Leisure Travel Trends of 2025: Affordability and Personalization Take the Lead
A recent study highlights affordability, flexibility, and personalized local experiences as the main factors influencing leisure travel decisions in 2025. Moreover, domestic spending is projected to exceed $1 trillion.
The 2025 Leisure Travel Study by TravelBoom Hotel Marketing, conducted in December 2024, surveyed 500 respondents across the nation. The study discovered that modern travelers prioritize experiences that offer value for money. The U.S. Travel Association anticipates a 3.9% increase in domestic leisure travel spending in 2025.
Key findings from the study include:
- Social media has a significant impact on travel decisions, with YouTube (24%) and Facebook (18%) being major influencers.
- Online reviews are crucial, with 70.6% of respondents admitting they won’t book without consulting them first.
- Sustainability is important to 67% of travelers, but only 28% are ready to pay premium prices for eco-friendly practices.
Loyalty programs are proving to be effective in driving direct bookings, with over 60% of travelers favoring hotels that offer instant loyalty rewards. The study underscores the opportunity for hospitality companies to present green initiatives as cost-friendly additions that enhance guest value.