Preferred Hotels & Resorts unveils the top travel and tourism trends that will shape the year ahead.
From ultra-luxury sports experiences to cognitive wellness programs and boutique ‘seacationing’, travel in 2026 is brimming with excitement and innovation.
With over 55 years of expertise and a portfolio of over 625 properties across more than 80 countries, Preferred Hotels & Resorts is at the forefront of these emerging trends, and have shared trends that some of their independent member hotels are embracing.
This also comes at the cusp of Preferred Hotels & Resorts commemorating Independent Hotel Day on 29th January, a moment to celebrate and spotlight the vibrant spirit, creativity, and authenticity of independent hotels around the world within the Preferred Hotels & Resorts portfolio.
Preferred Hotels & Resorts Reveals Top Travel Trends for 2026
1. Sportcations
While major sporting events like Formula 1, the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics have long drawn visitors from all over the world, sports tourism is continuing to rapidly redefine luxury travel as thrill-seeking adventurers and sports lovers demand more out of their travels. Hotels are capitalising on this trend by offering bespoke perks and curated experiences that seamlessly combine sports with luxury hospitality.
At The Leela Palace Jaipur, travellers are invited into the regal tradition of Indian polo during the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh Polo Cup, enjoying VIP access in addition to interactions with players, time on horseback paired with palace dining, and spa rituals rooted in Rajput royal heritage.
2. Heritage Is the New Frontier
According to Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ recently released Luxury Travel Report, over nine in 10 luxury travellers want historic experiences integrated into their travels, with a vast majority wanting to get up close and personal with the past. This trend continues to take shape in 2026, as many highly anticipated new hotel openings focus on restoration – architectural relics from the past given a new lease of life, infused with modernity while retaining their old-world charm.
3. Cognitive Wellness
Wellness has a new language: science. Around the globe, luxury retreats are weaving medical innovation into mindful practice – pairing high-tech programs such as DNA analysis, IV infusions, and sleep monitoring with age old healing traditions. Experts call this emerging focus cognitive wellness – a new era of restorative experiences where retreats move beyond relaxation towards long-term wellness benefits. Today’s travellers also expect wellness to be personal. From genetic testing to stress mapping, every element is curated to the individual.
4. Breaking Free from the Beige
There is a growing desire among travellers for experiences that feel meaningful rather than mass-produced – a trend revealed by the Luxury Travel Report by Preferred Hotels & Resorts. According to the report, 83% of luxury travellers say they can tell when a hotel is designed for mass appeal rather than true luxury. This “sameness”, where everything feels soulless, is what Preferred Hotels & Resorts calls “beige-ification”. A new breed of hotels that recognise the need to resist sameness, embrace individuality, and offer bold experiences, are redefining luxury hospitality by daring to be distinctive and unapologetically original. In Asia, Dusit Thani Bangkok reimagines modern luxury with bold personality and creative flair, weaving Thai heritage into every detail from its avant-garde design and contemporary art collaborations to authentic culinary journeys and cultural rituals that celebrate the spirit of Bangkok. These hotels and others who “defy the beige” will be celebrated for a week from 26th-30th January 2026 as part of Preferred Hotels & Resorts’s Independent Hotel Week.
5. Pawsome Adventures
Hotels are increasingly transforming pet-friendly travel from a challenge into a true delight, redefining luxury to embrace not only human guests but their precious four-legged companions. No longer limited to simply allowing pets, Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ Preferred Pets program takes this commitment a step further, ensuring every pet companion enjoys the same level of indulgence as their owners. Custom beds, water bowls, toys, and in-room dining menus tailored for dogs are just the beginning. At Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo, tail-wagging perks also include a private dog park, city walk guides and handcrafted treats on top of professional pet sitting and grooming services.
6. The Healing Power of Nature
Hotels and resorts are embracing unique nature-inspired healing experiences as the next chapter in wellness travel. From grounding barefoot walks and forest bathing to meditations in gardens or by the sea, properties are weaving the outdoors into their offerings to satisfy travellers’ growing appetite for restorative, authentic experiences. This evolution reflects a wider wellness movement focused on reconnecting with the earth, slowing down, and finding emotional balance through the natural rhythms of the environment.
7. Boutique Seacationing
Seacationing is gaining momentum, though not quite in the way travellers have traditionally known it. While traditional cruises prioritise scale, an emerging wave of luxury boutique hotels is delivering more intimate, thoughtfully curated experiences at sea. Preferred Hotels & Resorts recently expanded its portfolio in Egypt through a strategic partnership with Wings Encora Collection, welcoming six new members to its global portfolio including five luxury Nile cruise experiences. These include the Mazaj Meroot, the newest jewel in the Mazaj fleet, which redefines luxury cruising along Egypt’s famed Nile River with an intimate blend of heritage and indulgence. Featuring just 10 elegant cabins and suites, the ship pairs breathtaking journeys between Luxor and Aswan with chef-prepared dining, a rooftop plunge pool, stylish lounge, and a full suite of wellness offerings from spa treatments to a modern gym. Other experiences such as the Mazaj M/S Tamr offer a choice of two different itineraries traveling between Luxor and Aswan.
In addition, The Archipelago in Taiwan, operates mainly on land but also offers sea-based adventures, giving travellers the best of both worlds. Branding itself as a luxury “cruise on land” resort designed to feel like a cruise ship anchored on land, the hotel offers day cruises for whale watching or private yachts for sea parties and picnics, even allowing junior guests to learn to be a captain for a day.
