By The Hotels Mag
Preferred Hotels & Resorts has outlined seven travel trends that they say will define luxury travel in 2026. The trends reflect shifts in guest expectations across sports, travel, heritage, wellness, design, pet travel, nature-based experiences and boutique seafaring. Each trend highlights how hotels are adapting through specific programs, experiences and openings within the company’s global portfolio.
1. Sportcations
Sports-related travel continues to be incorporated into hotel programming. At The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston, stays are linked to attendance at Houston Rockets games and include transportation and event access. In India, The Leela Palace Jaipur offers stays connected to the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh Polo Cup with access to matches and related activities. Boston Harbor Hotel is developing soccer-focused stays connected to local matches.
2. Heritage Is the New Frontier
Historic buildings are being adapted for hotel use in several markets. Serras Sevilla is scheduled to open in Spring 2026 in an early 20th-century building in Seville. Romègas Hotel in Malta will operate from a restored 500-year-old palazzo. Palais Jamaï Fès is located in a late 19th-century mansion in Fes, Morocco, and will operate within the city’s cultural district.
3. Cognitive Wellness
Wellness programs are incorporating medical and technological elements. Amrit Ocean Resort in Florida includes hyperbaric oxygen therapy, red-light therapy, dry flotation and IV treatments. Sommerro in Oslo operates a Sleep Clinic focused on sleep management through nerve stimulation. The Alpina Gstaad in Switzerland offers a biohacking program combining technology with wellness practices.
4. Breaking Free from the Beige
The group identifies increased variation in hotel design as a trend. Kasbah Tamadot in Morocco incorporates Berber design and local craftsmanship. Rancho Santana on Nicaragua’s Emerald Coast includes regional artwork, outdoor activities and wellness programs. Dusit Thani Bangkok integrates elements of Thai culture into its design and programming. Properties following this approach will be included in Independent Hotel Week in January 2026.
5. Pawsome Adventures
Pet-related services are expanding across several properties. Nemacolin in Pennsylvania offers pet boarding, grooming and veterinary services. The Mark in New York has released a fragrance for dogs through a partnership with Dolce&Gabbana. Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo provides a private dog park, walking routes, pet treats, pet sitting and grooming.
6. The Healing Power of Nature
Some hotels are introducing nature-based wellness activities. Bernardus Lodge & Spa in Carmel Valley, Ca., offers guided full-moon sessions. Casa Velas in Puerto Vallarta provides outdoor programs focused on garden walks and coastal environments.
7. Boutique Seacationing
Preferred has expanded into small-scale cruise operations in Egypt through a partnership with Wings Encora Collection. Mazaj Meroot operates with 10 cabins along the Nile between Luxor and Aswan. Mazaj M/S Tamr offers two itineraries on the same route. In Taiwan, The Archipelago operates primarily as a land-based property with additional sea excursions.
