Preview 2024: A look at the year ahead in travel: Travel Weekly

Introduction to the 2024 Preview issue

The era of revenge travel finally appeared to decelerate toward the latter half of the year, and now we're faced with: What? The normalization of travel? Something else entirely?

An introduction to Preview's Executive View

Coming off a year that exceeded expectations, industry executives are hopeful momentum will carry through into 2024.

Executive view: Natalya Leahy, president of Seabourn Cruises

"The cruise industry has more agility to navigate through geopolitical challenges because we have assets that move. From that perspective, we are better positioned than land resorts."

Sanya Weston of Your Premier Travel Service.

Executive view: Sanya Weston, CEO of Your Premier Travel Service

"Influencers are, in a sense, competition. Their followers may get curious but then book on their own. We follow influencers and advocate for the professionalism that we bring."

Executive view: Bjorn Bender, CEO of Rail Europe

"We are feeling very positive about 2024. The only thing that we need to take into consideration is that it will be an election year, and that’s always tricky."

Executive view: Shannon Stowell, CEO of Adventure Travel Trade Association

"Even with the threat of recession, there’s research showing that people may be doing fewer but longer trips. How that will impact destinations is still to be seen."

Travel advisors at Travel Weekly's CruiseWorld event in November. The trade had a busy year in 2023, and some are predicting an even better 2024.

The year ahead for ... travel advisors

For many travel advisors, 2024 may turn out to be an even better year than 2023, with strong bookings for the year and activity already for travel in 2025.

American Airlines' planes at New York JFK. The airline's aggressive approach to NDC strategy will likely carry on into 2024.

The year ahead for ... airlines

Topping the agenda: Mergers, strengthening balance sheets and whether AA will continue to push the distribution envelope.

The Carnival Jubilee arrives in Galveston, Texas. Cruise lines this year will put focus on their drive-market options, and new ships should keep cruisers interested and engaged.

The year ahead for ... cruising

Coming into the year with a strong position, cruise lines will look to build on their drive markets, diversify their expedition itineraries and build out their alternative-fuel plans.

Hotels have been testing digital tipping options, but 2024 could be the year the industry adopts widespread cashless tipping options.

The year ahead for ... hotels

Hotel rate growth may have started to level off, but pricing remains high and is likely to remain elevated well into 2024. Also to watch: Will this be the year of digital tipping?

ASTA is watching several travel policy-related issues, including the FAA reauthorization and a rulemaking on overtime.

The year ahead for ... travel policy

The FAA reauthorization is important because it contains provisions that ASTA has advocated for, including changes to language on air-ticket refunds and a chance for seats on advisory committees.

Christmas market cruises have become hugely popular among river cruise clients. Above, a market in Cologne, Germany.

The year ahead for ... river cruising

Four areas river cruise lines are watching in 2024: The Olympics, Christmas market cruises, the booking window and how the war in Israel impacts reservations for Nile cruises.

The war between Israel and Hamas is suppressing tour bookings for destinations like Egypt in 2024.

The year ahead for ... tours

Late-season challenges that are threatening the strength of first-quarter bookings for 2024 will not dampen the optimism tour operators have about travel's outlook.

The Turen travel trends report: A travel advisor's predictions for 2024

Columnist and advisor Richard Turen gives his projections on what will be the year's top travel trends: Sustainability paired with luxury, destination "dupes," wider use of AI and more.

Travel Weekly's Preview 2024

In our annual report on the year ahead, we take a deep dive into the events and trends that we expect will help shape 2024 -- and offer projections from journalists, executives and travel experts of what's to come.