Expedia: domestic travel rising, hotels falling

Expedia Group said on May 21 that summer 2026 travel demand is tilting toward domestic trips, while hotel prices are falling in some international markets as travelers adjust plans around costs and major events. The company’s Unpack ’26 Summer report said 63% of U.S. travelers are planning a domestic trip this summer, and social conversation about domestic vacations rose 77% globally year over year, doubling in the United States. Melanie Fish, Expedia Group’s vice president of global public relations, said “travel isn’t slowing down — it’s being reshaped,” with rising costs and major global events pushing travelers either closer to home or toward destinations where their money goes further. Hotel News Resource published the findings on May 21, and City A.M. separately carried the same summer-trends release that day. (expedia.com) ### Why are more travelers staying closer to home? Expedia said domestic demand is leading summer planning, with travelers favoring shorter-haul beach, mountain and outdoor trips over longer international journeys. In the U.S., searches for Florida and California beaches are up 50% this summer, while interest in lakes, mountains and national parks rose 65% year over year, according to the company. (hotelnewsresource.com) Expedia’s list of U.S. “Destinations of the Summer” included St. George, Utah, up 125% in search interest, Tacoma, Washington, up 120%, and Asheville, North Carolina, up 80%. The company said the rankings were based on first-party data from Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo, along with traveler insights and social listening. (expedia.com) ### Where are hotel prices easing overseas? Hotel News Resource said Expedia’s report pointed to falling hotel prices in selected international destinations, even as overall summer travel demand remains firm. A related market pickup of the same release said hotel rates in places including Fukuoka and Buenos Aires were down 35%, highlighting the value gap Expedia said some travelers are pursuing abroad. (expedia.com) Melanie Fish said travelers are “seeking out destinations where they can get more for their money.” That framing also appeared in City A.M.’s version of the release, which linked the pricing shift to a broader pattern of travelers weighing destination choice against event calendars and household budgets. (hotelnewsresource.com) ### How are sports and concerts changing booking patterns? Hotel News Resource said “hotel hopping” — booking multiple hotels on one trip — is gaining traction as travelers build itineraries around concerts, sports and blended business-leisure travel. The outlet said examples included stays tied to Harry Styles concerts in London, the British Grand Prix and Wimbledon. (cityam.com) A market version of Expedia’s release said sports-driven demand was especially visible around North American football host cities, with accommodation searches up 700% for Kansas City, 210% for Philadelphia, 210% for Monterrey and 200% for Atlanta. City A.M. said some travelers are also avoiding those same host cities and choosing alternative destinations for better hotel deals. (hotelnewsresource.com) ### What does Expedia say is driving the reshuffle? Expedia said the report draws on first-party platform data and social signals rather than a single booking metric, and it grouped the summer trends around domestic trips, event-led travel and screen-inspired itineraries. The company said the summer edition builds on its broader Unpack ’26 trends report and is intended to show where travelers are headed in the coming months. (cityam.com) On May 21, Expedia posted the report in its newsroom, while Hotel News Resource and City A.M. published versions of the findings the same day. The next data points will come from summer booking patterns themselves, particularly around major sports dates, concerts and peak-season hotel pricing. (expedia.com)