The U.S. Travel Insights Dashboard

 The U.S. travel sector entered 2026 on relatively steady footing. Domestic travel indicators remained stable, while international inbound travel continued to weaken. Total travel spending rose 1.0% year over year, with demand carrying through the post-holiday period without meaningful disruption. Overall, the sector appears to be holding stable, rather than accelerating.

Segment performance highlights:  

• Air passenger volumes were largely unchanged year over year. Given the significant weather impacts during January, stable passenger volumes suggest a degree of underlying resilience in air travel demand. Hotel demand edged up 0.5%, its first positive monthly reading in seven months.
• Short-term rental demand fell 4.2% year-over-year for the fourth consecutive month. Industry data points to an expanding supply of listings outpacing booking growth.  
• International inbound arrivals declined 4.2%, a steeper drop than in December. Softness in overseas visitation continues and remains below pre-pandemic levels across many key markets. Economically, this has resulted in a decrease in U.S. travel exports and a travel trade deficit of $72 billion for 2025.
• Leisure and hospitality job growth was flat, up 0.1% year over year, with nearly 1 million job openings remaining.The broader economic backdrop remains cautiously stable. Inflation has stayed in check, the labor market is cooling gradually and consumer spending continues to grow. The travel sector is holding its own at the start of 2026, underpinned by domestic leisure demand, while international inbound travel and short-term rentals remain the clearest areas of weakness 

U.S. Travel members have access to the exclusive U.S. Travel Insights Dashboard, the most comprehensive and centralized source for high-frequency intelligence on the U.S. travel industry and the broader economy. The platform, powered by Tourism Economics, is supported by approximately 20 data partners and tracks industry performance, travel volumes and predictive travel indicators to provide members with a detailed, interactive view of travel's recovery and performance.

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