UK Follows Japan, Uruguay and USA into a Thrilling 2027 Travel Revolution as Gothic Hotels and Quick Escapes Gain Momentum

The United Kingdom, United States, Japan and Uruguay are taking centre stage in a 2027 travel trends summary attributed to Expedia Group, as Chichester, South Lake Tahoe, Hyogo and Punta del Este attract attention alongside growing interest in short hotel stays, nostalgic holidays, Gothic architecture and film-inspired journeys. The emerging travel patterns, highlighted in material circulated in October 2026, suggest that holidaymakers are looking beyond traditional sightseeing and choosing destinations that deliver distinctive experiences, memorable surroundings and greater personal enjoyment.

For the global tourism industry, the shift could influence how hotels, tour operators and destination marketing organisations prepare for 2027. Travellers are increasingly interested in holidays that match their hobbies, lifestyles and personal interests. A short break can now revolve around a concert, a historic hotel, a television location or simply a chance to escape daily routines. The supplied 2027 research summary identifies four major travel behaviours: Un-Adulting, Trip Snacking, Gothic Getaways and Set-Jetting. Together, these concepts describe a market where the experience can become as important as the destination itself.

However, the specific 2027 findings remain subject to confirmation against Expedia Group’s complete official report. Earlier Expedia research independently establishes the broader growth of experience-led and interest-driven travel.

Chichester, South Lake Tahoe, Hyogo and Punta del Este Bring Fresh Energy to Global Destination Tourism

The four destinations identified in the supplied 2027 outlook represent different styles of international tourism. Rather than concentrating on major capital cities, the selection highlights places offering cultural heritage, natural scenery, outdoor activities and coastal experiences.

Chichester, United Kingdom: Located in West Sussex, Chichester offers historic streets, cathedral architecture and access to the surrounding English countryside. Its cultural attractions and proximity to the South Downs and southern coastline make it suitable for heritage holidays, countryside escapes and short domestic breaks. The destination also illustrates the opportunities available to smaller British cities seeking to attract visitors beyond established metropolitan tourism centres.

South Lake Tahoe, United States: South Lake Tahoe combines mountain landscapes with year-round recreational opportunities. Visitors can enjoy skiing during winter, while warmer months bring hiking, water activities and lakeside relaxation. Its appeal lies in the ability to combine outdoor adventure with accommodation, dining and restorative leisure experiences.

Hyogo, Japan: Hyogo Prefecture offers a combination of Japanese heritage and contemporary urban tourism. Himeji Castle, Kobe’s waterfront and the hot springs of Arima Onsen provide varied experiences. The destination is particularly relevant to visitors interested in architecture, regional food, culture and traditional Japanese hospitality.

Punta del Este, Uruguay: Situated on Uruguay’s Atlantic coast, Punta del Este is associated with beaches, waterfront leisure and resort tourism. The destination combines coastal recreation with restaurants, accommodation and seasonal entertainment, attracting travellers seeking relaxing holidays and seaside experiences.

What Makes These Four Destinations Relevant?

These destinations illustrate how regional tourism markets can appeal to travellers with specific interests. Search interest, however, should not be confused with confirmed visitor arrivals or future tourism revenue.

Un-Adulting Holidays Gain Momentum as Travellers Search for Fun, Freedom and Nostalgic Experiences

One of the most distinctive concepts in the supplied 2027 research is Un-Adulting, a style of holiday designed around carefree enjoyment and a temporary escape from adult responsibilities. Instead of filling itineraries with demanding activities, Un-Adulting travellers seek amusement, relaxation and experiences that reconnect them with simpler forms of entertainment. Theme parks, playful attractions, nostalgic activities and informal leisure experiences can all fit this emerging holiday concept.

According to the supplied figures, 57% of surveyed travellers express interest in booking an Un-Adulting getaway, increasing to 71% among Generation Z and Millennials. For British respondents, the main motivations are equally revealing. Around 74% want to enjoy a carefree day, 64% value spending quality time with loved ones, and 60% are interested in escaping everyday responsibilities. The trend potentially creates opportunities for leisure resorts, entertainment parks, activity providers and hotels that can develop packages around enjoyment rather than conventional sightseeing.

Adult-oriented entertainment experiences, nostalgic attractions and short recreational breaks could become useful additions to destination marketing strategies. Importantly, the concept describes an interest in playful travel experiences rather than a universal preference for travelling without children. The strength of this market will depend on whether expressed interest converts into actual bookings.

Trip Snacking Transforms One-Night Hotel Stays Into an Important New Tourism Opportunity

A holiday does not always need to last a week. The supplied 2027 findings suggest that short hotel stays are becoming an increasingly attractive option for travellers managing busy schedules, limited time and competing financial priorities. Known as Trip Snacking, the concept involves booking a single night away for an event, celebration or brief change of scenery. The research summary reports that 79% of surveyed travellers intend to book a one-night stay during the coming year, increasing to 83% among younger respondents.

Among British travellers, 49% associate short hotel stays with concerts or sporting events. Another 42% identify celebrations and important personal occasions as motivations, while 23% want a quick mental break. These preferences could create opportunities for accommodation businesses in entertainment districts, heritage towns, regional cities and destinations near major sporting venues. Hotels may benefit from developing packages that combine overnight accommodation with restaurant reservations, entertainment tickets or local attractions. However, one-night travel can create operational challenges. Higher room turnover, increased housekeeping requirements and concentrated weekend demand may affect hotel costs and staffing arrangements.

Gothic Getaways Put Historic Castles, Dramatic Architecture and Atmospheric Hotels in the Spotlight

Historic castles, shadowy interiors, stone corridors and dramatic architecture are receiving renewed attention in the supplied 2027 travel outlook. The Gothic Getaways concept describes travellers choosing accommodation because of its distinctive atmosphere, architectural heritage and visual character. According to the supplied research, 56% of travellers consider a hotel’s atmosphere or aesthetic appeal when making accommodation decisions. Meanwhile, 65% express interest in Gothic Getaways, increasing to 71% among younger travellers.

The summary also reports a 38% increase in social media mentions associated with Gothic architecture and travel, alongside a 20% increase in castle bookings through Hotels.com. These measurements refer to different types of activity. Online discussion, stated travel interest and actual bookings should therefore be analysed separately. Historic properties can attract visitors through original interiors, heritage experiences and the character of their surroundings. Instead of promoting only luxury facilities, hotels may increasingly emphasise the history and atmosphere of a building. Destinations with medieval architecture and historic accommodation could also benefit from this interest. Conservation, visitor management and the preservation of heritage features will remain essential if demand grows.

Set-Jetting Sends Film and Television Fans Towards Real-World Destinations

Film-inspired tourism continues to connect global entertainment with destination discovery. Known as Set-Jetting, the trend involves travelling to places associated with popular films, television programmes and streaming productions. The supplied 2027 summary suggests that nearly one in five travellers book journeys influenced by screen entertainment. It also reports that 48% of respondents have researched or booked destinations connected with forthcoming films or television programmes, increasing to 58% among Generation Z and Millennials. For British travellers, average spending on a Set-Jetting trip is reported at £600, rising to £629 among families with children.

This type of travel can extend beyond visiting a filming location. Visitors may book guided tours, explore nearby heritage attractions, stay in local hotels and participate in experiences connected with a production. Earlier Expedia research provides an independently documented foundation for this trend. Its official Unpack ’25 report found that 66% of respondents reported that films, television or streaming content had influenced their travel choices. Locations associated with programmes such as Yellowstone, The Traitors and The Real Housewives of Dubai featured in Expedia’s earlier screen-tourism coverage.

For tourism boards, film tourism offers opportunities to connect entertainment exposure with destination promotion. However, the commercial benefits depend on accessibility, visitor infrastructure and the availability of relevant tourism products.

Expedia’s 2025 Findings Reveal the Earlier Shift Towards Alternative Destinations and Personalised Holidays

The themes highlighted for 2027 follow an established pattern in Expedia Group’s earlier travel research. Its official Unpack ’25 study was based on first-party data from Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo, alongside a survey of 25,000 respondents across 19 countries. The research showed growing interest in less familiar destinations, hotel dining experiences, nature-based activities and holidays designed around personal enjoyment. One of its strongest findings concerned Detour Destinations, with 63% of respondents saying they were very likely to visit a lesser-known destination during their next trip.

The trend highlighted places such as Reims in France, Brescia in Italy, Cozumel in Mexico, Santa Barbara in the United States, Fukuoka in Japan, Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates and Krabi in Thailand. These destinations offered opportunities to travel beyond traditional tourism centres while still accessing established regional infrastructure. Another important finding concerned all-inclusive accommodation. Searches using the all-inclusive filter on Hotels.com increased by 60% year on year. Hotel restaurants also gained attention, with relevant searches increasing by 70%. This indicated that food and dining facilities were becoming more important in accommodation selection.

From JOMO Travel to Natural Wonders, Expedia’s Earlier Research Shows How Tourism Priorities Have Changed

Expedia’s Unpack ’25 research also identified JOMO Travel, short for the Joy of Missing Out. The concept involved choosing quieter holidays, reducing pressure to follow busy itineraries and spending time in peaceful accommodation. Around 62% of surveyed travellers associated JOMO holidays with reduced stress and anxiety, while 47% linked them with better quality time with loved ones.

Nature-based tourism also gained prominence through the Phenomena-List trend, which highlighted travel around natural events and wildlife experiences. Potential experiences included viewing the Northern Lights in Finland, stargazing in Utah, observing synchronous fireflies in Tennessee, seeing penguin parades in Australia and exploring bioluminescent coastal environments. These findings demonstrate how different travel motivations were already moving towards the centre of destination marketing.

Expedia’s Earlier Verified Travel Trends at a Glance

Source: Expedia Group, Unpack ’25, published in 2024. The figures measure different behaviours and should not be directly compared as equivalent booking rates.

Expedia’s 2026 Research Adds New Evidence of Changing Hotel and Destination Demand

Expedia Group’s official Unpack ’26 report, published on 15 October 2025, continued to identify growing interest in distinctive travel experiences. The study incorporated insights from 24,000 travellers and Expedia Group’s booking and search data. Its featured 2026 destinations included Big Sky in Montana, Okinawa in Japan, Sardinia in Italy, Phu Quoc in Viet Nam, Savoie in France, Fort Walton Beach in Florida, Ucluelet in Canada, the Cotswolds in Britain, San Miguel de Allende in Mexico and Hobart in Australia. The largest reported increase in destination searches was Big Sky at 92%, followed by Okinawa at 71%, Sardinia at 63%, Phu Quoc at 53% and Savoie at 51%.

The 2026 report also identified Hotel Hop, a trend involving travellers staying at more than one property within the same destination. Around 54% of surveyed travellers reported participating in this behaviour, with exploring different neighbourhoods and finding better deals among the main motivations. These findings illustrate how travellers increasingly use accommodation choices to shape the wider holiday experience.

What the Latest Travel Trends Could Mean for Hotels, Tourism Boards and Travel Agencies

For global hospitality and tourism businesses, the emerging trends point towards opportunities to develop products around more specific customer motivations.

Several commercial areas deserve attention:

• Hotels and resorts: Develop flexible overnight packages, distinctive accommodation experiences and leisure activities that appeal to different visitor segments.
• Destination marketing organisations: Promote regional attractions, heritage sites and local experiences instead of relying exclusively on conventional sightseeing.
• Travel agencies and tour operators: Create personalised itineraries combining entertainment, cultural attractions, outdoor activities and accommodation.
• Heritage accommodation providers: Highlight architectural character and authentic historic experiences while protecting important cultural assets.
• Event destinations: Strengthen connections between concerts, sporting events, transport services, restaurants and overnight accommodation.
• Film-tourism operators: Develop guided experiences and destination trails linked to screen productions where visitor access is appropriate.

The business implications are significant because different travel preferences can support different revenue opportunities. Short stays may increase accommodation turnover. Historic hotels can attract visitors interested in distinctive settings. Entertainment-inspired journeys can create additional demand for local guides and attractions.

Nevertheless, tourism operators must distinguish between reported interest and actual spending. Search activity and survey intentions do not guarantee bookings or long-term market growth.

Global Tourism in 2027 Could Enter a More Flexible and Experience-Driven Era

The 2027 trends summary presents an evolving travel market where visitors increasingly consider personal enjoyment, emotional connection and distinctive experiences when planning holidays. The destinations highlighted across the United Kingdom, United States, Japan and Uruguay demonstrate the range of tourism experiences attracting attention, from historic cities and Japanese heritage to alpine recreation and Atlantic coast holidays.

Un-Adulting points towards demand for playful leisure experiences. Trip Snacking highlights interest in brief hotel stays. Gothic Getaways focuses on architectural character, while Set-Jetting connects destination discovery with global entertainment. Together, these concepts suggest that future tourism growth may depend increasingly on how effectively destinations respond to different visitor motivations.

Expedia Group’s independently verified research from 2025 and 2026 already demonstrates a broader movement towards distinctive destinations, accommodation experiences and highly personalised holidays. Whether the specific 2027 trends achieve similar commercial significance will depend on confirmed booking patterns, visitor expenditure and the ability of destinations to deliver the experiences travellers seek. The wider direction is clear: global travel is becoming more varied, and destinations offering meaningful, memorable and accessible experiences have new opportunities to compete for international visitors.