TOP TRAVEL
TRENDS OF 2025
Modern Currency Unpacks the Top 8 Trends Shaping the Future of Travel & Hospitality
Discover
The Trends
2025: The Year of Transformative Journeys
As we look towards 2025, Modern Currency PR has identified the top trends poised to redefine the travel and hospitality landscape. Today’s travelers are seeking more than scenic destinations—they’re drawn to authentic connections and transformative experiences that resonate on a deeper level. Here’s a glimpse into the 8 trends that are shaping the future of the industry:
Natural Phenomena & Noctourism
Reset Jetting
Sleepmaxxing
Sport Mode
Gen Z Globetrotters
Detour Destinations
Luxury, All Included
No Followers Needed
Natural Phenomena
& Noctourism
01
Embrace Natural Wonders and Midnight Magic.
Bucket-list-worthy travel experiences reign supreme, as travelers seek to witness the world of wonder via natural phenomena, from the elusive Northern Lights to the world’s largest tidal variations, bioluminescent waves, once-in-a-lifetime volcano eruptions and so much more.
Concerns around climate change have greatly influenced this shift, with travelers ditching the daylight crowds for midnight magic via ‘noctourism’ to avoid rising daytime temperatures, centering travels around celestial happenings, and visiting designated Dark Sky communities to experience once-in-a-lifetime cosmic occurrences, constellation tracking, and other astro-events.
Detour
Destinations
02
Trip Maximization at an All-Time High.
2025’s motto is all about ‘Travel Maxxing,’ with travelers seeking experiences that maximize time and money, opting to enjoy both hotspots and ‘the road less traveled.’ With over tourism pushing travelers out of spending extended time in crowded city centers and the most desirable destinations, Detour Destinations have emerged as the crown jewels of travel for the year ahead, spreading the love to secondary cities.
From international travels to domestic tourism, ‘flyover states’ are becoming increasingly mainstream. As lesser-known, less-crowded hidden gems, these destinations offer a wealth of distinct, authentic experiences, offering travelers an opportunity to explore beyond the usual hotspots, enriching their trips with new, off-the-beaten-path adventures that are both enriching and economical.
The luxury travel market will grow to $391 billion by 2028, according to McKinsey.
Luxury
All-Included
03
Hoteliers Go All-In on Luxury All-Inclusives.
According to Hilton, over 50% of travelers prefer not to leave their hotel on vacation, and in today’s overwhelming travel landscape, the less planning one needs to do, the better. With so many things on our never-ending to-do lists, luxury “all-inclusive” resorts are the new way to vacation in style, without the logistical headache of pre-planning every detail of your vacation ahead of time. Geared towards the busy yet discerning traveler, the luxury all-inclusive caters to the finer aspects of luxury travel without any of the hassles. The ‘all-inclusive era’ has been driven in part by financially savvy younger consumers who want luxury stays and stress-free, nothing-to-think-about convenience.
According to Expedia Group data, usage of the “all-inclusive” filter increased by 60 percent compared to the year prior. Blue Chip hotel brands are reinventing the all-inclusive industry, with an emphasis on elevating traditional offerings to attract the luxury audience and reinforce stress-free travel. Expedia’s 2025 travel forecast predicts all-inclusives will see even more traction in 2025, as bigger chains such as Hyatt, Marriott, and Hilton continue to push further in the category with luxe offerings, sizeable suites, and private, personalized experiences, from Ritz-Carlton’s opening of its first all-inclusive in the Riviera Maya, to W Punta Cana’s forthcoming all-inclusive debut in the Dominican Republic, showcasing the demand for growth in this sector.
Sport Mode
04
Sportscations Take Center Field.
The trend of “Sport Mode” and 'Holding Court' have Millennials and Gen Z increasingly planning trips around their favorite sports, including tennis and pickleball, among major sporting events. Loyalty to favorite teams and athletes has also led to a surge in sports travel; Hilton Worldwide’s sports sales revenue tripled from 2019 to 2024, primarily fueled by youth and amateur sports.
Global events are transforming host cities into vibrant micro-travel destinations, as seen with Los Angeles’ recent World Series win. The city is currently celebrating an unparalleled decade of sports, most notably being a host city for the FIFA World Cup 2026, Super Bowl in 2027, and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, making LA the third city globally to host the Olympics three times, solidifying its status as a significant sports capital. Sporting events and hit shows such as Formula 1: Drive to Survive, and Full Swing are also attracting new audiences to cities spanning Miami, Austin, and Las Vegas, redefining fan experiences and drawing national and international crowds. With Skyscanner forecasting that by 2025, 35% of 25-34-year-olds will travel for sporting events, with many sports fans spending over $500 per trip, sports tourism has solidified itself as an influential industry driver.
Wellness travel is projected to reach $2.1 trillion by 2027.
Reset Jetting
05
Live Long and Prosper!
With data showing more than half of American travelers noting they would pay for a vacation that's sole purpose was to extend their lifespan and well-being, it’s no wonder longevity is turning wellness into a trillion-dollar industry. According to the Global Wellness Institute, longevity programming is set to be the biggest trend in the wellness realm.
Enter reset jetting, emerging in 2025 as a popular way to spend undistracted time thinking about better nutrition, sleep, and exercise habits to mix into their daily lives as they reconnect with a more balanced version themselves. Deep revitalization is at the core of this revolution, from body vibration and red-light therapies to cryotherapy, stem cell treatment, and 1:1 work with on-staff physicians, technicians, nutritionists and so much more.
Sleepmaxxing
06
Time to Optimize Those ZZZs.
The next era of sleep tourism is all about “sleep optimization” or “sleepmaxxing,” which makes quality rest the ultimate wellness goal.
Once a focus for CEOs and biohackers, it’s now mainstream, with new tech offerings like Oura Rings and sleep-tracking apps driving interest alongside social media trends from Oura Rings to sleep tracking apps – alongside social media trends including “sleepy girl mocktails” and deep sleep tips. As sleep becomes central to self-care, travelers are increasingly drawn to destinations and offerings catering to high-quality rest as a top wellness priority.
55% of Gen Z travelers are more likely to enjoy solo trips.
Gen Z
Globetrotters
07
The rise of Gen Z travelers, ranging from age 12 – 27, is reshaping the travel industry, with over half now considered frequent travelers prioritizing trips even on lower incomes.
Building on Millennials’ belief that travel is a right, not a privilege, Gen Z continues to seek adventurous and sought-after travel hot spots such as Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines, fueling a 50% rise in travel interest to Asia since pre-COVID. Notably, Gen Z is also driving a renewed attraction to solo travel and reliance on travel agents for seamless trip planning.
A New Generation Emerges As Top Travel Consumer.
No Followers
Needed
08
Today, culture, geopolitics, work-life balance, status, and travel consumption are more intertwined than ever, with social media platforms such as TikTok at the heart of this cultural transformation. TikTok is increasingly driving consumer spending, influencing the travel habits and preferences of Gen Z and Millennials. Tastemakers and trendsetters set the scene for can’t-miss destinations and events, harnessing the power to instantly ignite new travel desires or spur significant economic impact by going viral. That said, anyone can be a content creator, reshaping the travel landscape one (overnight) viral video at a time.
In this fast-moving digital world, 2025’s social media travel spotlight will center around TikTok Destination Drops, Influencer-Led Itineraries, Reels-Only Reviews, Nostalgic Escapes, FOMO Travel Challenges, and Hashtag-Driven Getaways.
Content Creation Fuels Viral Travel Trends in 2025.
WANDERLUST IN OVERDRIVE?
EXPLORE THE DESTINATIONS PIQUING OUR INTEREST IN 2025