{"id":12633,"date":"2026-10-14T19:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-14T19:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/newsroom\/?p=12633"},"modified":"2026-10-14T19:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-10-14T19:00:00","slug":"unpack-27-expedia-unveils-the-trends-driving-travel-in-2027","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/newsroom\/unpack-27-expedia-unveils-the-trends-driving-travel-in-2027\/","title":{"rendered":"Unpack &#8217;27: Expedia Unveils the Trends Driving Travel in 2027"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong><em>From carefree escapes&nbsp;to screen-inspired travel,&nbsp;travellers&nbsp;in 2027&nbsp;are choosing trips that feel more personal and purposeful&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>15\u00a0October\u00a02026,<\/strong>\u00a0<strong>AUCKLAND\u00a0<\/strong>\u2014\u00a0Today,\u00a0Expedia unveiled\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/unpack27?brandcid=EXPEDIA-NZ.COMMS.PR.UNPACK27.GENERIC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Unpack \u201927: The Trends in Travel\u2122<\/a>,\u00a0the<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>annual\u00a0global\u00a0travel trends report\u00a0that details the\u00a0destinations\u00a0and\u00a0travel\u00a0behaviours\u00a0expected to shape the year ahead.\u00a0Powered by a combination of first-party data,\u00a0insights from\u00a0a survey of\u00a026,000\u00a0travellers, and social listening,\u00a0Unpack\u00a0\u201927 reveals\u00a0emerging\u00a0trends\u00a0\u2014\u00a0from\u00a0reclaiming child-like joy\u00a0to\u00a0the fastest-growing travel\u00a0destinations.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cTravel is about creating&nbsp;memories and&nbsp;Unpack&nbsp;\u201927&nbsp;uncovers&nbsp;the destinations and experiences&nbsp;shaping&nbsp;those moments,\u201d said&nbsp;Ariane Gorin,&nbsp;CEO of Expedia Group.&nbsp;\u201cIn 2027,&nbsp;travellers&nbsp;are being more intentional in choosing their next adventure, seeking experiences that are more personal and purposeful to them.&nbsp;We\u2019re&nbsp;making it&nbsp;easier to&nbsp;discover, plan, and book the right trip, so&nbsp;travellers&nbsp;can spend less time managing the details and more time&nbsp;enjoying&nbsp;the moments that matter.\u201d&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Expedia&nbsp;\u2014&nbsp;The 2027 Set-Jetting Forecast&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Set-Jetting, travel inspired by TV shows and movies, is now an established travel\u00a0behaviour.\u00a0Five years after Expedia first named Set-Jetting as a travel trend,\u00a0nearly 1\u00a0in 5\u00a0travellers\u00a0now report having booked a trip to a destination after seeing it featured in a TV show or movie.<sup>5<\/sup>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2027, the films and shows that will drive the Set-Jetting trend are highly&nbsp;anticipated&nbsp;new seasons, sequels,&nbsp;and extensions of franchises and fandoms&nbsp;travellers&nbsp;love. The anticipation effect is real:&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Nearly half\u00a0of Kiwi\u00a0travellers\u00a0(46%)\u00a0surveyed\u00a0reported proactively researching or booking trips to destinations from upcoming TV shows and movies that\u00a0haven\u2019t\u00a0even been released yet, rising\u00a0to 57% among Gen Z and Millennials.<sup>\u00a0<\/sup><sup>1<\/sup>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>More than 25 years on, The Lord of the Rings\u00a0remains\u00a0the world&#8217;s No.1 top set-jetting driver (27%) over Emily and Paris\u00a0(21%)\u00a0and Yellowstone\u00a0(18%).<sup>\u00a05<\/sup>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>With\u00a0<em>The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0<em>The Legend of Zelda<\/em>\u00a0set to hit screens next year, New Zealand is primed for a fresh wave of set-jetting demand.\u00a0Wellington\u00a0in particular has\u00a0secured a spot among the world\u2019s top set-jetting destinations for 2027, ranking fifth globally.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>On social media, mentions of travelling to Miami increased by 64% year-over-year driven by the upcoming Miami Vice reboot.<sup>\u00a04<\/sup>5\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>From famous movie settings to TV show filming locations, the rise in film tourism and movie-inspired holidays is turning on-screen backdrops into next year&#8217;s must-visit spot.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td colspan=\"4\"><strong>2027 Set-Jetting Forecast<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Destination<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><td><strong>Inspired By<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><td><strong>Destination<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><td><strong>Inspired By<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/Greece.d67.Destination-Travel-Guides\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Greece<\/a>&nbsp;<\/td><td><em>Emily in Paris<\/em>&nbsp;Season 6&nbsp;<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/Wellington.d6127327.Destination-Travel-Guides\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wellington, New Zealand<\/a>&nbsp;<\/td><td><em>The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum<\/em>&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/Destinations-In-Monaco.d120.Hotel-Destinations\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Monaco<\/a>&nbsp;<\/td><td><em>Emily in Paris<\/em>&nbsp;Season 6&nbsp;&amp;&nbsp;<em>Ocean\u2019s Eleven<\/em>&nbsp;prequel&nbsp;<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/Miami.d178286.Destination-Travel-Guides\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Miami, U.S.<\/a>&nbsp;<\/td><td><em>Miami Vice \u201985<\/em>&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/French-Riviera-Hotels-Cheap-Hotels.0-0-d6023326-tCheapHotels.Travel-Guide-Filter-Hotels\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cannes and Saint-Tropez, France<\/a>&nbsp;<\/td><td><em>The White Lotus<\/em>&nbsp;Season 4&nbsp;<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/Seoul-Hotels.d178308.Travel-Guide-Hotels\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Seoul, South Korea<\/a>&nbsp;<\/td><td><em>K-Pop: The Debut<\/em>&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/Lake-Michigan-Hotels.0-l6338716-0.Travel-Guide-Filter-Hotels\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lake Michigan, U.S.<\/a>&nbsp;<\/td><td><em>Beach Read<\/em>&nbsp;<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/Tenerife-Hotels.d6047194.Travel-Guide-Hotels\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tenerife, Spain<\/a>&nbsp;<\/td><td><em>Day Drinker<\/em>&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/Toronto-Hotels.d178314.Travel-Guide-Hotels\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Toronto<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/Montreal-Hotels.d178288.Travel-Guide-Hotels\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Montreal, Canada<\/a>&nbsp;<\/td><td><em>Heated Rivalry<\/em>&nbsp;Season 2&nbsp;<\/td><td>&nbsp;<\/td><td>&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>View the latest Set-Jetting destinations&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/unpack27\/set-jetting?brandcid=EXPEDIA-NZ.COMMS.PR.UNPACK27.GENERIC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Expedia \u2013&nbsp;2027 Destinations of the Year&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Expedia\u2019s 2027 Destinations&nbsp;of the Year list&nbsp;spotlights&nbsp;some of&nbsp;the fastest-growing&nbsp;travel destinations, based on real search data that&nbsp;identifies&nbsp;where&nbsp;traveller&nbsp;interest is&nbsp;surging.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To help encourage travel with care,&nbsp;six destinations also&nbsp;earned&nbsp;Expedia\u2019s Smart Travel Health Check&nbsp;for managing tourism responsibly while offering rich experiences. This&nbsp;Expedia&nbsp;framework&nbsp;was&nbsp;introduced&nbsp;with&nbsp;last&nbsp;year\u2019s&nbsp;Unpack&nbsp;\u201926 report&nbsp;and&nbsp;inspired by&nbsp;principles from the&nbsp;World Travel &amp; Tourism Council\u2019s&nbsp;(WTTC)&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/wttc.org\/destination-stewardship\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">report on&nbsp;actions for sustainable&nbsp;tourism management<\/a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td colspan=\"3\"><strong>2027 Destinations of the Year<\/strong><strong><sup>3<\/sup><\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Destination<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><td><strong>% Search Increase<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><td><strong>Activities<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/South-Lake-Tahoe.d10150.Destination-Travel-Guides\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">South Lake Tahoe, California, U.S.<\/a>&nbsp;<\/td><td>+195%&nbsp;<\/td><td>Alpine adventure,&nbsp;crystal-clear&nbsp;waters, year-round mountain escape&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/Hyogo-Prefecture.d6050638.Destination-Travel-Guides\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Hyogo, Japan&nbsp;\u2713<\/a>&nbsp;<\/td><td>+95%&nbsp;<\/td><td>Centuries-old heritage, healing hot springs, unforgettable coastal cuisine&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/Punta-Del-Este.d2756.Destination-Travel-Guides\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Punta del Este, Uruguay<\/a>&nbsp;<\/td><td>+65%&nbsp;<\/td><td>Chic coastal escape, golden beaches, laid-back&nbsp;glamour&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/Sedona.d6054771.Destination-Travel-Guides\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sedona, Arizona, U.S.&nbsp;\u2713<\/a>&nbsp;<\/td><td>+55%&nbsp;<\/td><td>Red-rock vistas, spiritual calm, adventure under endless blue skies&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/Busan.d602043.Destination-Travel-Guides\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Busan, South Korea&nbsp;\u2713<\/a>&nbsp;<\/td><td>+50%&nbsp;<\/td><td>Vibrant seaside city, buzzing markets, big-city energy&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/Isla-Holbox.d6046459.Destination-Travel-Guides\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Holbox, Mexico<\/a>&nbsp;<\/td><td>+45%&nbsp;<\/td><td>Barefoot beaches, bioluminescent waters, laid-back island ease&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/Perugia.d2762.Destination-Travel-Guides\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Perugia, Italy&nbsp;\u2713<\/a>&nbsp;<\/td><td>+35%&nbsp;<\/td><td>Medieval streets, storied art, unforgettable food&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/The-Tweed.d825683987221893120.Destination-Travel-Guides\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Tweed, New South Wales, Australia&nbsp;\u2713<\/a>&nbsp;<\/td><td>+35%&nbsp;<\/td><td>Golden beaches, lush hinterland, relaxed coastal charm&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/Niagara-On-The-Lake.d8957.Destination-Travel-Guides\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada<\/a>&nbsp;<\/td><td>+35%&nbsp;<\/td><td>Storybook streets, scenic vineyards, lakeside charm&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/Chichester.d4600.Destination-Travel-Guides\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Chichester, U.K.&nbsp;\u2713<\/a>&nbsp;<\/td><td>+30%&nbsp;<\/td><td>History, creative culture, scenic countryside near the coast&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Explore the&nbsp;2027&nbsp;Destinations&nbsp;of the&nbsp;Year&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/unpack27\/destinations-of-the-year?brandcid=EXPEDIA-NZ.COMMS.PR.UNPACK27.GENERIC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Expedia&nbsp;\u2013 Un-Adulting&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Un-Adulting&nbsp;is&nbsp;grownup&nbsp;getaways full of kid-like activity.&nbsp;In 2027,&nbsp;Expedia data shows&nbsp;travellers&nbsp;are embracing Un-Adulting&nbsp;by&nbsp;swapping&nbsp;adult responsibilities&nbsp;for playful getaways that reawaken childlike joy. From theme parks to&nbsp;nostalgic&nbsp;activities, Un-Adulting trips&nbsp;are about wanting a carefree day (76%),&nbsp;a genuine break from responsibilities (61%), and want to relive childhood memories (39%).<sup>1<\/sup>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Demand for adults-only trips is growing:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>57% of\u00a0Kiwi\u00a0travellers\u00a0say\u00a0they&#8217;re\u00a0likely to book an Un-Adulting trip in 2027,\u00a0rising to\u00a081% of Gen Z and Millennials.<sup>1<\/sup>\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Social media mentions of carefree, adult-only trips are up 41% year-over-year.<sup>3<\/sup>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Across the&nbsp;travel&nbsp;industry, more&nbsp;adults-only&nbsp;experiences are now available,&nbsp;from Walt Disney World\u2019s&nbsp;kid-free&nbsp;GEO-82 lounge at EPCOT and its late-night After-Hours events&nbsp;to Universal Studios Japan\u2019s adults-only Halloween Horror Nights overnight experience.&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td colspan=\"4\"><strong>2027 Un-Adulting Experiences&nbsp;to&nbsp;Try<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Activity\/Destination<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><td><strong>Location<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><td><strong>Activity\/Destination<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><td><strong>Location<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/things-to-do\/tokyo-disneyland-entry-ticket-with-tokyo-subway-ticket.a49695276.activity-details?&amp;rid=6076430&amp;location=Tokyo+DisneySea%C2%AE%2C+Urayasu%2C+Chiba+Prefecture%2C+Japan&amp;startDate=2026-10-01&amp;endDate=2026-10-04&amp;sort=RECOMMENDED&amp;selectedId=&amp;swp=on\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tokyo Disneyland<\/a>&nbsp;<\/td><td>Tokyo, Japan&nbsp;<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/things-to-do\/universal-studios-hollywood-tickets.a346102.activity-details?\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Universal Studios Hollywood<\/a>&nbsp;<\/td><td>Los Angeles, U.S.&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/things-to-do\/color-factory-chicago-ticket.a49191714.activity-details\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Colour Factory Chicago<\/a>&nbsp;<\/td><td>Chicago, U.S.&nbsp;<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/things-to-do\/zipline-to-the-falls-in-niagara-falls-canada.a686368.activity-details\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Niagara Falls Zipline<\/a>&nbsp;<\/td><td>Niagara Falls, Canada&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/things-to-do\/park-xcaret-admission-with-show-and-optional-transportation.a189689.activity-details?&amp;rid=6074370&amp;location=Xcaret+Eco+Theme+Park%2C+Playa+del+Carmen%2C+Quintana+Roo%2C+Mexico&amp;startDate=2026-10-01&amp;endDate=2026-10-04&amp;sort=RECOMMENDED&amp;selectedId=&amp;swp=on\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Park Xcaret<\/a>&nbsp;<\/td><td>Cancun, Mexico&nbsp;<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/Green-Island-Hotels-Princess-Senses-The-Mangrove.h96229123.Hotel-Information\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Princess Senses The Mangrove Resort<\/a>&nbsp;<\/td><td>Green Island, Jamaica&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/things-to-do\/1-day-dreamworld-ticket.a50392460.activity-details?&amp;rid=180064&amp;location=Gold+Coast%2C+Queensland%2C+Australia&amp;startDate=2026-09-03&amp;endDate=2026-09-16&amp;sort=RECOMMENDED&amp;slimSearchKeyword=harry%20potter&amp;swp=on\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Gold Coast: Dreamworld<\/a>&nbsp;<\/td><td>Gold Coast, Australia&nbsp;<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/things-to-do\/walt-disney-world-resort-theme-park-tickets.a181079.activity-details\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Walt Disney World Resort<\/a>&nbsp;<\/td><td>Orlando, U.S.&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/things-to-do\/museum-of-ice-cream-nyc.a4120259.activity-details\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Museum of Ice Cream<\/a>&nbsp;<\/td><td>New York, U.S.&nbsp;<\/td><td>&nbsp;<\/td><td>&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Discover more&nbsp;about&nbsp;Un-Adulting&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/unpack27\/un-adulting?brandcid=EXPEDIA-NZ.COMMS.PR.UNPACK27.GENERIC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a>..&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To learn more about the travel trends&nbsp;in Unpack \u201927, visit&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/unpack27?brandcid=EXPEDIA-NZ.COMMS.PR.UNPACK27.GENERIC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">www.expedia.co.nz\/unpack27.<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Visit&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/newsroom\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/newsroom\/<\/a>&nbsp;for Unpack \u201927 assets and more news from Expedia.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Notes to Editor<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Data Sources:<\/strong>&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Third-party research was conducted by market research company\u00a0OnePoll\u00a0in accordance with\u00a0the Market Research Society\u2019s code of conduct. The study was conducted online between 4\u00a0August,\u00a02026,\u00a0and\u00a017\u00a0August,\u00a02026,\u00a0among\u00a01,000 adult respondents across\u00a0New Zealand, who are planning domestic or international travel in the next three years.\u202f\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"2\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Destinations of the Year:<\/strong>\u00a0Based on increases in flight and accommodation searches on Expedia from\u00a01\u00a0September,\u00a02025,\u00a0to\u00a027\u00a0July,\u00a02026,\u00a0vs.\u00a01\u00a0September 1, 2024,\u00a0to\u00a027\u00a0July,\u00a02025<strong>.\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<br>\u00a0<br>A checkmark\u00a0denotes destinations that meet the Smart Travel Health Check framework, aligned with\u00a0World Travel &amp; Tourism Council (WTTC)\u00a0principles. The Smart Travel Health Check helps\u00a0travellers\u00a0identify\u00a0destinations that offer rich cultural and natural experiences without the overcrowding seen in many of the world\u2019s most popular cities.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"3\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Un-Adulting:<\/strong>\u00a0Social media data based on mentions of \u201cUn-Adulting,\u201d \u201ccarefree travel,\u201d and similar terms on X, Reddit, Instagram, TikTok,\u00a0and Facebook from\u00a015\u00a0April\u00a0to\u00a030\u00a0June,\u00a02026,\u00a0versus the same period in 2025.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"4\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Set-Jetting:\u00a0<\/strong>Social media data based on mentions of the shows\/films along with travel terms on online news outlets, blogs,\u00a0and social channels including X, Reddit, Instagram, TikTok,\u00a0and Facebook from\u00a01\u00a0March,\u00a02026,\u00a0to\u00a010\u00a0June,\u00a02026,\u00a0compared to the same period the previous year.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"5\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Third-party research was conducted by market research company\u00a0OnePoll\u00a0in accordance with\u00a0the Market Research Society\u2019s code of conduct. The study was conducted online between 4\u00a0August,\u00a02026, and 1\u00a0September,\u00a02026, among 26,000 adult respondents across 16 countries, who are planning domestic or international travel in the next three years.\u202f\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>About&nbsp;Unpack \u201927<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q: What is Unpack \u201927?<\/strong>\u202f&nbsp;<br><strong>A:<\/strong>\u202f<em>Unpack \u201927<\/em>\u202fis&nbsp;Expedia Group\u2019s\u202f<strong>annual global travel insights report<\/strong>, built&nbsp;on years of trend forecasting and&nbsp;traveller&nbsp;behaviour&nbsp;analysis. It&nbsp;draws on\u202f<strong>first-party data<\/strong>\u202ffrom Expedia, along with insights from\u202f<strong>26,000&nbsp;travellers&nbsp;globally&nbsp;across 16 countries,&nbsp;<\/strong>making it one of the most comprehensive travel trend reports in the industry.\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q: What makes Unpack&nbsp;\u201927&nbsp;a credible source for travel trends?<\/strong>\u202f&nbsp;<br><strong>A:<\/strong>\u202fThe report combines\u202f<strong>real-time platform data<\/strong>\u202ffrom millions of users with\u202f<strong>third-party research<\/strong>\u202fconducted by&nbsp;OnePoll, following the Market Research Society\u2019s Code of Conduct. Its findings are backed by&nbsp;behavioural&nbsp;insights, booking patterns, and cultural signals, making it a trusted resource for media, industry leaders, and&nbsp;travellers&nbsp;alike.\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q: What is the Smart Travel Health Check and how is it used in Unpack&nbsp;\u201927?<\/strong>\u202f&nbsp;<br><strong>A:<\/strong>\u202fExpedia\u2019s Smart Travel Health Check assesses destinations based on the World Travel and Tourism Council\u2019s (WTTC) six principles for sustainable tourism management. Destinations that meet&nbsp;these criteria&nbsp;are better equipped to manage tourism sustainably, protect local environments, and support communities<strong>.<\/strong>\u202fDestinations without a&nbsp;check mark&nbsp;may not yet meet or have measurable data for all six principles; however, they still offer rich travel experiences. Their inclusion reflects Expedia\u2019s commitment to&nbsp;showcasing&nbsp;a diverse range of\u202fdestinations while encouraging progress toward sustainable tourism. \u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q: How are destinations evaluated for the Smart Travel Health Check?<\/strong>\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A:<\/strong>\u202fThe\u202f<strong>Smart Travel Health Check\u202f<\/strong>indicates&nbsp;that a destination has been assessed against six key principles to ensure\u202f<strong>responsible and resilient tourism<\/strong>. These include having stewardship bodies with legitimacy and funding, a shared vision with local communities, data-driven planning, smart monitoring systems, transparent reinvestment of tourism revenue, and meaningful empowerment of residents. Destinations that meet these criteria are better equipped to\u202f<strong>manage tourism sustainably, protect local environments, and support communities.\u202f<\/strong>To read more about WTTC\u2019s research,&nbsp;visit\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/researchhub.wttc.org\/product\/destination-stewardship-2025\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">researchhub.wttc.org<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q: What are&nbsp;the latest travel trends for 2027?<\/strong>\u202f&nbsp;<br><strong>A:<\/strong>\u202fThe&nbsp;Unpack \u201927&nbsp;report spotlights several major trends shaping travel in 2027:\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>2027 Destinations of the Year:\u00a0<\/strong>destinations with the fastest-growing search interest\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Set-Jetting:<\/strong>\u202ftravel inspired by television shows and films\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Un-Adulting:<\/strong>\u202fplayful, carefree getaways for adults\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q:&nbsp;What&nbsp;destinations are trending for 2027?&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<br>A:&nbsp;The 2027 Destinations of the Year are&nbsp;Expedia\u2019s list of the fastest-growing&nbsp;travel locations based on&nbsp;flight and accommodation search interest from the millions of daily visits to the Expedia site and app.<strong>&nbsp;<\/strong>The 2027 Destinations of the Year are:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/South-Lake-Tahoe.d10150.Destination-Travel-Guides\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">South Lake Tahoe, California, U.S.<\/a>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/Isla-Holbox.d6046459.Destination-Travel-Guides\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Holbox, Mexico<\/a>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/Hyogo-Prefecture.d6050638.Destination-Travel-Guides\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Hyogo, Japan<\/a>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/Perugia.d2762.Destination-Travel-Guides\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Perugia, Italy<\/a>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/Punta-Del-Este.d2756.Destination-Travel-Guides\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Punta del Este, Uruguay<\/a>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/The-Tweed.d825683987221893120.Destination-Travel-Guides\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Tweed, New South Wales, Australia<\/a>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/Sedona.d6054771.Destination-Travel-Guides\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sedona, Arizona, U.S.<\/a>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/Niagara-On-The-Lake.d8957.Destination-Travel-Guides\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada<\/a>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/Busan.d602043.Destination-Travel-Guides\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Busan, South Korea<\/a>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/Chichester.d4600.Destination-Travel-Guides\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Chichester, U.K.<\/a>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q: What&nbsp;are&nbsp;the best adult-only&nbsp;holidays?&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<br>A:&nbsp;Adult-only&nbsp;holidays, or&nbsp;Un-Adulting&nbsp;as Expedia&nbsp;calls it, are&nbsp;trips&nbsp;built around playful getaways, like adults-only cruises and theme parks, that reawaken childlike joy, with one rule: zero obligations. The top&nbsp;Un-Adulting activities and destinations are:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/things-to-do\/tokyo-disneyland-entry-ticket-with-tokyo-subway-ticket.a49695276.activity-details?&amp;rid=6076430&amp;location=Tokyo+DisneySea%C2%AE%2C+Urayasu%2C+Chiba+Prefecture%2C+Japan&amp;startDate=2026-10-01&amp;endDate=2026-10-04&amp;sort=RECOMMENDED&amp;selectedId=&amp;swp=on\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tokyo Disneyland<\/a>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Tokyo, Japan\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/things-to-do\/universal-studios-hollywood-tickets.a346102.activity-details?\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Universal Studios Hollywood<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 Los Angeles, U.S.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/things-to-do\/color-factory-chicago-ticket.a49191714.activity-details\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Colour Factory Chicago<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 Chicago, U.S.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/things-to-do\/park-xcaret-admission-with-show-and-optional-transportation.a189689.activity-details?&amp;rid=6074370&amp;location=Xcaret+Eco+Theme+Park%2C+Playa+del+Carmen%2C+Quintana+Roo%2C+Mexico&amp;startDate=2026-10-01&amp;endDate=2026-10-04&amp;sort=RECOMMENDED&amp;selectedId=&amp;swp=on\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Park Xcaret<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 Cancun, Mexico\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/Green-Island-Hotels-Princess-Senses-The-Mangrove.h96229123.Hotel-Information\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Princess Senses The Mangrove Resort<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 Green Island, Jamaica\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/Virgin-Voyages-Cruises.cVY.Cruise-Line-Info\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Virgin Voyages<\/a>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/Miami.d178286.Destination-Travel-Guides\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Miami, U.S.<\/a>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/things-to-do\/walt-disney-world-resort-theme-park-tickets.a181079.activity-details\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Walt Disney World Resort<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 Orlando, U.S.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/things-to-do\/1-day-dreamworld-ticket.a50392460.activity-details?&amp;rid=180064&amp;location=Gold+Coast%2C+Queensland%2C+Australia&amp;startDate=2026-09-03&amp;endDate=2026-09-16&amp;sort=RECOMMENDED&amp;slimSearchKeyword=harry%20potter&amp;swp=on\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Gold Coast: Dreamworld<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 Gold Coast, Australia\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/things-to-do\/museum-of-ice-cream-nyc.a4120259.activity-details\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Museum of Ice Cream<\/a>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0New York, U.S.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q: What is Set-Jetting?&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<br>A: Set-Jetting is&nbsp;travel&nbsp;inspired by TV shows and movies&nbsp;in which&nbsp;travellers&nbsp;visit&nbsp;destinations after seeing them on screen.&nbsp;Nearly 1&nbsp;in 5&nbsp;travellers&nbsp;globally have booked a trip this way.&nbsp;The top Set-Jetting locations are:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/Greece.d67.Destination-Travel-Guides\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Greece<\/a>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0<em>Emily in Paris<\/em>\u00a0Season 6\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/Destinations-In-Monaco.d120.Hotel-Destinations\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Monaco<\/a>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0<em>Emily in Paris<\/em>\u00a0Season 6 &amp;\u00a0<em>Ocean&#8217;s Eleven<\/em>\u00a0prequel\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/French-Riviera-Hotels-Cheap-Hotels.0-0-d6023326-tCheapHotels.Travel-Guide-Filter-Hotels\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cannes and Saint-Tropez, France<\/a>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0<em>The White Lotus<\/em>\u00a0Season 4\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/Toronto.d178314.Destination-Travel-Guides\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Toronto<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/Montreal-Hotels.d178288.Travel-Guide-Hotels\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Montreal, Canada<\/a>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0<em>Heated Rivalry<\/em>\u00a0Season 2\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/Wellington.d6127327.Destination-Travel-Guides\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wellington, New Zealand<\/a>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0<em>The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum<\/em>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/Miami.d178286.Destination-Travel-Guides\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Miami, U.S.<\/a>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0<em>Miami Vice &#8217;85<\/em>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/Seoul-Hotels.d178308.Travel-Guide-Hotels\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Seoul, South Korea<\/a>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0<em>K-Pop: The Debut<\/em>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/Lake-Michigan-Hotels.0-l6338716-0.Travel-Guide-Filter-Hotels\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lake Michigan, U.S.<\/a>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0<em>Beach Read<\/em>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/Tenerife-Hotels.d6047194.Travel-Guide-Hotels\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tenerife, Spain<\/a>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0<em>Day Drinker<\/em>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q: Where&nbsp;can I access the full Unpack&nbsp;\u201927&nbsp;report and assets?<\/strong>\u202f&nbsp;<br><strong>A:<\/strong>\u202fVisit&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/newsroom\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">www.expedia.co.nz\/newsroom<\/a>&nbsp;for the full\u202fUnpack&nbsp;\u201927\u202freport, downloadable assets, and brand-specific insights from Expedia&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Assets can be seen <a href=\"https:\/\/expediacorp.sharepoint.com\/:f:\/s\/CommsInfluencerSocial\/IgCtBI1Bog9SQolbfKBgBd-xAUvy7l8Qa-c0uPdj7FMFcEk?e=rbk9Nb\">here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From carefree escapes&nbsp;to screen-inspired travel,&nbsp;travellers&nbsp;in 2027&nbsp;are choosing trips that feel more personal and purposeful&nbsp;&nbsp; 15\u00a0October\u00a02026,\u00a0AUCKLAND\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Today,\u00a0Expedia unveiled\u00a0Unpack \u201927: The Trends in&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":12591,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[165],"companies":[73],"locations":[160],"class_list":["post-12633","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-expedia","companies-expedia","locations-auckland","entry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12633","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12633"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12633\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12652,"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12633\/revisions\/12652"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12591"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12633"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12633"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12633"},{"taxonomy":"companies","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/companies?post=12633"},{"taxonomy":"locations","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/locations?post=12633"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}