Following an unprecedented summer travel boom in North America, the United Kingdom and Europe, industry experts are predicting demand to extend into the fall season.
MMGY Travel Intelligence reports travel spending intentions in the next 12 months are up from this time last year, although travelers are planning to take a similar number of trips during that time. Nearly two-thirds (63%) of active leisure travelers 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 travelers 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 fall are up 15% and hotel searches have increased 20% compared to fall 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 fall “DINK” season, thanks to couples with double income and no kids planning more trips during the autumn months so they can fully enjoy hotel amenities and entertainment. New York, Paris, London, Las Vegas and San Diego were noted as some of the most popular destinations for couples planning fall trips on the platform.
The following is a summary of global travel trends and industry shifts that our PR teams in the U.S., U.K. and Europe have compiled from recent media feedback, widespread coverage, industry conferences and webinars:
TRENDS IMPACTING THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY
- Fall travelers favor familiar cities: City breaks were identified as a fall travel trend in the latest Tripadvisor® Seasonal Travel Index, with more than 75% of travelers surveyed planning to return to a destination they have visited in the past. Looking to dive deeper into the cultural experiences of a city, travelers 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 passenger 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 travelers: 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 U.K. visitors to the U.S. (Source: Condé Nast Traveller)
- Delta restructures loyalty program: In 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’ll 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.
U.S. MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES AND SHIFTS
- Registration for IMM North America is now open for the 2024 event, which will take place in New York, January 24–25.
Cision has announced that it will be moving HARO, an industry-leading platform for connecting journalists with expert sources, to a new app called Connectively. The platform is set to offer a new interface and expand features to include bookmarking queries for later response and in-app notifications. The service remains free to join for now. - In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, influencer marketing company Fohr is shining the spotlight on 10 content creators you should know.
- Rupert Murdoch stepped down as chairman of News Corp and Fox, taking on the role of chairman emeritus. Lachlan Murdoch, his eldest son, has been named the chair of News Corp and will continue as executive chair and CEO of Fox Corp.
- Departures, the digital travel and lifestyle magazine for American Express Platinum Card® holders and Centurion® Members, will no longer be available beginning January 1, 2024. The decision was announced on the Departures website. American Express ended the monthly print version of the outlet, which was produced in conjunction with Meredith Corporation, in March 2021.
- Jamila Robinson has been named the next editor in chief of the food magazine Bon Appétit. Robinson has more than 20 years of media experience, most recently serving as managing editor for food and culture at The Philadelphia Inquirer. She will oversee editorial direction, brand strategy, audience development and all content for Bon Appétit and its sister brand Epicurious.
- Jessica Puckett left her role as a senior editor at Condé Nast Traveler and is now freelancing for the outlet.
- Dalton Johnson is now the managing editor of Men’s Journal Adventure Travel, a new vertical that Johnson launched in August 2023.
U.K. MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES AND SHIFTS
- To mark its 20th anniversary, Olive magazine has announced its plans to become more active in the travel space, creating a new channel for pitching in the U.K. food and travel landscape.
- Sarah Dennis joined TTG Media as interim editor, covering editor Sophie Griffiths’ maternity leave.
- Former freelance travel writer and editor Alice Barnes-Brown has started a new permanent position as deputy features editor at Travel Weekly.
- Charley Ward left her position as homes and ecommerce editor at Hearst, joining the Condé Nast Traveller team as commerce writer.
