Editor's Choice
What AI-Powered Discovery Means for Travel Loyalty Programmes
15 Oct 26AI is becoming a more common part of the travel consideration journey, particularly among shoppers comparing multiple brands. However, discovery alone is not enough. Using Euromonitor's travel clickstream analysis and Loyalty Index, this article examines how AI use differs between shoppers focused on a single travel brand and those comparing multiple brands, how travellers engage with loyalty rewards once they reach different hotel websites and how companies can benchmark their strategic emphasis on loyalty relative to competitors. As AI increasingly influences shopper research, ensuring loyalty benefits are visible and compelling may become a key source of differentiation.
Jared Conway
World Cup Lessons for US Travel and Mega-Events
30 Sep 26With the FIFA World Cup now firmly on the scoreboard, organisers and host cities alike are reflecting on the tournament’s tourism impact. The results reveal more than just the power of a singular football tournament, providing important insight into the state of the US tourism market and the power of mega-events to drive meaningful tourism impact.
Dorothy Calba
Dubai Tourism: Navigating Change and Building Momentum
10 Sep 26Dubai's tourism sector entered 2026 from a position of strength, welcoming 19.6 million visitors in 2025, before rising regional tensions sharply disrupted demand — hotel occupancy fell from forecasts above 80% to around 20%. The disruption shifted rather than destroyed demand, as Dubai mobilised its full tourism ecosystem through coordinated campaigns like "Kids Go Free" and the "A Dubai Invite" ambassador programme, redirecting demand toward residents and regional travellers. The experience offers lessons in resilience, ecosystem collaboration, and adapting quickly to uncertainty as a blueprint for the wider GCC.
Aylin Siyahhan
The World Cup and US Tourism: Opportunity Despite Headwinds
1 Jun 26The World Cup is expected to bring a huge boost in tourism spending to host countries across North America. This will represent a significant rebound after political uncertainty drove tourism declines, especially in the US, in 2025. Sports tourism is a significant value driver, and there are critical opportunities around the World Cup.
Stephen Dutton
How Travel Learns from Crisis
20 Apr 26The US/Israel-Iran war has delivered the steepest shock to global travel since the pandemic. Over half of scheduled flights in the region were cancelled in the first two weeks, oil surged 30% to USD92.3 per barrel in March with projections reaching USD115 by July, and major hubs from Dubai to Doha saw capacity plunge by 55-85%. Yet every crisis reshapes the industry. The question is not whether travel will recover, but what strategic lessons will separate those that return stronger and gain a competitive edge in resilience.
Stephen Dutton
Understanding Cross‑Country Loyalty Dynamics in the Airline Industry
23 Mar 26Cross-country differences in loyalty participation and spending reveal how effectively programmes convert engagement into commercial impact. Using Euromonitor’s Loyalty Contribution Index and Loyalty Index, this article explores how airline markets compare globally and how company strategies align with national loyalty dynamics.
Jared Conway