The world changes fast. At the beginning of 2025, most travel experts agreed
that the industry was set to reach new heights, with consumers willing to spend
more and travel farther than anytime since 2019—but recent economic and
political headwinds have caused many to rethink their travel plans.
It’s true many consumers are still planning vacations, work trips, and family
outings. But brands must rethink how they engage and build trust with hesitant
customers to navigate these turbulent times—because the brands that reliably
engage customers and build trust can succeed where others may struggle.
And as consumer expectations increase, brands can no longer rely on onesizefits-all
marketing to build that trust. They’ll need to rethink the customer
journey, and deliver personalized communications, from planning, to purchasing,
to loyalty programs—putting the unique needs of individual travelers at the heart
of their customer engagement strategies.