KAYAK Launches WTF (What the Future) Travel Trend Report

STAMFORD, Conn. - Jan. 30, 2025 - PRLog -- Bid farewell to self-care trips and welcome journeys of self-discovery. KAYAK, the world's leading travel search engine, is rolling out its WTF - What the Future - report, giving travelers a first look at the travel trends shaping the next 5 years.

In partnership with The Future Laboratory, one of the world's leading futures consultancies, the WTF Report blends social and cultural research, interviews with KAYAK executives and external experts, survey insights from 9,100 people across 9 countries, and in-depth analysis of KAYAK user behavior.

KAYAK's Travel Predictions for 2030

AI Agents
A new wave of travel agents is emerging, focusing on personalized travel experiences. Over one third (36%) of Americans would use AI for travel recommendations and inspiration. By 2030, AI assistants will be most used.

City Jumpin', Jumpin'
Forty-five percent of Americans are  planning to "city jump" in a single vacation this year.  By 2030, they will prioritize multi-stop trips over single destination vacations.

Vitamin T
By 2030, the value of a trip will hinge on wellness. KAYAK notes a surge in wellness travel, with pools as the top searched hotel amenity globally, followed by hot tubs, spas, and fitness facilities.

Feedbooking
A social shopping surge is on the horizon. Nearly half of Americans (43%) have made purchases influenced by social media, another 20% having considered it. KAYAK expects social media to become a travel shopping hub, boosting purchases by 2030.

Travel is Gonna be LIT (Low Intensity Travel)
For more than one third of Americans (36%), off-season travel is preferred to avoid crowds. Opting for shoulder season travel in Europe can slash costs by up to 27% compared to peak periods. KAYAK predicts a rise in offbeat destinations driven by better prices and more conscious traveler choices.

Virtual Voyages
1 in 7 Americans are embracing VR headsets to explore destinations before booking.  By 2030, holographic concierges could be the norm. American Travelers are excited about virtual hotel room previews (46%) and in-flight VR entertainment (11%) for an immersive journey.

Spiritual Sidequests
Get ready to soar with a spiritual sidequest. 1 in 6 Americans are eyeing silent retreats to disconnect from their phones, while 1 in 14 are keen on psychedelic therapy trips abroad. These trends are primed to skyrocket in the next 5 years!

Disloyalty Programs
Americans have a love-hate relationship with loyalty programs - 21% of Americans feel price comparison tools offer better value than traditional airline rewards. This is why we'll start to see loyalty programs shift to cater to more price-conscious travelers. With 78% of global travelers expecting pricier travel ahead, saving is key.

Visit KAYAK's WTF Report at https://www.kayak.com/wtf-report.