International luxury travel network Virtuoso® has revealed which 10 destinations are top of mind for U.S. jet-setters for the rest of this year. Virtuoso has sourced data from its warehouse of more than $40.7 billion in transactions to reveal the most in-demand destinations for the coming fall and festive season. As one of the the strongest sales forces in luxury travel, Virtuoso is able to view the industry through a unique lens and discern what lies ahead for the remainder of 2017.

The findings were announced during the 29th annual Virtuoso Travel Week taking place in Las Vegas August 12-18.

The Virtuoso Top 10:
The most popular fall and holiday travel destinations for U.S. travelers based on future bookings.

1. Italy
2. United Kingdom
3. France
4. South Africa
5. Spain
6. Mexico
7. Australia
8. Netherlands
9. Germany
10. China
The Top 10 analysis: As summer turns to fall, not even cooler weather can dampen enthusiasm for Europe, which took six of the top 10 slots on the list. The Netherlands and Germany are particularly popular options for river cruisers wanting to visit the celebrated Christmas markets. Other travelers are focusing on warm-weather spots as the weather turns, such as South Africa, Mexico and Australia.

In particular, South Africa continues to attract upscale explorers due to its wide array of adventure experiences. Increasingly, travelers are also discovering China for its combination of compelling history, rapid growth, improving infrastructure and increased luxury offerings. Data is drawn from Virtuoso’s United States-based travel agency members and reflects future travel for September through December 2017.

Virtuoso, www.virtuoso.com