Hotel CEOs may have been a little premature in saying the K-shaped economy was a thing of the past.
The summer 2026 travel season is shaping up as a tale of two tourists: those priced out entirely, and those who’ve decided the vacation is non-negotiable — and are opening their wallets accordingly.
Deloitte‘s 2026 Summer Travel Survey, which polled 4,003 Americans early last month, found that just 45% of U.S. travelers plan to take a summer vacation with a stay in paid lodging, the lowest share in six years. Costs are the culprit: 35% of non-travelers say they simply can’t afford it, while 32% cite travel being too expensive right now.
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on Luxury Travel Advisor.
