{"id":10286,"date":"2026-05-21T12:59:17","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T12:59:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.expedia.ca\/newsroom\/?p=10286"},"modified":"2026-05-21T12:59:17","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T12:59:17","slug":"unpack-26-summer-travel-trends-domestic-demand-rises-as-travellers-take-a-more-measured-approach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.expedia.ca\/newsroom\/unpack-26-summer-travel-trends-domestic-demand-rises-as-travellers-take-a-more-measured-approach\/","title":{"rendered":"Unpack \u201926 Summer Travel Trends:\u00a0domestic\u00a0demand rises as\u00a0travellers\u00a0take\u00a0a\u00a0more\u00a0measured approach\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Travel\u2019s go-to data-based trend report releases a first-ever\u00a0summer edition\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Unpack\u00a0\u201926 Summer: The Trends in\u00a0Travel\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today,\u00a0<\/strong>Expedia Group released\u00a0Unpack \u201926 Summer: The Trends in Travel,<\/a>\u00a0the latest edition of its industry-leading\u00a0report, revealing how\u00a0travel\u00a0behaviour\u00a0is shaping summer travel\u00a0decisions.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Demand for domestic travel is dominating summer vacation\u00a0planning.\u00a0Social conversation about domestic vacations has increased by 77% year-over-year globally, and 53% of Canadian\u00a0travellers\u00a0are planning a domestic trip this summer.*\u00a0From major sporting events and concerts to reading escapes and screen-inspired travel, Unpack \u201926 Summer builds on insights from the flagship\u00a0Unpack \u201926: The Trends in Travel\u2122<\/a>\u00a0report to highlight\u00a0where\u00a0travellers\u00a0are headed this summer.\u00a0Each trend is\u00a0backed by first-party data from Expedia\u00ae, Hotels.com\u00ae,\u00a0and Vrbo\u00ae\u00a0as well as\u00a0insights from\u00a0travellers\u00a0and social\u00a0listening.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis summer, travel isn\u2019t slowing down\u00a0\u2014\u00a0it\u2019s being reshaped,\u201d said Melanie Fish, Vice President, Global Public Relations, Expedia Group. \u201cAs major global events and rising costs influence decisions,\u00a0travellers\u00a0are either staying closer to home or seeking out destinations where they can get more for their money.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Expedia \u2014 Destinations of the Summer <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Domestic travel is shaping up to be the season\u2019s unexpected but understandable travel trend. Rather than far-flung destinations, more travellers are gravitating towards nearby escapes, from beach towns to mountain trails only a short drive or quick flight away.\u202f\u200bSearches for Jasper, Alberta have gone up 55% this summer, and interest in local hotspots like Niagara-on-the-lake and Blue Mountains in Ontario have spiked by 25%. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2026 Destinations of the Summer \u2013 The Stay-Here Summer <\/strong> <\/td><\/tr>
Destination<\/strong> <\/td>% Search Increase<\/strong> <\/td><\/tr>
Jasper, Alberta <\/td>55% <\/td><\/tr>
Moncton, New Brunswick <\/td>40% <\/td><\/tr>
Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador <\/td>40% <\/td><\/tr>
Halifax, Nova Scotia <\/td>35% <\/td><\/tr>
Muskoka, Ontario <\/td>35% <\/td><\/tr>
Kamloops, British Columbia <\/td>30% <\/td><\/tr>
Revelstoke, British Columbia <\/td>25% <\/td><\/tr>
Blue Mountains, Ontario <\/td>25% <\/td><\/tr>
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario <\/td>25% <\/td><\/tr>
Mont-Tremblant, Quebec <\/td>25% <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Explore the Destinations of the Summer\u00a0here.<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hotels.com <\/strong>\u2014 Hotel Hop Summer<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hotel Hopping \u2014 booking multiple hotels on a single trip \u2014 is gaining momentum as travellers look to experience more of the destination and make the most of the stays, with demand increasing during the summer season.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This summer, key motivations for hotel hopping include:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Event Hopping<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Hotel hoppers are planning their summer hotel stays around events to see their\u00a0favourite\u00a0musical artist or cheer on their\u00a0favourite\u00a0sports teams. Pairing a hotel near the concert venue or stadium with a second stay in a different part of the city means\u00a0travellers\u00a0can experience more of the destination\u00a0in\u00a0one trip.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n