Luxury travelers are being wooed by all-inclusive resorts offering $22,000 per week packages.

All-inclusive hotels are making a big play for luxury travelers.

According to JLL Research Hotels & Hospitality, the pandemic led to a surge in demand for all-inclusive resorts that offered stress-free and easy-to-plan vacations with a wellness component.

Travelers discovered that all-inclusive resorts, previously known for cheap booze and quantity-focused dining, had undergone changes.

Much of the sector had gone luxe.

In 2022, the percentage of upper upscale and luxury resorts in the Dominican Republic was 47% of the total all-inclusive resort supply, an increase from 31% in 1990, according to JLL. Meanwhile, in Mexico, upper upscale and luxury all-inclusive resorts made up more than half (55%) of its all-inclusive resorts in the same year.

The cost of all-inclusive resorts has increased rapidly, exceeding 2019 levels, as per JLL.

All-inclusive resorts are now being offered by Marriott and Hilton under brands that are not typically associated with them, such as DoubleTree, Westin, and The Luxury Collection.

Private beaches and butler services

The all-inclusive experience at resort operators has been enhanced with luxurious suites and exclusive privileges.

At the Lopesan Costa Bávaro Resort Spa & Casino in the Dominican Republic, guests can choose a "Unique" room package, which includes an upgraded room, personal butler service, and exclusive access to a private beach.

"Karina Arguello, the resort's commercial director, stated that guests are increasingly seeking a slow, unplugged experience with an upscale twist. She added that private and additional amenities help to enhance this experience by providing elements that are not included in an all-inclusive resort booking."

In select resorts, Club Med has introduced "Exclusive Collection Spaces" that offer extra perks, including private transfers, continental breakfast in suites, evening Champagne, and access to exclusive areas. Among these, Club Med Tignes, a ski resort located near the Italian border, opened in 2022.

The brand's "Exclusive Collection" includes six resorts located in the Maldives, Mauritius, Italy, and France. The rates at the Valmorel Chalet-Apartments, a ski destination in France, range from $2,475 to $4,250 per person, depending on the season.

Butlers at Sandals, an all-inclusive adults-only resort in the Caribbean, offer a range of services to guests staying in their highest-level suites. These services include unpacking guests' belongings, making dinner and spa reservations, serving drinks at the beach, and expediting room service orders, as stated on their website.

AAA Club Alliance travel advisor Kelly Connor from New Jersey stated that travelers with larger budgets are choosing those services. However, they are not the only ones doing so.

She also said that honeymooners like higher levels of luxury.

The Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, which opened in March 2024, has introduced a new room category for the brand — the 1,248-square-foot Vincy overwater two-story villa. A seven-night stay at the end of June for two adults with butler service is $22,505 after a 55% rack rate discount.

To address criticism that all-inclusive vacationers miss out on exploring beyond the resort, Sandals Royal Curacao and Sandals Royal Bahamian are offering guests staying a week in a butler-serviced suite a $250 voucher to dine at island restaurants and a convertible Mini Cooper to get there.

Another option: luxury lodges

The Maldives' one-resort-per-island model makes it challenging to dine elsewhere, which has led to the popularity of half- and full-board dining options.

All-inclusive models are becoming increasingly popular among luxury resorts, particularly those situated in remote areas.

The luxury lodge on New Zealand's North Island, Rosewood Cape Kidnappers, offers a half-board package that includes breakfast, dinner, and aperitifs, but does not include other alcoholic beverages.

The Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge in British Columbia offers all-inclusive rates that cover meals, snacks, drinks, and guided activities such as swimming in glacial waters and a half-day wildlife-spotting trip.

Rates start at $2,900 per night.

— CNBC's Monica Pitrelli contributed to this report.