Travel buzzwords come and go, as do the trends behind them. In the latest episode of the CoStar News Hotels podcast, Hertelier Founder and Editor-in-Chief Emily Goldfischer identifies the travel trends set to make lasting impact in 2026.
Connection is the throughline, and that connection is to people and places, not electronic devices, Goldfischer said. Top trends for 2026 include skillcations, where travelers try their hand at cooking, farming or new sports such as padel or pickleball. People are finding new times to travel that are less busy and picking travel companions that matter more than locations.
"I think people are tired of hearing about tech; they're tired of AI and they want to reset in nature," she said, referring to the "farm charm" trend identified in Expedia's Unpack '26 trends in travel report.
Along with CoStar News' Stephanie Ricca, Goldfischer discusses how many of the 2026 trends center on making travel meaningful again.
Travel trends for 2026
- Off-season travel: People are planning trips for less-popular times, whether it's to take advantage of discounted pricing or to stress less about crowds.
- "Skillcations" let travelers learn something new on their holiday. People come home with new knowledge and hobbies and more than just a typical beach photo.
- Food and drinks: Goldfischer argues that the "girl dinner" concept of a martini, truffle fries and a Caesar salad cropping up on hotel bar menus everywhere is more of a "menu meme" than a lasting trend. The more prevailing food-and-beverage trend is that people — an increasing number of which are on weight-loss medication — are seeking time out with friends and family over smaller meals that reflect the locale.
- Reading trips: Literary-minded travelers are choosing hotels with optimal spots to curl up with a good book, and they're coming home with the "shelfies" to prove it.
- Ultra-luxury travel: Goldfischer and Ricca agree that travel at the very highest end of the spectrum endures amid other global challenges, and relies more and more on people and planners.