As the travel landscape accelerates into 2026, hotels and resorts are redefining what modern hospitality looks like, with a clear shift toward wellness led journeys, meaningful experiences, flexible pricing and more personalised service. The Dana Agency has documented the key trends shaping this next chapter, and many of them are already visible in how guests plan, book and experience stays on the ground.
Below are the insights and predictions captured from Dana’s hotel partners across Florida, each offering a distinct point of view on how guest expectations and hotel strategy are evolving for the year ahead.
TREND: Purpose-Driven and Wellness-Focused Travel
In 2026, travelers will be taking fewer but longer trips, prioritizing wellness, personalization and meaningful experiences. Demand for regional travel and staycations is growing as spending shifts toward premium, experiential offerings. This is prompting hotels to adopt flexible pricing, bundled experiences and elevated engagement strategies. At The Perry Hotel Naples, this trend is reflected in increased demand for extended stays, wellness-forward amenities and immersive, locally rooted experiences. CREDIT: Yosie Crespo, Director of Sales & Marketing, The Perry Hotel Naples
TREND: Emotionally Driven Travel Experiences
In 2026, travel will shift from passive stays to purpose-driven experiences, with guests seeking emotional connection, meaning and a sense of belonging over traditional luxury cues. Travelers are choosing destinations and activities based on how they want to feel, investing more in curated, experiential components rather than room-only stays. This evolution is driving demand for immersive cultural engagement, flexible and storytelling-driven spaces, and transparent, customizable direct-booking experiences. At SkyBeach Resort, this trend is reflected in guest-led programming that emphasizes collaboration with local creators, hands-on culinary and cultural experiences that allows travelers to actively shape their stay. CREDIT: Allie Singer, VP of Commercial Strategy & Asset Management, SkyBeach Resort
TREND: Community-Centered Hospitality
In 2026, hotels will deepen their focus on loyalty and belonging as travelers seek places that feel personal, familiar and values-driven amid shorter booking windows and deal-sensitive behavior. Relationship-first hospitality, rooted in recognition, appreciation and authentic community engagement, is emerging as a key differentiator. Guests are increasingly loyal to brands that demonstrate purpose locally, invest in repeat relationships, and blend heartfelt service with intuitive digital tools. At The Marker Key West, this trend is reflected in its emphasis on recognition-based service for returning guests, thoughtfully layered guest-appreciation touchpoints, locally rooted community activations, and the integration of an AI-powered chatbot that enhances continuity, personalization, and ease throughout the stay. CREDIT: Laurayne Croke, Director of Sales and Marketing,, The Marker Key West Harbor Resort Harbor Resort
TREND: Value-Driven Lifestyle Travel
By 2026, travelers will redefine luxury through value, seeking experiences that feel elevated without premium price tags. AAt The Gates Hotel South Beach, we’ve noticed that guests want proximity to iconic destinations and cultural “centers of gravity” without paying flagship rates, driving increased demand for lifestyle-oriented, economically accessible hotels that offer curated activations tied to marquee locations. Wellness and technology are also emerging as core expectations rather than add-ons, shaping amenity offerings and guest experience design. Booking and spending patterns are expected to remain fluid, influenced by major events and seasonal demand drivers, requiring hotels to stay agile and responsive. This shift is accompanied by a continued move away from traditional luxury toward lifestyle, sustainability and fitness-forward travel, particularly in markets like Miami,, where health and wellness are becoming part of the destination identity. Operationally, the rapid adoption of AI, from guest communication tools to review analysis and service optimization, is poised to significantly shape hospitality operations and service delivery in the coming year. CREDIT: Skylar Simiovsky, General Manager,, The Gates Hotel South Beach
TREND: Proactive Trip Planning Accelerates Ahead of 2026 Global Events
Miami is poised for an exceptionally strong travel year in 2026, fueled by a convergence of global sporting events, its role as one of the world’s leading cruise hubs, and sustained demand from both domestic and international travelers seeking culture, beaches and lifestyle-driven experiences. At The Goodtime Hotel, this momentum is already translating into earlier booking windows, heightened peak-season demand,, and growing sensitivity around availability during major event periods, including the FIFA World Cup. As visitor volume increases, travelers can expect busier airports, fuller hotels and upward pressure on rates. The outlook underscores a broader shift toward proactive trip planning, with guests prioritizing flexibility and a diverse mix of experiences——from nightlife and design-forward stays to wellness and relaxation——as Miami cements its position as a year-round global destination. CREDIT: Yamil Montes de Oca, General Manager, The Goodtime Hotel,, Miami Beach
TREND: Interactive Experiences
Today’s hotel stays are all about thoughtful moments and feel-good details. Early dining is stepping into the spotlight, with experiences like Divebar’s ““Five at Dive”” happy hour, self-pour taps, and an upcoming rooftop restaurant setting the tone for relaxed, social evenings. Guests are gravitating toward menus that spotlight local ingredients and tell a clear, authentic story, while wellness is evolving into a full-stay philosophy rather than a single amenity. At Hotel Continental, restful nights are the main event with the Sleep Sojourn Package,, elevating rest with luxuries like 3D-contoured Slip silk sleep masks, cooling silky pillowcases, calming herbal teas, lavender shower steamers, and a Snooz white noise machine designed specifically for hotel rooms. CREDIT: Alejandra Franco, General Manager, Hotel Continental, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
TREND: Travel Style Shifts
In 2026, Miami will benefit from global event demand and hybrid work trends that encourage extended visits and multi–week stays. The Elser serves as a true home away from home, offering residential–style accommodations that include studios, one–bedroom residences, and spectacular two– and three–bedroom suites. Each accommodation at The Elser also boasts refined touches like gorgeous floor-to-ceiling windows, unobstructed bay views, walkout balconies, luxurious bathrooms for every bedroom, fully equipped kitchens, and residential comforts such as washers and dryers in every unit. CREDIT: Sean Flanigan, Vice President of Operations, Highgate and Acting Managing Director, The Elser Hotel
Wallace Cortazar
Account Executive
The Dana Agency
