Business of Travel.
News and analysis for the people who run travel, from hotel boardrooms to airline route desks.
Business Travellers Prioritise Hotel Function Over Bleisure, French Survey Shows
A Coach Omnium study in France during early 2026 found most business guests favour practical hotel amenities and personal service, with bleisure travel a low priority for domestic visitors.
AI Assistants Set to Disrupt Travel Re-Shopping
Booking.com Report: India's Alternative Stays Market Nears ₹415 Billion
A new study from Booking.com and VIDEC Consultants projects India's alternative accommodation sector to reach ₹415 billion in gross booking value by fiscal year 2029, driven by evolving traveller preferences and corporate demand.
Spain Draws Visitors Off-Peak, Outperforms Mediterranean Rivals
Spain recorded 47% of its tourism activity outside the traditional high season, a figure significantly higher than Italy and Greece, according to a new study presented on 20 October.
Korea's Short-Haul Squeeze: Japan and China Tighten Their Grip on Outbound Travel
A four-day Chuseok was supposed to give Korea's outbound market a lift. Instead the holiday confirmed a structural shift: Koreans are flying more often, but to fewer, closer places. Japan and China are absorbing almost all of the growth, and Southeast Asia is paying for it.
Major Credit Cards Expand Global Travel Loyalty Point Transfers
New analysis reveals how American Express, Chase, and other issuers enable rewards conversion to over 20 airline and hotel programmes, including Asian carriers like Singapore KrisFlyer and Cathay Pacific.
Holafly Index Reveals Key Obstacles for Digital Nomads Globally
International eSIM provider Holafly's 2026 Digital Nomad Friction Index assessed 17 destinations, identifying administrative hurdles and internet reliability as primary challenges for remote workers.
Mainland Chinese Outbound Travel Rises 7.5 Percent in Q3 2026
China's National Immigration Administration reported 48.5 million outbound trips by mainland residents in the third quarter, with Hong Kong and Macau leading as primary destinations.
China Border Crossings Surge on Visa-Free Policies in Q3
China recorded 192 million border crossings in the July–September period of 2026, marking a 7.9 per cent year-on-year increase, driven by expanded visa-free access.
Hotel Asset Managers Forecast RevPAR Growth Through 2027
A survey by the Hospitality Asset Managers Association reveals nearly half of asset managers anticipate 4% to 6% year-over-year revenue per available room increases in 2026.
Major US Airline Credit Cards Now Offer Free Checked Bags
Over two dozen co-branded credit cards from major US airlines like Alaska Airlines and American Airlines now include free checked luggage, mitigating costs for frequent flyers and groups.
Chinese Outbound Trips Rise 9.3% During Golden Week Holiday
The extended 13-day break saw 4.4 million mainland Chinese travellers head overseas, boosting tourism in Southeast Asia, Australia, and Europe.
Chase Revives 100,000-Point Ink Business Card Bonus
JPMorgan Chase has reinstated a 100,000-point bonus for its Ink Business Preferred card, requiring an $8,000 spend in three months for transfers to partners like Singapore Airlines.
US Inbound Travel Falls 4.3% in September, NTTO Reports
Preliminary data from the National Travel and Tourism Office shows 2.7 million overseas arrivals in September, continuing a trend of declines this year for the United States.
Booking.com Reveals 2027 Travel Driven by Mood and Surprise
The travel platform's 11th annual report, based on research from over 28,000 global travellers, forecasts a significant shift towards unconventional trips and companion choices.
Booking.com Research: Unexpected Destinations Lead 2027 Travel Trends
The platform's 11th annual report, published on 14 October 2026, shows a shift towards emotionally-driven and out-of-character trips, with Japan's Sendai among those highlighted.
Amex GBT Forecasts 2027 Meeting Optimism Amid Cost Control Shifts
A new Amex GBT report reveals 93% of global meeting professionals are optimistic for 2027, despite geopolitical and economic pressures driving strategic shifts towards cost management and alternative venues.
European Tourism Boards Rethink North American Marketing as Visitor Trends Diverge
Skift Advisory reports American visits to Europe cooled after a record 2025, while Canadian travel surged, prompting a shift in promotional strategies for the continent.
KAYAK Data Reveals One-Way Tickets Can Cut Holiday Airfares
Travel search engine KAYAK's 2026 Holiday Travel Check-In report indicates that booking two separate one-way tickets could reduce international airfares by up to 30% for year-end travel.
Chinese Golden Week sees domestic spending drop, overseas trips surge
Average domestic trip spending during the recent seven-day holiday fell 1.9 per cent to 893.92 yuan (US$133.51), the lowest since 2022, as many opted for longer international holidays.
India Leads Skyscanner Growth as International Searches Surge
India now represents Skyscanner's largest user base, with searches increasing by 22% over the last year and nearly half now targeting overseas destinations.
Chinese Tourists Eye South Korea for 2026 National Day
Polled Chinese travellers showed a significant increase in overseas holiday intent compared to the previous year, with South Korea emerging as a top choice for the 2026 National Day period.
Shanghai Sees 5.3 Million Overseas Visitors in H1 2026
Shanghai's cultural and tourism market recorded a 27.82% year-on-year increase in arrivals, with overnight stays reaching 5.02 million from January to June.
Southeast Asia Cruise Market Expands, Singapore Leads Regional Growth
Southeast Asia registered 3.9 million cruise passenger visits and US$10 billion in economic output in 2024, with Singapore alone handling over 2 million passengers in 2025.
Muslim Travel Market Forecasts US$310 Billion with AI Reshaping Planning
The Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index 2026 projects 262 million international arrivals by 2030, with artificial intelligence increasingly curating halal-friendly travel.
Skift: Live Events Drive Early Travel Bookings
The 2026 Skift Live Tourism Summit explored how concerts, sports, and festivals drive travel bookings well ahead of traditional periods, prompting industry players to adjust strategies.