LOYALTY RESEARCH, THEORY & SURVEYS

Amadeus report: Travel Trends 2026

Amadeus’ Travel Trends 2026 reveals six forces reshaping travel: pet-first journeys, AI-powered “Travel Mixology,” ultra-long-range narrow-body jets enabling new non-stop routes, pop culture-driven tourism, hyper-personalized “Pick ’n’ Stays” hotels, and Innovation Tourism focused on future tech destinations. Together, they signal a faster, smarter, and more customized travel era. (Image: Amadeus)

(Image Source)

Amadeus

09 December 2025. 

Transformative travel-technology provider Amadeus has released its Travel Trends 2026 report, created in partnership with forecasting agency Globetrender. Drawing on proprietary travel data, consumer behavior insights, and signals from tech and hospitality innovators worldwide, the report identifies six major trends set to shape travel in 2026—and lay the foundation for a radically different travel ecosystem by the end of the decade.

From pet-first policies and pop-culture-driven pilgrimages to ultra-long-range jets and personalized hotel rooms, the future of travel is accelerating toward an era that feels “more science fiction than any year before,” says Globetrender CEO Jenny Southan.

Below is a full exploration of each trend and what it means for travelers, destinations, and the companies that serve them.

1. The Pawprint Economy: Pets Become Priority Travelers

As pet ownership surges globally and attitudes toward animal welfare evolve, pets are becoming true companions—not cargo—in travel planning. The global pet industry is forecast to reach US$500 billion by 2030, and the number of travelers bringing animals on major trips is climbing dramatically. In 2025, 27% of pet owners who brought their pets along did so for the first time, signaling a cultural shift.

Innovation is happening across borders:

• China Railway Express has begun piloting pet-friendly carriages on the busy Beijing–Shanghai route.

• Italy’s aviation authority (ENAC) now allows medium and large dogs to fly in the cabin.

• Luxury pet travel is rising: SkyePets will launch long-haul in-cabin flights between Australia and the U.S. in 2026.

• AKA Hotels integrated pet rewards into its loyalty program with the Canine Club.

Amadeus predicts 2026 will be the first year pets are treated as “dignified companions,” not accessories—reshaping everything from airline cabin design to hotel amenities.

2. Travel Mixology: Blending AI, Community Wisdom, and Visual Discovery

Planning a trip is now a multi-platform craft. “Travel Mixology” describes how travelers are fusing AI tools, community advice, and visual content to design richly informed itineraries.

A typical planner may:

• use Large Language Models for big-picture ideas,

• check Reddit or YouTube for authentic experiences,

• rely on brand-owned AI travel assistants for personalized suggestions,

• or skip all the above and upload an Instagram Reel to Expedia’s Trip Matching, transforming it instantly into a bookable journey.

Meanwhile, Google Flight Deals, powered by Amadeus inventory, lets users simply describe a “vibe”—such as *warm, quiet, cultural”—and receive tailored destination suggestions and prices.

In 2026, this multi-source, multi-format approach becomes the norm, blending machine speed with human nuance to create resilient and deeply personal travel plans.

3. Point-to-Point Precision: Long-Range Narrow-Body Aircraft Shrink the Planet

Aircraft design is entering a new era. In 2026, travelers will experience unprecedented reach and efficiency thanks to the rollout of long-haul narrow-body jets—led by the Airbus A321XLR.

The A321XLR’s extra center fuel tank extends its range by 700 nautical miles, enabling direct flights once impossible for single-aisle planes. With more than 500 aircraft ordered, airlines are beginning to integrate these jets into transformative routes:

• IndiGo launches the first non-stop India–Athens service in January 2026.

• Air Canada will connect Montréal and Mallorca for the first time.

• Iberia will operate seven long-haul routes between Madrid and the Americas using narrow-body aircraft, representing nearly 10% of its flights.

And in the ultra-long-haul category, Qantas’ Project Sunrise will use A350-1000ULR aircraft to link Sydney directly to London and New York—cutting travel times by up to four hours.

What once felt like marathon journeys will become manageable hops, opening new secondary cities to global tourism.

4. Pop Culting: Entertainment Worlds Become Travel Destinations

Pop culture is now one of travel’s most powerful engines. From Korean cinema to global franchises, intellectual property (IP) is shaping where—and why—people travel.

Examples from the report include:

• The character Labubus generated US$1 billion in merchandise sales in 2025.

• Bridgerton continues to boost tourism in Bath, contributing an estimated £5 million per year.

• Seoul Tourism created an immersive trail based on KPop Demon Hunters, letting visitors make props, try featured meals, and learn K-Pop dance routines.

• Flight searches around San Diego Comic-Con are up 9% for 2026.

Countries are also investing in IP-driven attractions:
Universal Studios Great Britain begins construction in 2026, creating a major European hub for global entertainment brands.

Pop Culting transforms fandom into a new form of cultural belonging—inviting travelers to step into the universes they love.

5. Pick ’n’ Stays: Hyper-Personalized Hotel Rooms Become Standard

Hotel personalization is entering its next era, driven by advanced reservation systems like Amadeus’ iHotelier. Travelers increasingly expect to customize every detail of their room before arrival—much as they configure a smartphone or vehicle.

Rooms may soon be selectable by:

• fitness equipment (e.g., Pilates reformers),

• productivity setups (wrap-around monitors, enhanced soundproofing),

• entertainment (VR-ready spaces, private cinema rooms),

• lifestyle preferences (proximity to breakfast, balcony orientation).

The shift reflects broader AI-driven personalization: as generative AI becomes ubiquitous, the idea of “standard rooms” will feel outdated. Hotels capable of offering unique micro-choices will gain a competitive edge in revenue and guest satisfaction.

6. Innovation Tourism: Travelers Seek the Future in Real Time

The final trend looks beyond 2026 to the destinations shaping the future.

Innovation Tourism describes travelers choosing locations not for beaches or monuments, but for glimpses of tomorrow. Examples include:

• Shenzhen, long a tech powerhouse, is seeing +48% growth in flight searches for 2026 as visitors seek robotics labs, drone showcases, and electric transport systems.

• Autonomous vehicles are expanding: 2,000 more AVs will hit U.S. streets in 2026, and London will begin driverless taxi services via Waymo and Wayve ahead of the UK’s Automated Vehicles Act.

• Wearables ascend to the next frontier: Jony Ive and OpenAI will unveil their first hardware device in 2026; real-time translation earbuds already exist—and early research suggests inter-species translation may not be far behind.

These breakthroughs fuel a new wave of traveler curiosity. For innovation-seekers, the true souvenir is the story of having witnessed the future before everyone else.

Leadership Perspectives

Dan Batchelor, Senior VP at Amadeus, describes 2026 as a year where multiple innovations converge:

“A wave of new technology is reshaping travel—pets are treated with dignity, AI guides planning, aircraft shrink distances, pop culture becomes pilgrimage, and hotels offer tailor-made stays.”

Globetrender’s Jenny Southan adds:

“Consumer behavior is evolving faster than ever. By 2026, travel will feel more ‘sci-fi’ than any year to date.”

GLO Take: Key Takeaways

• Pets become premium passengers, driving new services, technology, and policies.

• AI-driven planning tools combine with community platforms to create “Travel Mixology.”

• Long-range narrow-body jets redefine global connectivity and open new routes.

• Pop culture IP becomes a powerful tourism engine, from K-dramas to global fandom events.

• Hotels shift to full-room customization, enabling travelers to pick every detail.

• Innovation Tourism attracts future-focused travelers to cities pioneering tech, autonomy, and AI.

Source: GLO