Trends Shaping the Future of Travel
1. Winter Retreats: Escaping Extreme Heat
With record-breaking temperatures becoming the new norm, travelers are trading sun and sand for cooler, sustainable destinations. Norway’s fjords, Canada’s wilderness, and New Zealand’s snow-capped peaks are now the top choices. Even in Mexico, places like the Sierra Tarahumara and the volcanoes of the Neovolcanic Belt are gaining popularity as a refuge from extreme heat. Visits to VIP lounges in airports leading to these cold destinations have seen significant growth, reflecting this global trend.
2. Redefined Wellness: Transforming Body and Mind
Wellness tourism has evolved beyond simple spa days. Now, it includes sleep retreats with technology, immersive forest baths, and personalized experiences powered by artificial intelligence. This shift responds to a clear demand; 53% of travelers say visiting a VIP lounge enhances their ability to disconnect before flying. Between 2023 and 2025, visits to wellness experiences via Priority Pass grew over 100% in categories like Refresh and Unwind, confirming that every journey is an opportunity for renewal.
3. Customized Luxury: Unique Experiences, Not Just Five-Star
Luxury is no longer about how much you spend but how personalized your experience is. From AI-designed itineraries to frictionless VIP services, high-net-worth travelers seek exclusivity and comfort at every step. This segment accounts for 70% of global luxury travel spending, and the generational transfer of over $83.5 billion is driving demand for unique experiences. In Mexico, destinations like Los Cabos and the Riviera Maya are adapting their offerings for this profile, with customized gastronomic and wellness experiences.
4. Local Getaways: The Resurgence of Domestic Tourism
Micro-vacations are on the rise. Travelers are rediscovering nearby destinations and seeking to elevate even short trips with premium experiences in airports. Between 2023 and 2025, VIP lounge visits for domestic flights grew 48% globally; in South America, the increase was 75%. In Mexico, this is reflected in the rise of short trips to destinations like Valle de Bravo, San Miguel de Allende, and Oaxaca’s coast, where the experience begins at the airport.
5. Smart Airports: Technology Redefining Travel
2026 marks the peak of connected airports: biometric boarding, intelligent baggage tracking, and real-time multilingual signage. Nearly half of global travelers gain between 10 and 30 minutes extra thanks to airport technology, and 60% spend more at the airport due to automation. In Mexico, AICM and AIFA are already implementing biometric processes and smart systems to streamline the travel experience.
Key Questions and Answers
- What are the major travel trends for 2026? The five key trends shaping travel by 2026 are winter retreats, redefined wellness, customized luxury, local getaways, and smart airports.
- How are Mexican travelers influencing these trends? Mexican travelers prioritize comfort, technology, and local experiences, aligning with global trends such as escaping extreme heat, seeking personalized wellness experiences, demanding customized luxury, exploring nearby destinations, and embracing smart airport technology.
- What is the significance of these trends for the travel industry? These trends reflect a shift towards more personal, purposeful, and technologically-driven travel experiences, impacting how airports operate, destinations are chosen, and services are delivered.
Context on Mexican Travelers and the Industry
Mexican travelers’ behavior confirms these global trends. According to RateHawk, domestic tourism has become a significant driver of the sector, fueled by the search for nearby and accessible experiences, with a 15% growth in reservations during cultural festivals like Día de Muertos. Mexican travelers show a clear preference for short trips and three- to four-star accommodations, which account for nearly half of reservations. Spontaneity has become crucial due to social media and flash offers.
According to Mexico’s Tourism Secretary, internationally, spending on travel to Europe increased by 34% between January and August, with Spain, Italy, and France as favorite destinations. Mexico is established as a relevant market with 63.7 million international visitors and an average spending of $1,252 per air traveler, confirming that both national and international tourism will continue to shape the future.
“Travel is in the midst of a revolution. The 2026 trends reveal a world where attractive destinations are refreshing escapes, luxury is tailored to you, and vacations mean much more than lounging on a sunbed,” said Manuel Catedral, Vice President of Business Development for Collinson in the Americas.
