KAYAK Study Predicts 2026 Travel Trends
KAYAK and TikTok released the 2026 "What the Future" report in 2025, analyzing billions of searches and surveys of over 14,000 Gen Z and Millennial travelers. It finds strong preferences for lesser-known destinations (69% Gen Z, 66% Millennials), growing trust in AI recommendations (41%), rising demand for flexible payments (35% influenced), and emphasis on wellness, authenticity, and shorter trips. These trends signal shifts for travel platforms and operators.
Key Points
- 1Highlights increased demand for lesser-known destinations: 69% Gen Z, 66% Millennials prefer off-grid spots
- 2Shows rising trust in AI travel recommendations: 41% prefer AI over friends or social media
- 3Indicates payment and product shifts: 35% cite BNPL influence; KAYAK added a buy-now-pay-later filter
Scoring Rationale
Official, large-sample industry report supports relevance and credibility; limited technical novelty constrains higher impact.
Sources
Public references used for this report.
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