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From experience-led travel and seamless personalisation to airport-led hospitality and sustainable journeys, discover the key trends redefining travel and hospitality in 2026.
Hospitality is no longer a series of transactions; it is evolving into an experience-led ecosystem where every touchpoint shapes perception, memory, and value
As 2026 approaches, travel is entering a phase of quiet but profound transformation. People are travelling again not impulsively, but with greater purpose and discernment. Expectations are sharper, choices are more deliberate, and the emphasis has shifted from merely reaching a destination to experiencing the journey in ways that feel thoughtful, personal, and meaningful. Hospitality is no longer a series of transactions; it is evolving into an experience-led ecosystem where every touchpoint shapes perception, memory, and value.
Experience Becomes the New Currency
Travel decisions in 2026 are being driven by experiences rather than itineraries. Travellers are seeking deeper connections with the places they visit, and hospitality brands are responding by becoming storytellers of local culture. Hotels are curating region-specific cuisine, collaborating with local artisans, and offering immersive neighbourhood experiences that encourage guests to engage beyond the property. The goal is no longer indulgence alone, but authenticity, experiences that feel rooted, intentional, and memorable.
“Travel is no longer about ticking off destinations; it’s about living stories that feel personal, relevant, and easy to act on,” says Ashish Sidhra, co-founder, Alike. “As we move into 2026, hospitality and travel will be shaped less by where people go and more by how they experience a place, and who inspires them to do so.”
He adds, “We’re seeing a strong shift towards creator-led, experience-first travel. Travellers are gravitating towards hyper-local food trails, cultural immersions, neighbourhood explorations, and adrenaline experiences but they expect these to be seamlessly bundled, transparent, and flexible. The friction between inspiration, discovery, and booking is no longer acceptable. In 2026, AI won’t feel like a feature users actively interact with; it will operate quietly in the background as an always-on co-pilot. For hotels, OTAs, and platforms like ours, the opportunity lies in using AI not just to optimise efficiency, but to deliver journeys that feel emotionally resonant, creator-inspired, and genuinely on the traveller’s own terms.”
Personalisation That Feels Effortless
Personalisation has matured from a concept into an expectation. Supported by data intelligence and artificial intelligence, hospitality services are becoming predictive and seamless. From room settings that adjust automatically to dining preferences remembered across stays, travel is becoming increasingly intuitive. This shift reflects a new definition of luxury, one that prioritises ease, comfort, and relevance over excess, while respecting privacy and individual choice.
Airports Emerge as Part of the Stay
The transformation of travel now begins well before arrival. In 2026, airports are no longer viewed as purely transitional spaces but as extensions of the hospitality experience. The airport journey plays a significant role in shaping a traveller’s mood, expectations, and overall perception of a destination.
“By 2026, hospitality will be shaped not just by where travellers stay, but by how seamlessly their entire journey unfolds, starting at the airport,” says Naresh Sharma, CEO, IRHPL Group of Companies. “Airports are no longer transitional spaces; they are becoming the first and last touchpoints of the travel experience, with growing influence on perception, spending, and brand loyalty. We are witnessing a decisive shift from transactional travel to intentional travel. Travellers today value relevance, flexibility, and time efficiency, and these expectations are redefining airport experiences. The future of airport travel lies in intelligent design, frictionless movement, personalised services, and retail environments that respond to traveller intent rather than footfall alone.”
Retail environments within airports are evolving into curated showcases of culture and discovery. Travellers encounter local brands, destination-inspired merchandise, and experiential pop-ups that reflect the identity of the city. Food and beverage offerings have also been elevated, with chef-led concepts, microbreweries, and region-specific menus transforming waiting time into a meaningful experience. Supported by smoother check-ins and faster security enabled by technology, airports are increasingly becoming destinations in their own right.
Naresh adds, “Airport retail in 2026 will move beyond duty-free purchasing to experience-led engagement. Curated assortments, local storytelling, digital integration, and omnichannel access will replace one-size-fits-all formats. Retail will become contextual aligned with traveller mood, dwell time, and stage of journey transforming airports into discovery-driven commercial hubs. Technology will play a critical role, but its success will depend on subtlety. Data and AI must enable personalisation without intrusion, simplifying decision-making while preserving choice. At the same time, sustainability will shift from messaging to measurable action, with travellers favouring airports and brands that demonstrate responsible sourcing and community integration. Looking ahead, airports will emerge as powerful lifestyle ecosystems that blend travel, retail, food, culture, and digital services into cohesive experiences. In 2026, the most successful hospitality and airport brands will be those that respect the traveller’s time, anticipate needs, and design journeys that feel effortless, relevant, and human.”
Sustainability as a Core Expectation
Sustainability is no longer a differentiator in 2026; it is a baseline expectation. Travellers are increasingly conscious of their environmental and social impact and are choosing hospitality brands that demonstrate responsibility through measurable action. Energy efficiency, waste reduction, and local sourcing are now standard practices. Beyond this, regenerative travel is gaining momentum, with hospitality brands actively contributing to local communities, livelihoods, and ecosystems.
The Rise of Blended Travel
The boundaries between business and leisure continue to blur. In 2026, blended travel has become a natural way of moving through the world. Professionals are extending work trips and choosing destinations that allow them to balance productivity with relaxation. This shift has influenced hospitality design, with flexible workspaces, extended-stay formats, and hybrid environments becoming increasingly common. Hotels are evolving into spaces that support multiple dimensions of modern travel without compromise.
Mishu Ahluwalia, co-founder, Trevel, says, “City travel in 2026 won’t just be about moving people faster; it will be about moving them intelligently. India’s urban mobility demand is set to grow by over 30 per cent in the next three years, and cities simply can’t manage that scale with instinct-driven, manual systems. This is where AI-led mobility steps in.
Electric vehicles will become the default for city fleets, not as a sustainability statement, but because the economics are compelling. On high-usage urban routes, EVs already deliver 20–30 per cent lower operating costs per kilometre, and by 2026, enterprises will expect electric-first partners as standard. Cities like Gurugram, with improving charging density and stricter emission norms, will be early adopters of this shift.
But EVs alone won’t fix city travel, orchestration will. AI-powered tools will optimise routes in real time, balance charging schedules, predict peak demand, and flag safety risks before they become disruptions. Dispatch will evolve from reactive decisions to predictive planning. Fleets that are fully self-managed and tech-enabled will consistently outperform fragmented, asset-light models, because reliability will matter more than raw fleet size.
The final shift is accountability. AI-driven dashboards will make emissions saved, route efficiency, and service uptime fully transparent. In 2026, city travel won’t feel chaotic; it will feel designed. At Trevel, we believe the future of travel, city or outstation will be electric by default, AI-powered by design, and driven by data doing the heavy lifting.”
Wellness Moves to the Centre
Wellness has shifted from an optional add-on to a core pillar of hospitality. Travellers are increasingly prioritising rest, mental wellbeing, and balance alongside exploration. Hotels are responding with calming design, wellness-focused dining, and thoughtfully curated programming that supports restoration. The aim is no longer just to host guests, but to ensure they leave feeling renewed.
Technology With a Human Touch
While technology enables efficiency and personalisation, the essence of hospitality remains fundamentally human. In 2026, the most memorable travel experiences will be shaped by people, those who understand guests, share local narratives, and create genuine connections. Automation may streamline operations, but warmth, empathy, and intuition will continue to define excellence.
Looking Ahead
The future of travel is being shaped by intention. In 2026, hospitality is no longer about offering more, it is about offering better. As journeys become more immersive and conscious, the brands that will stand out are those that design experiences with care, connection, and meaning, ensuring travel leaves a lasting impression long after the journey ends.
December 21, 2025, 11:35 IST
