Runaway: 2015 Holiday Travel Trends

The one absolute underling tend for 2015 holiday travel is luxury!  This trend really started picking up along with consumer confidence in 2014 and it shows no signs of slowing down.  So no matter what other trends influence consumers travel decisions this year you can bet they want a touch of luxury thrown in. That said there are a few other trends to look for this upcoming Holiday season.

Culinary Travel

Ok, I don’t like to cook and would never call myself a Foodie, but I do understand the attraction. Foodies are exploring the world and influencing travel trends. Whether it is strolling through a vineyard in France or taking a full- immersion cooking course in Tuscany culinary tourists crave an authentic food experience.  More and more travelers are basing their destination based on culinary activities in the area.  

In particular foodies are seeking out their favorite celebrity chefs this year and planning trips near them.  More and more high-end chefs are offering casual affordable dinning options and travelers are responding in masse.

Multigenerational Aspirational Travel

Forget traveling solo the holidays are all about family. I have been doing this for years without giving it such a trendy name. Now the travel industry has caught on and it is perhaps the biggest travel trend right now is to bring the entire family along for a truly memorable adventure. Forget the family vacations of the past todays family travelers are looking for transformative experiences that the whole family can enjoy. The trend of multigenerational travel is growing, with a focus on shared educational travel experiences. 

Look for destinations and experiences that have something for everyone in the family. These memories create a strong bond between the generations. Think adventure travel that a grandparent and 10-year-old can do.

Pop Culture Niche Tourism

 Pop culture niche tourism is sometimes referred to as Nerd Travel and it is big business. New Zealand was really ahead of the game on this travel trend and has been offering pilgrimages on the Hobbit Trail since the Lord of the Rings movies first came out.  As fandom becomes more ingrained in our culture, pop-culture tourism is becoming even more prevalent in 2015 holiday travel season.

Norway attracts throngs of Frozen fans who want to visit the snow-drenched fjords and explore magical ice castles. For our daughters 16^th birthday we did a Doctor Who tour in London and Wales.  It was awesome!

Altruistic Adventure Travel

Sustainable travel has been around for a while now but this holiday travel season more and more companies are offering altruistic travel combined with once-in-a-lifetime adventure.  Think eco-travel on steroids. Altruistic adventure travel is the natural progression for savvy travelers who want to get the most out of their vacation.

For example you can now combine the adventure of hiking Mount Kilimanjaro with altruistic traveling experience of volunteering at a local orphanage, or working with local women’s groups. Travelers can also book a tour to Mongolia that offers motorcycle tours of the steppe plus volunteer opportunities with local farmers and nomads to build the economy.

What trends are you seeing?