Global Travel Trends

Following an unprecedented summer travel boom in North America, the United Kingdom and Europe, industry experts are predicting demand to extend into the autumn season.

MMGY Travel Intelligence reports travel spending intentions in the next 12 months are up from this time last year, although travellers are planning to take a similar number of trips during that time. Nearly two-thirds (63%) of active leisure travellers reported increasing their travel budgets in the next 12 months compared to recent years with many citing the rising costs of travel as the catalyst for doing so. Despite this, travel intentions are unchanged from this time last year, indicating that travellers are willing to adjust their travel budgets to accommodate these rising costs. MMGY Travel Intelligence’s Portrait of American Travelers® “Fall Edition” will be released in October.

According to Expedia, flight searches for autumn are up 15% and hotel searches have increased 20% compared to autumn 2022, while average ticket prices are down 10% for U.S. domestic flights and 5% for international flights compared to summer.

Hotels.com has gone as far as to declare autumn “DINK” season, thanks to couples with double income and no kids planning more trips during these months so they can fully enjoy hotel facilities and entertainment. New York, Paris, London, Las Vegas and San Diego were noted as some of the most popular destinations for couples planning autumn trips on the platform.

The following is a summary of global travel trends and industry shifts that our PR teams in the U.S., UK and Europe have compiled from recent media feedback, widespread coverage, industry conferences and webinars:

• Autumn travellers favour familiar cities: City breaks were identified as an autumn travel trend in the latest Tripadvisor® Seasonal Travel Index, with more than 75% of travellers surveyed planning to return to a destination they have visited in the past. Looking to dive deeper into the cultural experiences of a city, travellers are booking more local tours and activities and finding more elevated ways to experience classic attractions.
• Destination unknown: Surprise trips continue to gain traction with cruise lines and railways joining existing tour operators in offering travel experiences in which the destination is unknown until departure. One reason cited for the rising demand: post-pandemic travel planning burnout. (Source: Condé Nast Traveler)
• Sustainability, privacy and sports trending for luxury travellers: Offsetting carbon emissions, private villa rentals and yacht sailings as well as travel for big-ticket sporting events were identified as trends to watch at Virtuoso’s Travel Week in late August. China, Norway, Colombia and the Azores were highlighted as trending destinations.
• Sports Illustrated–branded resorts coming to college towns: Travel + Leisure Co. and Sports Hospitality Ventures, a licensee of the Sports Illustrated brand, have partnered to launch sports-themed resorts in college towns with large fan bases. The first is set to open in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, in 2025.
• New, cheap, direct flight routes from London to the U.S.:  Norse Atlantic Airways announced cheap, nonstop routes from London to New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco, which is predicted to lead to an uptick in UK visitors to the U.S. (Source: Condé Nast Traveller)
• Delta restructures loyalty programme: IIn a move that shocked airline loyalists, Delta announced major changes to its SkyMiles program and lounge access for 2024 and 2025. According to The Points Guy, ““The airline is retiring Medallion Qualifying Miles and Medallion Qualifying Segments, and it will instead focus on a redefined version of Medallion Qualifying Dollars.” Starting February 1, 2025, Delta is also limiting how many visits to the Sky Club passengers can have in one calendar year.
• The cruise industry travels east: Cruising is taking off for 2024 and beyond with many luxury cruise lines delivering voyages around Australia and the South Pacific. Luxury Travel Advisor rounds up new experiences from Silversea Cruises (Silver Nova), Scenic, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and more. Seabourn Pursuit has been generating buzz for months now with the announcement of the line’s first voyage to Western Australia’s Kimberley region, one of the last wilderness frontiers, in summer 2024.