UNPACK ’27: EXPEDIA, HOTELS.COM, AND VRBO REVEAL THE TRAVEL TRENDS INSPIRING THE WORLD IN 2027

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Postmedia has not reviewed the content. by Business Wire UNPACK '27: EXPEDIA, HOTELS.COM, AND VRBO REVEAL THE TRAVEL TRENDS INSPIRING THE WORLD IN 2027Author of the article:New Expedia Group report identifies seven travel trends set to shape 2027, from one-night getaways and hobby-led trips to emerging destinations and the new Set-Jetting forecast.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLYSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESCreate an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountNiagara-on-the-Lake, ON cracks the global Destinations of the Year list, as travellers look for places to slow down and experience purposeful getawaysTORONTO — Expedia Group today unveiled Unpack ’27: The Trends in Travel™, the annual report exploring the destinations, experiences, and behaviours expected to shape travel in 2027.This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Drawing on first-party insight from Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo, as well as global traveler research and social listening, Unpack ’27 reveals the new places drawing travellers in 2027 and some surprising things they’re doing when they get there.Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again“Travel is about creating memories, and Unpack ’27 uncovers the destinations and experiences shaping those moments,” said Ariane Gorin, CEO of Expedia Group. “In 2027, travellers are being more intentional in choosing their next adventure, seeking experiences that are more personal and purposeful to them. We’re making it easier to discover, plan, and book the right trip, so travellers can spend less time managing the details and more time enjoying the moments that matter.”2027 Destinations of the Year — Expedia’s Destinations of the Year showcases some of 2027’s fastest-growing travel destinations, using real search data to track where traveler interest is climbing:South Lake Tahoe, California (+195%)Hyogo, Japan ✓ (+95%)Punta del Este, Uruguay (+65%)Sedona, Arizona ✓ (+55%)Busan, South Korea ✓ (+50%)Holbox, Mexico (+45%)Perugia, Italy ✓ (+35%)The Tweed, New South Wales, Australia ✓ (+35%)Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada (+35%)Chichester, U.K. ✓ (+30%)1Checkmarks designate locations recognized by Expedia’s Smart Travel Health Check framework for managing tourism responsibly without overcrowding. Learn more about the Destinations of the Year and Expedia’s Smart Travel Health Check here.Travellers are reclaiming child-like joy with getaways built around play, spontaneity, and zero obligations. With Expedia data showing 48% of Canadian travellers are likely to book an Un-Adulting trip in 2027,theme park events just for grown-ups, immersive attractions, and nostalgic experiences are becoming the ingredients for a genuine break from being an adult. Un-Adulting trips are about wanting a carefree day (69%), quality time with loved ones (62%), and a genuine break from responsibilities (53%).Among the Un-Adulting experiences to try in 2027 are Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo, Japan; Color Factory Chicago, Chicago, U.S.; Park Xcaret, Cancun, Mexico; and Gold Coast: Dreamworld. See the full list of Un-Adulting experiences here.In addition to saving for one big annual vacation, travellers are fitting more frequent, bite-sized breaks into busy lives, with searches on Hotels.com for one-night stays up nearly 10% year-over-year.This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Quick getaways, they say, are for a quick reset between longer more traditional vacations (29%), attending concerts, shows and sporting events (27%) and celebrating a life milestone (27%).Evidence shows that Trip Snacking is fast becoming the default way younger travellers get away. While 79% of travellers say they’re planning to book a one-night stay in the coming year, that figure climbs to 85% among Gen Z and 87% among Millennials.7 A few of the most searched destinations for Trip Snacking in 2027 are New York City, U.S.; Montréal, Canada; London, U.K.; Tokyo, Japan; and Paris, France.3 Learn more about Trip Snacking and see the full list of top destinations here.The hotel stay is becoming an experience in its own right, with Hotels.com finding 50% of travellers having booked a hotel specifically for its atmosphere or aesthetic.Gothic Getaways are especially popular among Gen Z and Millennials, with 62% reporting a desire to stay in a Gothic-style property.Among travellers interested in booking a Gothic-style hotel, the leading motivations are historic properties with a storied past (51% ) and destinations steeped in folklore, legend, or the supernatural (39% ).Gothic architecture, candlelit corridors, dark colour palettes, and properties steeped in history are redefining the idea of atmosphere, while demand for castle properties on Hotels.com increased 20% globally year-over-year4 — proving that where travellers stay can be as memorable as where they go.Top properties for Gothic Getaways include L’oscar London, London, U.K.; Maison Métier, New Orleans, U.S.; L’Escape, Seoul, South Korea; and the Grand Hôtel Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden. Find out more about Gothic Getaways and the hotels that embody the trend here.For a growing number of travellers, trip planning starts with a passion rather than a destination, with Vrbo research showing 78% are likely to take a hobby-focused trip in 2027.Vacation rentals are becoming gathering places for crafting weekends, photography retreats, board-game nights, birding trips, and antiquing escapes with 47% of travellers saying hobbies play a bigger role in how they travel compared to five years ago.Connection is key for those looking to engage in hobby holidays. The leading motivations for booking a Hobby Hub are enjoying a hobby in a new setting (42%), spending time with people who share similar interests (42%), and disconnecting from day-to-day distractions (41%).8 Hobby Hubs bring people together around the activities they love, creating space to connect and enjoy those passions in a new setting.This advertisement has not loaded yet.This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Some great vacation rentals for Hobby trips include Alpine Lake House, Bala, Ontario; The Play House, Calgary, Alberta; Terrasse Montreal, Montréal, QC; Sea Dunes Beach House, St Peter’s Harbour, PEI and Bertie Bay Bliss, Fort Erie, ON. See the full list of Hobby Hubs here.Beach and mountain getaways may be the first destinations that come to mind when considering vacation home rentals, but Vrbo has seen dramatic growth in interest for landlocked destinations. Searches rose most sharply forThese smaller cities, college towns, and lakeside escapes offer local character, cultural energy, outdoor access, and a slower pace away from the usual coastal hotspots.Nearly 52% of travellers have gone on vacation to non-coastal destinations in the past 12 months, with the top driver for visiting landlocked locales being interest in the local culture, food, and art scenes, followed by a desire for exploration, fewer crowds, and affordability.8 Find all the top Heartland Hideouts here.Five years after Expedia Group first named Set-Jetting as a travel trend, screen-inspired travel continues to turn fictional worlds and filming locations into real-world itineraries. Nearly 1 in 5 travellers now report having booked a trip to a destination after seeing it featured in a TV show or movie.Nearly half of the travellers surveyed reported proactively researching or booking trips to destinations from upcoming TV shows and movies that haven’t even been released yet, rising to 51% among Gen Z and Millennials.7 Searches for Monaco on Expedia Group properties spiked by over 120% in the 30 days after Emily in Paris Season 6 was confirmed to be filming there. And on social media, mentions of traveling to Miami increased by 64% year-over-year driven by the upcoming Miami Vice reboot.6 The 2027 forecast includes Emily in Paris Season 6, The White Lotus Season 4, Heated Rivalry Season 2, The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, Miami Vice ’85, K-Pop: The Debut, Beach Read, Day Drinker, and the Ocean’s Eleven prequel. These anticipated releases are putting destinations on travellers’ maps before the first episode or scene arrives. Learn more about Set-Jetting here.This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.To learn more about Unpack ’27: The Trends in Travel™, visit https://www.expedia.ca/newsroom/ for the full report, downloadable assets, and brand-specific insights from Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo.1. Destinations of the Year:Based on increases in flight and accommodation searches on Expedia from September 1, 2025, to July 27, 2026, vs. September 1, 2024, to July 27, 2025.A checkmark denotes destinations that meet the Smart Travel Health Check framework, aligned with World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) principles. The Smart Travel Health Check helps travellers identify destinations that offer rich cultural and natural experiences without the overcrowding seen in many of the world’s most popular cities.Social media data based on mentions of “Un-Adulting,” “carefree travel,” and similar terms on X, Reddit, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook from April 15 to June 30, 2026, versus the same period in 2025.Based on searches on Hotels.com for one-night stays with a check-in between Thursday and Sunday from September 1, 2025, to August 25, 2026, vs. September 1, 2024, to August 25, 2025.Social mentions of 24-hour getaways based on mentions of “one-night stays” and similar terms on online news outlets, blogs, and social channels including X, Reddit, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.Based on global accommodations searches made on Hotels.com from May 7 to August 4, 2026, vs. May 7 to August 4, 2025.Social media data based on mentions of gothic aesthetics, castles, gothic architecture, and related dark-travel terms on online news outlets, blogs, and social channels including X, Reddit, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.Castle-property demand is based on Hotels.com searches from September 1, 2025, to July 27, 2026, versus September 1, 2024, to July 27, 2025.Based on vacation rental searches on Vrbo from September 1, 2025, to May 31, 2026, versus September 1, 2024, to April 30, 2025.Search data based on accommodation, flight, and/or package searches on Expedia Group brands in the 30 days after relevant title or filming announcements versus the prior 30 days.Social media data based on mentions of the shows/films along with travel terms on online news outlets, blogs, and social channels including X, Reddit, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook from March 1, 2026, to June 10, 2026, compared to the same period the previous year.This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Third-party research was conducted by market research company OnePoll in accordance with the Market Research Society’s code of conduct. The study was conducted online between August 4, 2026, and September 1, 2026, among 26,000 adult respondents across 16 countries, who are planning domestic or international travel in the next three years.Third-party research was conducted by market research company OnePoll in accordance with the Market Research Society’s code of conduct. The study was conducted online between August 3, 2026, and August 27, 2026, among 10,000 adults across seven countries who have stayed in a vacation rental.Expedia Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE) is the global travel marketplace with one purpose: to help travellers explore the world, one journey at a time. Its ecosystem includes Expedia®, Hotels.com® and Vrbo®, the largest B2B travel business and a premier advertising network. Expedia Group helps millions of travellers in more than 70 countries explore the world with confidence and ease.View source version on businesswire.com: This advertisement has not loaded yet.Notice for the Postmedia NetworkThis website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.