Affluent U.S. travelers now drive more than half of leisure spending, reshaping luxury travel demand, destination growth, and hospitality investment in 2026.
A growing concentration of wealth is reshaping the American travel economy, with affluent households now accounting for the majority of leisure spending and exerting outsized influence over where — and how — the hospitality industry invests.
According to new research from Resonance Consultancy, the top 10 percent and top 1 percent of U.S. households now represent more than half of all consumer spending nationwide. Nowhere is that dominance more pronounced than in travel and tourism, where their combined leisure expenditure is projected to reach $544 billion in 2026.
The findings are detailed in The 2026 Future of Luxury Travel, a report and original research project documenting a structural shift in the travel economy as wealthy Americans take more trips, spend more per journey, and increasingly dictate the direction of hospitality development — from mountain resorts to ultra-luxury cruise ships.
The study, conducted in partnership with research firm Léger, draws on surveys of 1,050 top-10-percent households — defined by annual incomes of $240,000 to $600,000 or net worth between $1.5 million and $13 million — and 451 top-1-percent households earning more than $600,000 annually or holding net worth above $13 million.
The result is a portrait of a travel economy increasingly shaped by a relatively small cohort whose behavior determines capital flows, destination growth, and return on investment across the hospitality sector.
“Affluent travelers aren’t a niche segment anymore — they’re the structural foundation of the leisure travel economy,” said Chris Fair, president and chief executive of Resonance Consultancy. “Understanding this group isn’t optional. It’s the difference between growth and stagnation.”
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More Trips, Higher Spend
The report shows a sharp rise in both trip frequency and spending since 2022. Top-10-percent households now take an average of 4.3 leisure trips annually, while the top 1 percent average six — more than double the 2.8-trip average for U.S. travelers overall.
The share of top-10-percent travelers taking six to 11 trips per year climbed from 11 percent in 2022 to 18 percent in 2025. Among the top 1 percent, that figure jumped from 15 percent to 27 percent.
Spending per trip has risen just as dramatically. Top-10-percent travelers now spend an average of $7,900 per trip, up from $5,100 in 2022. The top 1 percent spend $12,400, compared with $8,400 three years ago. By contrast, the average U.S. traveler spends roughly $3,700 per trip.
Taken together, the data suggests that the wealthiest American households have become the primary engine sustaining global leisure travel growth.
Wellness, Cruising, and “New-Scale” Luxury
Resonance’s research highlights three demand dynamics reshaping luxury supply.
Wellness and longevity travel continues to accelerate. Among top-1-percent travelers, 34 percent plan to take a trip primarily for health and wellness in the next year, up from 23 percent in 2019. For the top 10 percent, the figure has risen to 21 percent from 15 percent. Interest is increasingly tied to longevity science, biometric diagnostics, and regenerative therapies now embedded in high-end resort offerings from Costa Rica to Saudi Arabia’s AMAALA development.
Ultra-luxury cruising is also rebounding. Interest among top-1-percent travelers rose from 37 percent in 2019 to 53 percent in 2025, a market targeted by new entrants such as Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Four Seasons (launching in 2026), and Aman at Sea (2027). These vessels, typically carrying fewer than 300 guests, emphasize privacy and service levels closer to land-based resorts than traditional cruising.
At the same time, hotel development is bifurcating. Mid-scale projects face growing financing pressure, while luxury properties with fewer than 150 rooms — often paired with branded residences, villas, or private clubs — continue to attract capital. Recent openings include Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Costa Rica; Six Senses Rome; and La Valise Mazunte in Mexico.
Industry data from STR supports the shift: luxury chain-scale average daily rates rose 5.7 percent in 2025, while mid-scale and economy segments saw little to no growth.
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New Winners on the Map
The research also reveals notable geographic shifts in affluent travel demand.
Canada has overtaken Europe as the top international destination for wealthy U.S. travelers, narrowly surpassing Mexico. Among top-10-percent households, 26 percent plan to visit Canada in the next 12 to 18 months; among the top 1 percent, the figure rises to 34 percent. Proximity, airlift, safety, and the ability to combine nature, cities, and culture in a single itinerary are driving demand.
Costa Rica is gaining ground on the Caribbean. Interest among top-1-percent travelers has roughly doubled since 2019, with 18 percent planning a visit in the next two years — more than any single Caribbean destination. Expanded nonstop air service and a wave of branded luxury development have repositioned the country from eco-tourism niche to mainstream luxury market.
The Middle East, meanwhile, is emerging as a “dream trip” destination for younger affluent travelers. Interest among top-1-percent households more than doubled between 2019 and 2025, with Dubai acting as a regional anchor. Among affluent travelers aged 18 to 34, more than one-quarter plan to visit, signaling a shift away from familiar Caribbean destinations toward newer, high-impact experiences.
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Strategic Implications
Developed in collaboration with architecture and design firm Hart Howerton, the report outlines five imperatives for destinations, developers, and operators: anchor strategy in affluent demand; make experiences — not amenities — the core product; design for authenticity and resilience; curate integrated hospitality ecosystems; and ensure visibility across direct channels, intermediaries, and emerging AI-driven discovery platforms.
“The affluent travel market is robust,” Fair said, “but it’s 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’s what this research provides.”
