Ninety-Four Per Cent of Travellers Plan to Spend the Same or More on Travel in 2026, Says Minor Hotels Report

Travellers Prioritise Connection and Wellbeing in 2026

Minor Hotels released its inaugural Travel Trends Report titled Travelling Deeper: A Search for Lasting Connection. The report explores how travellers are seeking connection with others, themselves and destinations, and how travel choices are shifting.

Dillip Rajakarier, Group Chief Executive of Minor International, which owns Minor Hotels, said, “Today’s travellers want more than destinations, they want stories, connections and meaning. Our trend report reveals a growing appetite for authentic engagement and conscious travel choices. For Minor Hotels, this is an invitation to continue shaping experiences that prioritise wellbeing and cultural depth, ensuring every journey offers something truly memorable.”

Optimism for 2026

The research finds that travel remains a key priority despite economic uncertainty. Ninety-four per cent of respondents expect to travel as much or more in 2026, with one-third planning more trips than in 2025. Ninety-four per cent plan to spend the same or more on travel, with almost half increasing their budgets. According to the report, luxury travellers are nearly twice as likely to travel more, with sixty-one per cent expecting to increase their frequency.

Planning and Booking Behaviour

Travellers are focusing on personal value rather than on trip frequency. Affordability remains a primary factor for fifty-three per cent of respondents, followed by seasonality, ease of travel and time. More than half book trips within three months of departure. Hotel websites are used by eighty per cent of travellers, followed by personal recommendations and online travel agents. Emerging technologies such as generative artificial intelligence chatbots are now used by twelve per cent.

Connection to Others

The report shows that travel is becoming more social and group-based. Nearly all respondents plan to travel with companions, with partners, family, and friends being the most common companions. Quality time is cited as necessary by eighty-six per cent of respondents. Dining, cultural activities and relaxation are the most preferred shared activities. Over half of the respondents prefer group activities exclusively within their travel group.

Connection to Self

Respondents are also making space for personal time and well-being. Seventy-one per cent of respondents value taking a break from technology during travel. Forty-four per cent plan to integrate wellness or mindfulness into trips, rising to seventy-three per cent among those already engaged in wellness. Spa treatments are the most sought-after activity, followed by nature experiences and fitness. More than one-third make time for themselves when travelling with others.

Connection Through Food and Culture

Food is identified as the main route to cultural discovery for 85 per cent of travellers, followed by historic architecture and nature. Local immersion influences destination choice for eighty-three per cent. Independent exploration is preferred by seventy-nine per cent, while forty-four per cent choose guided tours. Seventy-six per cent would return to a destination if they felt a personal connection with it.

Values and Responsibility

Sustainability is cited as a factor in hotel choice by 47 per cent of respondents. Over half agree that environmental, cultural and social initiatives enhance their experience at both city hotels and destination resorts. The report notes that guests seek brands that enable informed and conscious choices.

Also read: Skyscanner Launches Travel Trends 2026 Report