a number of historic sites and is easy to get to from the East Coast. Savannah also has a number of historic sights, and it's also within easy reach to many travelers.
Singapore was boosted by a newly reinstated direct flight from Newark. Further interest was likely sparked from the popular book and movie "Crazy Rich Asians."
Tuscany is a perennial favorite among American Express customers, Hendley said, while Washington continues to evolve as a destination, with additions like new museums drawing travelers.
At Wednesday's event, Chang created a dinner menu based around some of the destinations. For instance, one of the cocktails served was the Doha Sling, which consisted of whiskey, chai, lime, bitters and brown sugar. Savannah was recognized by a crab soup with king crab and cornbread croutons. A Tuscan chestnut cake represented that region of Italy.