PoB Hotels reveals 2026 Luxury Travel Trends Report

Luxury British independent hotelier, PoB Hotels, has released its 2026 Whitepaper, revealing traveller trends for the year ahead.

The third annual report from the collection of independent luxury hotels reveals heritage is one of the most important drivers of luxury travel, while comfort, connection and quiet have also become key.

Created in collaboration with luxury insight specialist Altiant, The Whitepaper surveys a diverse mix of 1,646 travellers to uncover evolving booking patterns and travel trends.

Heartfelt experiences and deep connections

“Affluent travellers are telling us, with striking clarity, that true luxury today is not about what can be displayed, but about how deeply an experience makes them feel,” says Kalindi Juneja, CEO at PoB Hotels.

“The findings confirm a profound rebalancing of priorities. Comfort and quiet are now viewed as status symbols, with guests craving space, stillness and wellbeing more than chandeliers or logos.”

Key finding from the 2026 Luxury Travel Trends Report

Three quarters of affluent travellers (75 per cent) say historic or cultural experiences are their top priority when booking.

“Beyond where people travel, it is how and why they travel that is shifting most dramatically,” says Juneja.

“Heritage has emerged as the most compelling driver of luxury travel, ahead even of food and wellness. This is because it offers a grounding in place and meaning in a world that feels increasingly fragmented.”

Nearly eight in 10 travellers (79 per cent) say comfort and quiet are ‘essential’ or ‘very important’ to their booking choices. Quiet, thoughtful gestures are becoming markers of refinement and drivers of loyalty.

“Today’s affluent travellers are no longer seduced by chandeliers or designer labels; instead, they are seeking experiences that feel personal, restorative and real,” says Juneja.

The rise of spontaneity and conscious detail

Spontaneity is the new luxury – while 47 per cent say they ‘usually’ book up to three months ahead, hotels report up to three-quarters of bookings now occur last-minute.

“Last-minute bookings are a new form of indulgence, the freedom to decide today and depart tomorrow,” says Juneja.

Despite economic uncertainty, travel remains a non-negotiable investment in wellbeing and relationships. Couple travel still dominates (79 per cent) but trips with friends are rising (28 per cent).

Multi-generational holidays are booming – with 19 per cent stating this as their reason to travel, up seven points year-on-year.

Travellers are not seeking specifically eco-hotels but conscious choices resonate deeply. Local sourcing (69 per cent), minimal plastic (48 per cent) and visible support for communities (47 per cent) leave the biggest lasting impressions.

“This report is not just a reflection of current trends; it is an invitation to consider what the future of luxury could look like,” says Juneja.

“If the past defined luxury by accumulation, the present and indeed the future define it by discernment, depth and connection. The insights here challenge us all to think differently, to meet expectations that are higher and more nuanced than ever.”

The full report can be downloaded here.

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