In today’s podcast episode, we discuss what summer travel will look like for Americans this year, where people go online to book their vacations, and how AI is helping travelers plan and manage their trips. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with Vice President of Research Jennifer Pearson and Principal Analyst Zak Stambor. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch on YouTube or Spotify. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, Vice President of Content Suzy Davidkhanian, Analyst Paola Flores-Marquez, and Senior Analyst Gadjo Sevilla. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch on YouTube or Spotify.
Expedia Group (39.7 million) and Priceline.com (23.7 million) drew a combined 63.4 million unique US visitors in March 2026, more than 3.5x the 17.5 million pulled by the other eight sites on the top 10 list combined, according to March data from Comscore.
Airbnb attracted 17.7 million unique US visitors in March 2026, 55% more than Marriott's 11.4 million, the most-visited traditional hotel brand, according to an April report from Comscore.
Paid search ad clicks in the jobs and education industry fell 13.1% YoY in Q1 2026, a stark reversal from the same category's 254% growth in Q1 2025, according to an April report from Skai.
Fuel shock halves expected global earnings as fares climb and demand weakens.
Travel brands can stand out with smarter AI: Pairing personalization, transparency, and oversight could turn cautious users into loyalists.
International travelers are looking for affordability and health benefits when going abroad.
All three are adding travel integrations to their platforms to become a one-stop shop for consumers.
With prices up across every major category of travel, consumers choose shorter domestic trips and cheaper stays.
Higher fares and fewer flights test demand in a slowing economy.
78% of Americans plan to take a trip—up from 61% last year—as consumers shrug off rising prices.
TikTok turns travel inspiration into bookings: Hotel and experience booking tests a super app model that blends content, commerce, and commission.
While Marriott and Airbnb are upbeat, US hotel operators report weaker bookings.
It cuts service on flights under 350 miles amid rising fuel costs while enhancing it on longer routes.
Conversions and engagement among AI users drive outsize impact despite limited adoption.
Jet fuel spike forces cuts, raising fares and clouding outlook for travel-driven sales.
Spirit’s potential liquidation underscores fuel shock and airlines’ premium shift.
US sports travelers are equally willing to travel for regular season and playoff matches (41% each), outpacing worldwide fans by double digits on both. However, they trail global travelers by 18 points on major single-sport international events (21% vs. 39%), according to a December 2025 survey from YouGov.
Geopolitics and high travel costs curb international bookings, dimming expected retail gains.