Hilton Annual Trends Report Predicts 2025 to Be the ‘Year of the Travel Maximizer’
2024 was the Year of the Great Recharge, where sleep retreats made headlines, mindful drinking rose in popularity, and wellness-themed guest rooms took off. Today, as the post-pandemic leisure travel boom normalizes, travelers surveyed in Hilton’s annual Trends Report want to pair their desire to relax and recharge with high-impact adventures and experiences to maximize their time and financial investment.
“Our 2025 Trends Report uncovers what has been simmering for years – the intersection of work and play; of relaxation and adventure; of being alone but together. Travelers don’t just want to choose their own adventure – they want to maximize every moment of their time away.”
Chris Nassetta, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hilton, added, “Our 2025 Trends Report uncovers what has been simmering for years—the intersection of work and play, relaxation and adventure, being alone but together. Travelers don’t just want to choose their own adventure—they want to maximize every moment of their time away. This new data reveals a fascinating dichotomy and growing focus on experiences that will keep us on our toes, constantly evolving to meet the needs of tomorrow’s traveler.”
Report findings were uncovered after extensive global research involving 13,000 travelers across 13 countries, feedback from over 4,100 Hilton team members and in-depth interviews with dozens of Hilton travel experts. Trend highlights include:
Adventure-Seeking “Go Getaways” Take on Restorative Sleep Retreats and “Hurkle-Durkling”
- Go Getaways: Seven in 10 global travelers enjoy being active when they travel, with one in five leisure travelers planning outdoor adventures in 2025.
- Sleep Retreats & Hurkle-Durkling: One in five global travelers indulge in Hurkle-Durkling, the Scottish phrase for “lounging in bed all day,” while on vacation, and more than a quarter of travelers will book a spa or wellness treatment to enhance their sleep.
“Time Travel” and “Slow Travel” Accelerate
- Time Travel: 58 per cent of global travelers who travel with their kids revisit destinations from their childhood, embracing nostalgia.
- Slow Travel: In 2025, one in four leisure travelers are planning to explore the world and different cultures, leaning into the Slow Travel trend: the act of traveling and immersing yourself in a destination for an extended time as a local to fully experience the culture.
“High-Tech Travel” Meets “Digital Detox”
- High-Tech Travel: 63 per cent of travelers value the option of a digital room key, which allows them to go straight to their room without stopping at the front desk.
- Digital Detox: 24 per cent of global travelers admit to disconnecting from social media more than they used to during vacations.
Fido and Frolleagues Take the Stage
- Pet-Friendly: 25. per cent of MeMooners, or solo travelers, often travel for leisure with their pets – more often than the average leisure traveler (19 per cent).
- Frolleagues: Today, nearly 30 per cent of global travelers often travel with Frolleagues, friends who are also colleagues, on their leisure adventures.
Gen Alpha and MeMooner Travelers Surge
- The Gen Alpha Effect: 70 per cent of global respondents with children choose vacation destinations based on their kids’ preferences.
- MeMooners Rising: 64 per cent of solo travelers consider a good book their favorite travel partner.
Foodie Exploration and Tempo Drinking
- Will Travel for Food: Nearly one in five global leisure travelers seek out new restaurants or culinary experiences, and 50 per cent of travelers book restaurant reservations before their flights.
- Sober Curiosity Evolution: In just the past year, one in four global travelers* has either reduced or stopped their consumption of alcohol, reflecting the growing Tempo Drinking trend or the mindful practice of moderating the pace and volume of drinking alcohol.
From Inner Discovery to Outward Cheering
- Soft Travel: More than 1 in 5 travelers plan to getaway for self-discovery or mental health when traveling for leisure, leaning into “Soft Travel,” or travel that encourages simplicity or spontaneity.
- Surge in Sports: From 2019 to 2024, Hilton Worldwide Sport Sales revenue tripled in volume – 80 per cent of which is driven by youth or amateur sports.
*This question was not asked in Saudi Arabia or UAE
Do you have any industry knowledge, experience, or news you’d like to share? Why not send us your press releases, survey results, news, and articles? We will review them and may publish them on the IHS website. Just complete the contact form and get in touch.
Subscribe today to our LinkedIn newsletter, Inside Hospitality.
© 2024 Hilton