Affluent Americans Now Shape the Future of Travel
New research from Resonance Consultancy shows affluent Americans driving luxury travel growth, reshaping destinations, hospitality investment and global travel demand.
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Resonance Consultancy has released The 2026 Future of Luxury Travel, a new report and original research that points to a structural shift in the global travel economy as affluent Americans take more trips, spend more per journey and increasingly dictate where hospitality capital flows.
According to the study, the top 10 per cent and top 1 per cent of US households now account for more than half of all consumer spending nationwide. Their influence is most pronounced in travel and tourism, where combined leisure expenditure is projected to reach $544 billion in 2026.
The findings come from a longitudinal study tracking affluent American travellers since 2007, conducted in partnership with research firm Léger. Based on surveys of 1,050 top-10-per-cent households and 451 top-1-per-cent households, the report describes a travel economy increasingly concentrated among a relatively small cohort whose behaviour determines destination growth, investment patterns and returns on hospitality development.
“Affluent travellers aren’t a niche segment anymore — they are the structural foundation of the leisure travel economy,” said Chris Fair, president and chief executive of Resonance Consultancy. “Understanding this group isn’t optional for destinations or operators. It is the difference between growth and stagnation.”
More Trips, Higher Spend
Since 2022, both trip frequency and spending have risen sharply. Top-10-per-cent households now take an average of 4.3 leisure trips a year, while the top 1 per cent average six — more than double the national average of 2.8 trips. The share of top-10-per-cent travellers taking six to 11 trips annually rose from 11 per cent in 2022 to 18 per cent in 2025; among the top 1 per cent, it climbed from 15 per cent to 27 per cent.
Spending per trip has followed a similar trajectory. Top-10-per-cent travellers now spend an average of $7,900 per trip, up from $5,100 in 2022, while the top 1 per cent spend $12,400, compared with $8,400 three years earlier. The average US traveller spends about $3,700 per trip.
The report concludes that, in 2026 and beyond, the wealthiest American households have become the primary force sustaining global travel growth.
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Wellness, Cruising and “New-Scale” Luxury
Resonance identifies three demand dynamics reshaping luxury supply.
Wellness and longevity travel continues to accelerate. Among top-1-per-cent travellers, 34 per cent plan a trip primarily focused on health and wellness in the next year, up from 23 per cent in 2019. For the top 10 per cent, the figure has risen to 21 per cent from 15 per cent. Interest increasingly centres on longevity science, biometric diagnostics and regenerative therapies, now embedded in high-end resort offerings from Costa Rica to Saudi Arabia’s AMAALA development.
Cruising is also rebounding among the most affluent. Interest among top-1-per-cent travellers rose from 37 per cent in 2019 to 53 per cent in 2025, fuelling demand for ultra-luxury vessels carrying fewer than 300 guests and blurring the line between resort and ship.
At the same time, hotel development is bifurcating. Mid-scale projects face growing financing pressure, while luxury properties with fewer than 150 keys — often paired with branded residences, villas or private clubs — continue to attract capital. Data from STR shows luxury chain-scale average daily rates rose 5.7 per cent in 2025, while mid-scale and economy segments recorded minimal growth.
New Winners on the Map
The research also highlights notable shifts in destination demand.
Canada has overtaken Europe as the leading international destination for affluent US travellers, narrowly surpassing Mexico. Costa Rica is gaining share from the Caribbean, repositioning itself from eco-tourism niche to mainstream luxury market through branded development and improved air access.
The Middle East is emerging as a “dream trip” destination for younger affluent travellers. Interest among top-1-per-cent households more than doubled between 2019 and 2025, with Dubai acting as a regional anchor. Among affluent travellers aged 18 to 34, more than a quarter plan to visit.
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Implications for Hospitality and Real Estate
Developed in collaboration with architecture and design firm Hart Howerton, the report outlines five imperatives for destinations, developers and operators: anchoring strategy in affluent demand; making experiences the core product; designing for authenticity and resilience; curating integrated hospitality ecosystems; and ensuring visibility across direct, intermediary and AI-driven discovery channels.
“The affluent travel market is robust,” Fair said, “but it is also more concentrated — and more exposed — than ever. Any serious growth or resilience strategy has to start with a rigorous understanding of this group. That is what this research provides.”
