Market Trends

💻 2026, ANZ travel market contracts nearly 5%; hotel sector down 9%, airlines down 1% due to rising fuel costs and cost-of-living pressures. Car rental shows steady growth. According to Phocuswright's report, recovery anticipated by 2029 with the market reaching $43.3 billion.

📈 Britain's top contract caterers saw a 9.3% sales increase in Q2 2026, following a 10.5% rise in Q1. The Contract Catering Tracker by NIQ, CGA intelligence, Bidfood, and UKHospitality highlights consistent year-on-year growth over five years. 📈

🏝️ In May 2026, TheLifeCo Saint Lucia opened as the Caribbean’s first medical wellness retreat in Rodney Bay, Saint Lucia. The development, exceeding $1 billion, includes three resorts, 500 residences, a medical district, 20 restaurants, and a 523-acre organic agricultural estate. It features advanced therapies like NAD+ IV, HBOT, and stem cell treatments. With a global repeat guest rate of 65%, TheLifeCo promotes long-term health through fasting and personalized health programs, appealing to health-conscious travelers.

💸 Confidence in the UK economy hit 30% in July, a 21-month high, up six points from the previous month. European economic confidence also rose six points to 35%, the highest since 2015. According to Barclays UK Consumer Spend Report, 47% of consumers feel secure in their jobs, and 53% are confident about spending on non-essential items.

🍽 Saladplate, official hub for Informa Markets' Hospitality, Food & Beverage portfolio, offers insights into industry trends. It provides weekly news, a monthly newsletter, and a bi-monthly e-magazine. Access over 10,000 brands and products, plus updates from 35+ international trade events via its supplier directory.

📈 Japan dominates APAC hospitality investment talks in H1 2026, while the Israel-Iran-US conflict influences regional conversations. Southeast Asia saw an 18% GOPPAR growth in FY2024, dropping to 0.4% in FY2025, with occupancy declining to 69.4%. Australia’s FY2025 GOPPAR grew 12%, continuing with a 5.8% increase in early 2026. While APAC shows healthy growth despite conflicts, individual resort performance could be affected by reduced Middle Eastern visitors. Japan's growth is decelerating from FY2025 peaks.

📈 In Q2 2026, Marriott Bonvoy's loyalty program reached 295 million members, with 68% of room nights globally, and 75% in the U.S. & Canada, booked by members. Across leading hotel loyalty programs, over 800 million memberships are recorded: Hilton Honors (260M+), IHG One Rewards (160M+), Accor ALL (100M+), and World of Hyatt (69M). Loyalty is evolving into a crucial distribution engine, enhancing guest relationships and personalization while reducing dependence on OTAs.