1、TRAVELTRENDS2023REPORTForewordWhere to goWhere to stayHow to get thereHow to pay for itAcknowledgments030413182325CONTENTS02foreword03To travel is to experience emotions,but over the past several years the travel industry has whipsawed in so many different directions,it can be hard to understand wha

2、t the new normal is.Ill be honest,the level of change whether in airline policies or travelers misbehavior in the sky has shaken even the most hardened travelers like me to the core.Its easy to make judgement on the state of travel from our own limited experiences,but at The Points Guy,we wanted to

3、take a 30,000-foot snapshot on what actually is going on in travel.Our team of experts rigorously follow the airline,hotel and cruise industries with a focus the credit cards and loyalty programs tied to each and have compiled this first-of-its-kind report showing the state of travel today and the t

4、rends to keep an eye on.While Americans might have finally gotten the“pent-up”demand out of their systems,they continue to invest heavily in travel experiences.After all,“travel is the only expense that makes you richer,”so while it might be becoming more expensive(and at times exhausting),travelers

5、 are looking for ways to connect deeper and extract more value from every trip.I hope you enjoy this special report,and Im proud of our team who worked tirelessly to encapsulate where we are today.Brian KellyThe Points Guy FounderWHERETO GO04Destinations to watch in 2023where to GOLAS VEGASORLANDO05

6、Theres always something new happening in Sin City.When the long-delayed Fontainebleau finally opens,it will welcome 3,700 new hotel rooms.Theres a new casino off the Strip,a cannabis-friendly hotel and a handful of ambitious entertainment projects including a“sphere”at The Venetian.And later this ye

7、ar,Formula One will turn Sin City into a racetrack in November,with cars zipping by its iconic attractions on a temporary track at more than 200 miles per hour.las vegasTheres more than theme parks here.Orlando has a gleaming new airport terminal to welcome more international travelers;will see its

8、Brightline high-speed train connection to Miami completed,whisking visitors between the two cities in just three hours;and is home to the spectacular new Steinmetz Hall theater and concert venue.At the theme parks,there is the new Tron/Lightcycle Run ride at Disneys Magic Kingdom,and Universal Studi

9、os will welcome a new Minions-themed attraction and cafe.orlandoDestinations to watch in 2023where to GOjapanAOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND06After two years of closed borders,the Land of the Rising Sun reopened to international travelers late last year.They will be able to rediscover longstanding wonders alon

10、g with exciting new hotels like the luxurious Roku Kyoto,part of Hiltons LXR Collection,which opened during the pandemic,and new destinations like Azumi Setoda,a traditionally inspired inn set on a small island in Japans Inland Sea.JAPANThe island nation used its prolonged closure to double down on

11、sustainability efforts,connectivity initiatives and exceptional Maori cultural encounters.But Aotearoa New Zealand is welcoming back visitors with other high-appeal events and incentives,such as a spate of noteworthy new hotels.Aotearoa New Zealand will also co-host the largest FIFA Womens World Cup

12、 ever along with Australia,and will also host the Womens Rugby World Cup in 2023.AOTEAROA NEW ZEALANDSaudi Arabia plans to spend$1 trillion on tourism infrastructure within the next decade including major new airports,cruise hubs and resort developments along its coasts with the goal of attracting m

13、ore than 100 million travelers in the same period.Its even opening its coastline to cruising for the first time with a new terminal at the Jeddah Islamic Port.The kingdom is also planning to add 500,000 hotel rooms,open an archeological attraction and launch a new airline,Riyadh Air,with the purchas

14、e of 39 new Boeing 787 Dreamliners,with the option for 33 more.This is one of the largest wide-body orders in Boeings history.However,a troubling human rights record,including ongoing restrictions on women and LGBTQIA+individuals,plus the egregious treatment of journalists,are just a few of several

15、major headwinds facing the kingdoms plans.The Philippines is also a destination to watch,if travel and tourism gross domestic product growth and employment are indications.Investment in this industry which currently accounts for 1 in every 11 jobs in the world,the World Travel&Tourism Council report

16、s is a strong indicator of where travelers can expect to see massive infrastructure improvements(a new airport is underway in Manila,for example)and other developments that will make a destination more appealing and,critically,more accessible to travelers in the years to come.Destinations are making

17、 major investments in travel and tourismthe philippinesSaudi arabiawhere to GO07The ability to skip some lines at Walt Disney World keeps going up in price.Guests used to get free FastPass tickets.But those were replaced with Genie+for$15 per person per day.Then,in late 2022,Disney started setting t

18、he price based on demand.Some days shot up to$29 per person thats$116 for a family of four.And thats in addition to the tickets just to enter the park.And thats just the beginning of the extra costs for a visit,as the parks try to make more money off each person who passes through the gate.Trending

19、destination:theme parksparking$25breakfast$11.08snack$5.99Dinner$51.60cost for individual lightninG lane ride$10-$25TICKET$159*genie+$15-$35Coffee and cinnamon roll at Gastons TavernChicken fingers and soft drink at Cosmic RaysEntree,soda and tip at Skipper Canteen*Based on July 22,2023,at Magic Kin

20、gdomMickey ice cream bartotal:for 1 personfor a family of 4that could equal over$292.25$1,000 PER DAY(using$15 Genie+and$10 Lightning Lane)not including airfare,lodging,etc.LUNCH$14.58Over at Universal Orlando,it may cost more or less to cut the line,depending on where you stay.Universals Express Pa

21、ss costs more than Disneys Genie+,but it is also free if you stay at the parks highest tier of hotels,something that isnt true at Disney World.Ticket prices at Universal Orlando start at$109 for access to one park,and go up to$159.However,if you want a Universal Express Pass,know that its expensive,

22、starting around$100 per person and going up from there.08where to GOWhat you pay depends on when you goWhat we are seeing with theme parks are price increases that way outpace inflation for the busiest dates.As the parks look to more evenly spread out demand,the prices for the dates with the lowest

23、demand arent necessarily changing,but those school break dates are jumping in price.With Disney World specifically,prices in 2022 increased up to 20%for the most peak of park dates,from a max of$159 to a new high of$189.What to watch?With Disney CEO Bob Iger back at the helm and growing public press

24、ure over rising costs and the increasing number of fees,Disney World recently ended parking fees for its resort guests,after first instituting that fee in 2018.Well be watching to see whether the high-water mark has been hit on increasing complexities and add-on fees for Disney?A rise in membership

25、programs,similar to a Disney+subscription providing discounts on Disney cruises and Disney resorts.$140$130$120$110$100$90$802000022$89$90$94$97$105$107$109$125$125$109disney world starting ticket prices*prices vary on peak days and do not include Magic Kingdom entry

26、 fee.$54.99 ticket$36.95 parking$60-$165 for a Flash Pass to reduce waiting in line(prices vary by date)Six Flags OVER Texas$89 ticket$22.80 parkingTimeSaver$60-plus taxDollywood09where to GOCruisescruise ships keep getting bIGGerPassenger capacityYear built10where to GO6,0005,5005,0004,5004,0003,50

27、03,0002,5002,0001,5001,0002000520202015Royal CaribbeanPrincess CruisesNorwegian Cruise LineMSC CruisesHolland AmericaCelebrity CruisesCarnivalCruise Lineoasis of the seasallure of the seaswonder of the seasMSC WORLD EUROPAMSC orchestraMSC DIVINAMajestic PrincessCelebrity BeyondNorwegian B

28、reakawayThe largest ship at sea holds 6,800 passengers.Compare that to New York Citys largest hotel,the Marriott Marquis,with 1,971 rooms.The largest hotel in Las Vegas,the Venetian Resort,has 7,100 rooms.Luxury cruises remain the one area where small and intimate is still the goalThe average capaci

29、ty of the five biggest cruise ships currently at seaThe average capacity of the five most notable new luxury shipsThe size ratio between the biggest ships and the newest luxury shipsAnd luxury cruising is boomingSix new luxury cruise lines have just debuted or are on the way,including four tied to h

30、igh-end hotel chains.NEW PLAYERS IN LUXURY CRUISING:Atlas Ocean VoyagesThe Ritz-Carlton Yacht CollectionExplora JourneysFour Seasons YachtsOrient ExpressAman Resorts22022520262026Ships in serviceLineShips on orderFirst ship debutpassengerspassengers6,80057612X11where to GOOnboa

31、rd charges and fees on ships are soaringThe fees many cruise lines add to passenger bills for things like room service have been rising sharply since cruising resumed in earnest in early 2022.Cruise lines are looking for ways to increase revenue to pay down the enormous debt they took on during the

32、COVID-19 pandemic.At a number of the biggest cruise brands,such fees are up 15%to 25%over the past year:Service fees(tips and gratuities)are up 25%in a year at Norwegian Cruise Line,from$20 to$25 per person per day for passengers in most cabins.Room service delivery fees are up 101%in a year at Cele

33、brity Cruises,from$4.95 to$9.95 per order.The fee of a four-device Wi-Fi plan is up 167%in a year at Princess Cruises,from$15 to$40 a day.Premium drinks package fees are up 58%in two years at Celebrity Cruises,from$69 to$109 per person per day.Restaurant fees for onboard steakhouses are up 26%in a y

34、ear at Carnival Cruise Line,from$38 to$48 per person.12where to GOWHERETO stay13Branding bonanza for hotelsJust when you thought there were too many brands in the hotel orbit,hotel companies began adding more soft brands.This isa type of affiliation that connects a hotel to the loyalty networks and

35、reservations systems of a major hotel company like Hilton or Marriott,without having the standardized look of a hard brand like Westin or Waldorf Astoria.The addition of soft brands came as hotel companies tried to fill in any blank spaces in their networks.They include The Luxury Collection and Aut

36、ograph Collection for Marriott,MGallery for Accor,Unbound Collection and JdV for Hyatt and Curio Collection for Hilton.Much of the brand explosion looks like a barbell:concentrating in the luxury sector at one end and the middle-market,mainstream sector at the other with the narrow band between repr

37、esenting more legacy offerings like Sheraton,Hilton,Marriott and Hyatt Regency.That means expect to see more luxury brands like Ritz-Carlton,Raffles and Park Hyatt as well as newer,more affordable middle-market options like Voco.Never heard of Voco?Well,IHG has opened 100 of the hotels in the past f

38、ive years.Hotel companies are also continuing to invest in vacation rentals.Airbnb,by far the leader in this space,added 900,000 new listings to its platform last year,bringing the total to 6.6 million.When Marriott launched Homes&Villas in 2019,it had just 2,000 listings;by the end of 2022 it had m

39、ore than 80,000.Expect more brands to follow.14where to stayNumber of brands under each hotel conglomerate over the years:HyattHiltonMarriottIHGAccor71*1840-plus201020152023*Marriott International is expected to close on an acquisition of its 31st brand,City Express,by the end

40、of the second quarter of this year.With 124 hotels at the end of 2022,The Luxury Collection is Marriotts largest luxury brand by property count a fairly rapid ascent compared to Ritz-Carltons current brand incarnation spanning 115 hotels that began in 1983,a decade prior to The Luxury Collections la

41、unch in the 1990s.The era of deals is overHotels used to discount rates in order to fill every room possible.But that mindset is no longer the norm?Hotel rate discounts are a thing of the past in the name of protecting profits.Empty hotel rooms are fine as long as the guests you do have are paying m

42、arket rate for a room,industry logic goes these days?Occupancy rates arent back to pre-pandemic levels across the hotel industry(65.8%in 2019 versus 62.6%in 2022,according to STR)but overall performance recovered because rates are so much higher than before.Because of this,dont expect mass bargains

43、to happen like they did in prior years.?While discounts could sell out hotels immediately,theres no need to go to all that trouble and add in the expense of hiring more housekeepers to remedy all that wear and tear.Hotels have shifted in the past few years from fixed award charts to dynamic prices t

44、hat are closely tied to the cash room rates.Higher room rates and a shift to fluctuating point pricingThe changing cost of award staysAverage daily rate increase by year:HyattHiltonMarriottIHGAccor$238.00$144.79$160.55$115.97$98.30(about 92 euros)$267.00$151.01$172.85$124.17$108.68(about 103 euros)1

45、2.2%4.3%7.7%8.2%10.6%20192022%changeMajor hotel loyalty programs with published award chartsMarriottHiltonIHGHyattMarriottHyattHyatt20152019TODAY15where to stayMore points are needed for the top luxury hotelsHiltonMarriottHyatt*130,000120,000110,000100,00090,00080,00070,00060,00050,00040,00030,00020

46、,00010,0000150,00020000222023(3 of 4 Maldives properties no longer fall under the 95K level)*Notably the only one of these three that still publishes this upper boundPoint Amounts16where to stay?Once snubbed for mediocre food,watered-down drinks and less-than-glamoro

47、us rooms and amenities,all-inclusives are a new focus for major hotel companies like Hyatt,Marriott and Hilton,among others,who are doubling down on the know-what-you-get-upfront vacation type.In the last four years,the three conglomerates have gone from nearly 30 all-inclusive resorts to over 150,p

48、lus nearly two dozen in the pipeline?Though Marriott started 2019 with just one all-inclusive resort,its portfolio currently has over 30,plus nearly a dozen in the pipeline.Its also leading the trend in bringing the format to its well-known luxury brands,with plans to open all-inclusive outposts of

49、W,Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott resorts,along with the recent opening of the first Luxury Collection all-inclusive resort.All-in on all-inclusive resortsHyatt is leading the pack of all-inclusive growth,going from fewer than 10 resorts in 2019 to over 120 as of this year,plus another 10 in the pipeli

50、ne.?Travelers hate pesky and often hidden resort fees that can easily tack on$25 to$50 per night.But they love all-inclusive resorts for the(mostly)all-in pricing without resort fees,which can easily save$150 on a weeklong vacation.But will this shift in consumer trends mean resorts will follow with

51、 additional fees for all-inclusive resorts?Not every all-inclusive resort falls into the typical beach experience.Expect to see growth in nontraditional all-inclusive experiences,like Hyatts wellness-and spa-focused Miraval brand.No Hidden Fees Here17where to stayhow toget there18The last two decade

52、s have been filled with airline mergers,leaving passengers to mostly pick among the“Big Four”carriers American Airlines,Delta Air Lines,United Airlines and Southwest Airlines that account for 75%of the U.S.market.But that is starting to change.Travelers today are finding a slew of refreshing new opt

53、ions with airlines that dont force them to connect in giant hubs.Two new budget airlines Avelo and Breeze are ones to watch.Both launched in 2021 but have rapidly grown since already doubling their number of destinations.They are joined by the relatively new“semi-private”carrier JSX.Yes,they are tin

54、y compared to the overall industry,but they fill a vacuum created by the big airlines:flying nonstop to“underserved”markets routes like Providence-Cincinnati,Louisville-San Francisco and Chicago-New Haven,Connecticut.The airlines are also known for offering rock-bottom base fares which,even with the

55、 add-on fees being charged,helps put downward pressure on fares.Its not your imagination:There may be more people on your plane now than a decade ago.Planes flying U.S.passengers have been trending larger;there are fewer small regional jets and a general“upgauging”of planes to higher-capacity versio

56、ns of popular jets in the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 families of aircraft.Nontraditional airlines are growingPlanes are getting biggerNumber of cities servedSource:CiriumAveloBreezeSpiritSun CountryAllegiantFrontier12493Jan.22AirlineJan.23average seats per aircraft2015-111.8201

57、9-121.32023-136.0Seats per departure on flights from U.S.airports.Source:Cirium19Regional jets are flying lessThe latest versions of the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 families to come off assembly plant lines are longer than previous models,with more rows of seats.Even the smallest planes in their flee

58、ts so-called regional jets are getting bigger.The regional carriers that fly feeder flights for their big partners American,Delta and United have also been“upgauging”or replacing their smallest regional jets with bigger ones.One of the most pronounced changes has been a decline in the number of flig

59、hts operated by regional jets.Airlines are now operating a smaller percentage of flights as airlines move more flights to bigger regional aircraft.Some of the smallest,least-popular regional jets are becoming especially scarce.The cramped cabin of the 50-seat CRJ200,for example,is flying for few car

60、riers these days.Delta,where the jet was once a staple of its regional Delta Connection fleet,intends to phase out the plane altogether by years end.The cramped cabin of 50-seat CRJ200,for example,is flying for few carriers these days.Delta,where the jet was once a staple of its regional Delta Conne

61、ction fleet,intends to phase out the plane altogether by years end.This does mean that smaller cities are losing flight frequencies or being dropped completely from the route map.U.S.airlines are moving in the direction of making Wi-Fi cheaper if not completely free.In February,Delta began offering

62、free Wi-Fi on its planes equipped by Viasat a move that covers most of its domestic mainline flights.In doing so,Delta jumped closer to JetBlue in offering customers complimentary Wi-Fi on all flights.That development comes as most U.S.airlines have worked to add faster Wi-Fi to their planes.While t

63、hat gives passengers something to look forward to in years ahead,heres how Wi-Fi in the skies stacks up across different airlines.And note that not everyone is feeling the peer pressure.Three U.S.budget airlines Allegiant,Sun Country and Frontier currently dont offer any inflight Wi-Fi service and a

64、rent expected to do so any time soon.Inflight Wi-Fi is getting cheaperPercent of mainline*fleet with Wi-Fi100%American100%JetBlue100%Southwest100%Alaska100%Unitedwill be 100%by May98.7%Delta80%Spirit0%Allegiant0%Sun Country0%Frontier0%Hawaiian*Connectivity varies on regional jet fleets*Free Wi-Fi ro

65、llout begins this year on select planesPrice of domestic Wi-Fi(for a single device)Free on Viasat-equipped planes,begins at$6 on Intelsat-equipped planesBegins at$9Begins at$8 per legBegins at$8N/ABegins at$8 or 1,600 miles for MileagePlus members;$10 for everyone elseBrowsing starts at$2.99 and str

66、eaming starts at$5.99FreeDeltaAmericansouthwestAlaskaAllegiant/FRONTIER/hawaiian/Sun countryunitedspiritjetblue20how to get there1,500,0001,000,000500,0000200222023*FlightsAmericanDeltaUnitedscheduled regional jet flights*per year by the u.s.Big 3*Counts smaller jets typically operating w

67、ith fewer than 100 seats that operate flights under the regional brands of American,Delta and United.*Includes flights currently published on airline schedules through the end of 2023.Source:OAGJust like with hotel loyalty programs,the airline industry has shifted primarily to dynamic award pricing

68、and increased price ranges.In the years following the Great Recession of 2008,loyalty programs generally awarded status(and requisite perks)based on miles flown or nights spent.Now,the paradigm has shifted to reward spending and holders of cobranded credit cards?Delta requires a certain amount of fl

69、ying and spending to reach its elite Medallion status though you can remove the revenue requirement via high spending on a Delta credit card?United allows elite status qualification based solely on spending?American went even further with Loyalty Points,a new elite-status system it unveiled in 2021,

70、awarding credit toward elite status for virtually every base mile earned across the entire program,including credit card spending and other partner activity,not just flying.In perhaps the most significant example of prioritizing credit card membership over customer loyalty,Delta implemented new Sky

71、Club access policies in February,restricting elite members traveling internationally from once-free access to now requiring a membership or the right credit card.Gold,Platinum and Diamond members now must have a club membership,hold an eligible(premium)credit card,or be confirmed in premium economy(

72、or higher)on long-haul flights to get in.There are no longer set prices for award ticketsRedefining airline loyalty and elite statusMajor US airlines with published award chartsDeltaAmericanUnitedAlaskaAmericanUnitedAlaskaAmerican*Alaska*20152019TODAY*American will be removing published charts in th

73、e first quarter of 2023.*Alaskas award charts remain published but use the language“starting from”for award rates.21how to get thereOver the past decade,airlines have reserved more and more seats for elite members or those willing to pay to be closer to the front of the plane.Thats often meant that

74、families have had to pay up or be split up.But this is now changing?United Airlines recently rolled out a really flexible new set of policies around family seating,even allowing families to switch flights if they arent able to be seated together.?Southwest Airlines has also loosened its rules,allowi

75、ng children up to age 13 to preboard so families could sit together,since Southwest doesnt offer assigned seating.?Delta Air Lines also rolled out a family seating plan in early 2023,which is a small step in the right direction.?American Airlines freshly amended customer service plan now reads:We gu

76、arantee children 14 and under will be seated adjacent to an accompanying adult at no additional cost,including Basic Economy fares.TPGs push to other airlines is to make it a priority for families to sit together,for the sake of all passengers on board.Its better when children can be with their pare

77、nts.Hopefully,this is a trend well see gain momentum over the rest of 2023.Family travel:status of seating and boarding policies22how to get therehow topay for it23In recent years,credit card issuers have added lifestyle perks beyond the traditional travel-related benefits.These new benefits help of

78、fset the significant and climbing annual fees,but are not always easy to use or the right fit for all members?The combination of monthly,quarterly and annual statement credits on The Platinum Card from American Express promise more than$1,500 in annual value,but the mix is very odd:Airline fee credi

79、ts,streaming services,Walmart+membership and high-end fitness clubs are just a few of the statement credit hodgepodge.Plus,these require consistent attention to use and maximize?The Chase Sapphire Reserve has followed suit with credits for food delivery,ride-hailing services and exercise brands,prom

80、ising hundreds of dollars in annual statement credits doled out in monthly allowances that are difficult to fully utilize?The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card removed its$300 annual Marriott credit and replaced it with monthly dining credits.Banks have significantly raised the annual

81、fees on their most-prestigious cards,created a new tier of cards with$200-plus annual fees and stripped benefits from their no-annual-fee cards.While credit cards can unlock more benefits than ever before,those added perks come at a cost.Credit cards shift to lifestyle perksPremium cards,higher fees

82、The Chase Sapphire Reserves annual fee increased from$450 to$550 in 2021.The annual fee on The Platinum Card from American Express jumped from$450 to$550 in 2017 and then to$695 in 2021.Other cards kept their annual fees the same but slashed benefits,such as the U.S.Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infini

83、te Card,UBS Visa Infinite Credit Card and City National Crystal Visa Infinite Credit Card.New credit cards with a mid-tier annual fee of$250 have been introduced:the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card(new in 2022),Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Card(new in 2022)and United Quest Card(new in 2021).

84、The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card updated its benefits in 2022 to offer higher elite status and a more valuable free night award,then increased its annual fee from$450 to$650.24how to pay for it25Scott MayerowitzTPG Executive EditorThis is one of the most exciting times to travel,w

85、ith profound shifts happening across the industry.Multiple teams at The Points Guy worked together to make this first-of-its-kind travel trends report a reality.Our industry experts across the editorial team collaborated data from different destinations,hotels,cruises,airlines,credit card issuers an

86、d loyalty programs to bring you these insights.Special thanks go to Nick Ewen,Eric Rosen,Summer Hull,Melanie Lieberman,Ben Mutzabaugh,Madison Blancaflor,Matt Moffitt,Andrew Kunesh,Gene Sloan,Tanner Saunders,Cameron Sperance,Katie Genter,Zach Griff,David Slotnick,Ryan Smith,Becky Blaine,Caroline Lasc

87、om,Senitra Horbrook,Emily Thompson,Christine Gallipeau and Treena Simington,all of whom played a part writing or editing the report.Additional thanks go to the incredible creative team for the design of this report:Jill Bressler,Bill Harkins,Taylor Stephenson and Emilia Wronski.Acknowledgmentsthepointsg