HOT STUFF: Tastes and Trends for 2019

23 JAN 2019: Last week we offered a compilation of some of the travel industry’s most sizzling predictions for 2019 – from the news that Japan will be juiced in the coming year ahead of hosting the 2020 Olympics to the continued value of experiential travel – “doing” rather than just “going” – while on vacation. As prognosticators continue to dust off their crystal balls, we offer another round of what’s trending in 2019:

DESTINATIONS

Sunwing – Looking into the sun, Sunwing, which offers flights and vacation packages to dozens of destinations throughout the Caribbean, Mexico and Latin America suggests the following six destinations will be hot in 2019:

• Cancun (party in paradise)
• Guanacaste (wildlife and rainforests)
• Los Cabos (legendary landscapes)
• Punta Cana (breathtaking beauty)
• Negril (laid-back luxury)
• Cayo Santa Maria (sun and sand)

Expedia says it has analyzed thousands of data points from 2018 to identify where Canadians will travel in the year ahead. The results show that the fastest-growing trends in travel include international destinations and non-traditional lodging options such as tentalows and tree houses. As for activities, Canadians are embracing their love of the slopes, with ski activities such as equipment rentals seeing the biggest growth in this space year-over-year, and particularly in Western Canada.

The Year of International Travel – While Toronto, Las Vegas and London remain top destinations, those seeing the biggest year-over-year growth are a bit further away. From Europe to Southeast Asia, these are some of the most noteworthy trending destinations to add to the list, all of which showed double-digit growth:

  • Germany: Frankfurt
    • Portugal: Porto, Ponta Delgada, and Lisbon
    • Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi
    • Singapore
    • Bahamas: Nassau
    • Croatia: Zagreb and Split
    • Spain: Malaga and the Canary Islands
    • Australia: Melbourne
    • Peru: Cusco
    • Thailand: Phuket

Alternative accommodations are on the rise – While traditional resorts and hotels continue to be a favourite for Canadian travellers, Expedia data shows a growing interest in alternative lodging options, as travellers seek out unique and authentic experiences. Here are some of the fastest-growing accommodation types for 2018:

  • Tentalows (cross between a tent and a bungalow) – up more than 95% year-over-year
    • Agritourism properties (+35%)
    • Houseboats (+35%)
    • Tree houses (+30%)
    • Castles (+30%)
    • Chalets (+25%)

Activities – Activities and experiences are increasingly popular as travellers look to personalize and customize their vacations. These are the fastest-growing activity categories for Canadians over the past year:

  • Ski offerings:Hitting the slopes in the Canadians Rockies in spots such as Whistler, Banff and Lake Louise lead the pack when it comes to the top trending places to rent equipment and catch some fresh powder.
  • Theme parks:Exploring popular theme parks such as Disney, Universal Studios and SeaWorld reigned top spots for Canadian travellers.

    • Events and show experiences: Such as Broadway plays in New York or Cirque du Soleil shows in Las Vegas.

Last-minute destinations – Not all travel needs to be planned months in advance, as sometimes there is an urge for a quick vacation fix. These cities rose to the top for Canadian travellers booking less than six days out:
• Toronto
• New York
• Los Angeles
• Montreal
• Las Vegas

Vacation rentals – A great option for travelling in larger groups, whether that’s with family or friends:

  • Orlando
    • Montreal
    • Banff
    • Maui
    • Ottawa