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We look at how issuers can adjust their strategies to match millennial and Gen Z travel behaviors.

This deck provides an overview of the travel sector in ecommerce, including forecasts for sales growth, digital ad spending, and KPIs. It also highlights consumer shopping behaviors, research trends, what鈥檚 changed since last year, and the influence of technology on purchase decisions.鈥�

Airline and hotel co-brand credit cards are contending with shifting travel spending trends and rising competition from general travel cards. Tapping into Gen Z鈥檚 love of experiences and exclusivity can help them stand out in a crowded field.

US travel sales will approach $368 billion by 2028. To act on this opportunity, brands and travel industry professionals need to understand online travel research trends and shopper behaviors.鈥�

Shifting travel trends and priorities have also resulted in fewer luxury spending sprees abroad鈥攆ormerly an important source of growth for brands. With demand from Chinese consumers set to remain uncertain amid the country鈥檚 prolonged economic downturn and trade war with the US, it鈥檚 no surprise that luxury brands are targeting China鈥檚 wealthiest to stay afloat.

The summer travel season will look very different this year: More trips are planned, but vacations will be shorter and cheaper.

Travel demand is becoming harder to predict: Consumers are waiting until the last moment to make plans as uncertainty complicates spending decisions.

The news: Weaker-than-expected travel demand is driving JetBlue Airways to launch cost-cutting measures, including eliminating underperforming routes, ending service in some cities, halting nonessential aircraft refreshes, and restructuring its leadership team, per Bloomberg. Our take: Macro uncertainty is compounding the pressures on already struggling companies鈥攚hether it鈥檚 JetBlue, auto parts maker Marelli, or home furnishings retailer At Home鈥攁s each grapples with weakened demand, rising costs, and limited financial flexibility.

Latin America鈥檚 commerce media ecosystem is rapidly evolving. Financial, travel, and other nonretail players are now looking to monetize their own first-party data鈥攆ollowing the path retailers have already paved.

鈥淔riday, Friday, Friday,鈥� begins Amtrak鈥檚 recent viral social media video, in the retro style of monster truck ads. The content, which goes on to encourage train travel as summer begins (on Friday), has received over 500,000 shares across platforms, per Amtrak.

On today鈥檚 podcast episode, we discuss how anti-US sentiment, live tourism, and tariffs are all shaping people鈥檚 2025 summer travel plans. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, Vice President of Research Jennifer Pearson and Analyst Rachel Wolff. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.

The trend: Value-seeking behavior is on the rise, though not without some volatility, per Deloitte. Our take: Consumers鈥� growing focus on value doesn鈥檛 necessarily mean they want the cheapest option. In fact, up to 40% of how consumers evaluate value comes from nonprice factors, per a separate Deloitte study. That鈥檚 a critical distinction for brands. While it can be tempting to lean into discounts, a narrow focus on price cuts can hurt long-term brand equity. Brands that offer added value鈥攖hrough better quality, service, loyalty programs, or other innovations鈥攁re seeing stronger purchase intent and increasing consumer share.

Chinese consumers鈥� travel spending softened during a recent holiday: That鈥檚 a clear sign that confidence is strained due to trade tensions with the US.

The findings: A new study reveals that subtle changes in older adults' everyday financial behavior, detectable in banking data, can signal cognitive decline and financial vulnerability up to a decade before formal intervention. These changes include reduced spending on hobbies and travel, fewer online logins, and increased fraud reports or PIN reset requests, indicating a rise in financial errors and susceptibility to fraud due to early-stage dementia. Next steps: By identifying these risk factors, banks have an opportunity to not only prevent fraud but also solidify their role as trusted financial partners throughout customers' entire journeys. This also creates pathways to build relationships with their older customers鈥� caretakers or family members when permission is granted, enabling personalized support and long-term financial planning.

Now offering massages, art tours, and more without a home booking, Airbnb is turning into a full-service travel platform with a trove of first-party data.

The brand has also been hit hard by weakness in China and travel retail sector, as well as trade-down behavior from US consumers. Our take: Beauty brands have been understandably eager to capitalize on fierce demand from younger consumers.

The US could be the only country to experience a drop in foreign travel spending this year: Tariffs, uncertain travel policies, and a boycott by Canadian and Mexican travelers may cost the economy $12.5 billion.

Consumers are willing to spend on travel鈥攗nder the right circumstances: Cruises, premium travel, and concert tourism are all seeing healthy demand despite industry headwinds.

The trend: Despite鈥攐r perhaps because of鈥攅conomic uncertainty, US consumers are less likely to cut back on concerts, sporting events, festivals, and other live events this year, according to a CivicScience survey. Just 30% of consumers have or plan to reduce spending on live music performances in 2025, compared with 36% in 2024.

The news: President Donald Trump鈥檚 immigration crackdown is chilling consumer spending and reducing the available labor force for key industries like construction and hospitality. Our take: The US economy depends heavily on immigrants, both documented or otherwise. The Trump administration鈥檚 aggressive deportation push could therefore deprive companies of crucial workers鈥攁nd drive up costs for essentials like housing and groceries鈥攁s well as eliminate a considerable source of tax revenues and consumer spending.

The insight: The US is mired in the 鈥渨orst housing market in almost 50 years,鈥� RH CEO Gary Friedman said during the company鈥檚 Q1 earnings call, as high housing costs and economic uncertainty chill demand. Our take: With the sluggish housing market showing few signs of improvement, retailers must lean into any pockets of opportunity they find. For RH, that鈥檚 burnishing its luxury credentials and pushing deeper into hospitality, while Wayfair is leaning on its diverse supplier base. The resilient pro market is another area companies should look to take advantage of as they try to ride out the downturn.

Tariffs wreak havoc on travel demand: Airlines say demand for domestic travel has fallen off a cliff as more consumers opt to stay home amid uncertainty.

Delta expects 2025 to be a bumpy ride: Travel demand is cratering as the Trump administration鈥檚 policies create chaos and consumers brace for a recession.