Overview
- A Harris Poll for Marriott Bonvoy reports 91% of Americans plan to travel in 2026, with Longwoods finding most expect to go within the next six months.
- Operators and analysts describe a decisive move toward immersive, meaningful travel, including wellness breaks, quiet retreats and curated local experiences.
- Cruising is expanding, with new regional itineraries from Indian ports and continued river‑cruise growth led by Viking, Trafalgar’s planned entry using Uniworld vessels, and a Waldorf Astoria Nile experience slated for late 2026.
- Airbnb data show U.S. searches for stays near national parks up 35% for 2026, and interest is rising in less‑crowded destinations such as Central Asia, Lakshadweep, Seoul and Almaty.
- Planning habits are shifting as Hilton notes 71% of Americans expect to drive on their next vacation and Amadeus finds 18% using generative AI for trip planning, with about a quarter encountering outdated or inaccurate guidance.