Travelzoo has predicted five key trends for next year, including continued demand for multigenerational trips, further interest in “authentic” local experiences and a growth in train travel.
During the brand’s third annual breakfast briefing at The Gherkin in London, UK general manager James Clarke shared research findings at a session titled ‘Mapping travel’s journey in 2025’.
Introducing the first trend as “the bank of grandma and grandad”, he said: “Spending kids’ inheritance (ski) is what we’re going to be seeing in 2025.”
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Highlighting data on how much of the UK’s wealth is held by over-50s, he said there would likely be continued demand for multigenerational trips as people seek “quality family time”.
Travelzoo will ensure its marketing activities take this trend into account, he said, with the brand’s set to hold its first member-only multigenerational event.
Another trend discussed was “destination immersification”, which reflects growing interest in local cuisine and experiences.
Clarke cited research suggesting 75% of travellers want to try food from the region they are staying in.
“Tapping into authentic experiences is key for 2025,” he added.
The cruise sector has been tipped to enjoy further success next year following a strong 2024.
“We’ve had the best wave [period] we’ve seen on record and then a mini wave season in September,” Clarke said.
The river and expedition sectors are expected to perform particularly well next year, with the former described as contributing to the “destination immersification” trend.
Clarke added that “28% of cruises have some form of multigenerational element”.
The fourth trend highlighted was the growth of train travel, as Clarke noted that increasing numbers of operators have been incorporating rail journeys into their trips.
Pointing to the sustainability angle, he said: “Train travel is seen as a way of offsetting the guilt of [causing] emissions when travelling by air.”
The fifth and final trend was “value added travel”, in anticipation of greater demand for “the best deals”.
The recent Budget is likely to affect how much money people can spend on their holidays next year, Clarke said, so travellers are expected to show further interest in shoulder-season trips.
“You can upgrade your experience by travelling in the off-season,” Clarke said, adding that Travelzoo had recorded significant demand for deals offering free upgrades and excursions alongside additional perks and benefits.