Starting with technology, the most luxurious, $40,000-per-night hotels now have concierge staff that go well above and beyond what used to be a person at a desk handling dinner reservations and theater tickets, said Stephen Scott, the founder and CEO of Travel Hub 365, a Manhattan-based luxury travel adviser.

“You now have a team managing the experience before the trip, during the trip and after the trip to help ensure that it’s completely customized for the traveler,” he said. “High-end clients are looking for that high-touch experience. They’re not paying extra for nice things—they’re paying to ensure that every part of their trip is planned out thoughtfully and executed smoothly.”