This time of year I look ahead to travel trends which is part of my real job in luxury travel marketing. I thought you’d appreciate reading about what we can see in new offerings that could be helpful to you in your travel planning. There are also some tips to help you save money and make your trips more hassle free. Love to hear if you have any questions or comments.
One of the big changes based on a survey, Hilton’s 2026 Trends Report, is how travelers are choosing their place to go. It’s no longer based on destination but rather, on purpose and emotion (the “why”) i.e. The Whycation. It’s about intentional travel for specific goals like rest, reconnection, personal growth, learning a skill, or finding calm, moving away from just sightseeing to seeking meaningful, enriching experiences.
The takeaway: expect more offerings that feature mindfulness, getting back in touch with oneself and escaping anxiety; multi generational trips; and friends getaways. A tip: if you decide to travel in a group requiring four or more rooms, ask about small group rates. Each hotel has its own key number of rooms, which is often not published. If you have a niche travel interest, assume some tour operator or travel agent is offering a vacation that could fit the bill. Google it and go on AI which is now acting more like a travel agent.
Spas in hotels and resorts are stepping up their game, competing with some of the big hotel brands that are launching wellness centric resorts. Besides relaxation and pampering and cosmetic offerings, the top ones are looking at offerings that address mind, body and soul “reset”. Longevity treatments are also increasingly on the menu. These treatments focus on reducing inflammation, repairing DNA, and improving cellular function to extend one’s “healthspan” (the period of life spent in good health). Some of the treatments include whole body crytotherapy (temperature shock), biohacking (medical technology to improve body’s natural recovery processes); infusions (to improve health of skin and cells); and more. Another big trend is the emphasis on improving sleep with everything from focusing on new routines and special menus to therapies, even for kids.
Vanity Fair magazine wrote about two camps of men these days, “low bro” and “high bro”. (short for low brow and high brow). Up until now, men’s travel getaways were in the “low bro” category as in bachelor getaways focusing on partying, clubbing and drinking or spring break with more of the same. Look for “high bro” packages for male group getaways offering elements like wellness and fitness offerings, meditation, soft adventure, and reconnecting with friends.
Resorts are starting to go “all in” on special facilities for kids and teens especially kids and teens clubs. For instance, I was just at the Grand Velas Riviera Maya checking out their kids facilities. Their multi-million dollar new teens club has everything from a cinema and golf simulator (with mens and womens clubs) to an arcade, pool tables, foosball, air hockey, individual pods for gaming, and even a Ring light station for social media video production. Then kids as young as several years old have the Jungle Spa complete complete with mani/pedis, wash and blow dry and Japanese shiatsu neck massage. One of the things I learned is that a group of the hotel employees are certified child care givers and can be hired as nannies. So if you’re going to a hotel and resort that promotes to families, ask if you need a nanny. They’ll charge extra, but there’s more of a guarantee of quality and “insurance” if there’s a problem.
And finally, solo travel continues to grow and also is going more upscale. Expect more luxe and ultra luxe offerings, more pampering and laying out the red carpet from luxury hotels and resorts, plus including actitivies in the destination.
In the culinary world, you’ll be seeing more “grab and go” type offerings even when hotels have restaurants. This can be a section of the hotel shop or a coffee bar that also offers sandwiches and salads packaged to go. The thinking: travelers want to spend less time (and calories) eating.
Hope this year brings you happy travels!
Questions?Comments? Love to hear from you.
