In 2026, the American traveler has traded the pursuit of the best deal for the stable experience, as geopolitical shockwaves transform predictability into the ultimate luxury.
The travel industry’s advocacy groups were built to lobby Congress, but the executive branch has all the power. The mismatch was undeniable this past week.
The drive vacation is still the most realistic way for the American middle class to see their own country. We’ve spent 30 years quietly dismantling the infrastructure that made it possible.
We’d been hearing CEOs talk about stabilization in travel trends. But the declines in visits from key markets — Canada, Germany — show that it will take time to repair strained relationships.
Accor's CEO highlights a significant drop in European summer bookings to the U.S., suggesting that geopolitical anxieties and perceived "bad buzz" are diverting European travel.