Articles tagged “skift research”

First-timers spend more per trip. Repeat visitors spend less. But the math still favors loyalty.

As of April 2026, the index stands at 99. The East is gaining. The West is losing ground.

Reaching Gen Z is a distribution problem, resonating with them is a product problem. Few travel brands have figured out which one they actually have. Those that haven't are already losing ground — they just can't see it in the numbers yet.

Repeat visitation must be actively earned, not assumed as a result of satisfaction.

Travelers are not staying home, but they are changing destinations.

The traditional destination growth model, built on attracting first-time visitors might become unsustainable with rising acquisition costs, shifting traveler behavior, and growing competition. Destinations must work on strategies to be chosen again.

As of March 2026, the global travel industry is no longer moving in a predictable direction. Global travel demand across regions is diverging, dictated by the realities of geopolitics.

Global travel demand remains resilient, but the strongest growth opportunities are concentrated in emerging markets, where higher travel intent and rising spending power are driving faster momentum than in mature regions.

The Middle East fuel crisis has accidentally made the case for SAF better than any policy ever did — and revealed exactly why the industry can't act on it.

In 2026, the American traveler has traded the pursuit of the best deal for the stable experience, as geopolitical shockwaves transform predictability into the ultimate luxury.