Internet/e-Commerce: Travel Survey: Summer Travel intentions stronger y/y despite ME conflict headlines

Research evidence excerpt

Internet/e-Commerce: Travel Survey: Summer Travel intentions stronger y/y despite ME conflict headlines

Accessible version

Internet/e-Commerce

Travel Survey: Summer Travel intentions

stronger y/y despite ME conflict headlines

Industry Overview

Spring Online travel survey 12 May 2026

We conducted a survey of 1,000+ U.S. consumers ages 18+ to measure online travel Equity

agency (OTA) usage and intentions. We note that our annual survey was conducted in United States

April, well after the start of the Middle East conflict. Also, household income skewed Justin Post

higher in our 1Q26 survey, with fewer sub‑$50k respondents and more $100k+ ResearchBofAS Analyst

households vs our 1Q25 survey, which may have impacted results. Our top takeaways: +1 415 676 3547

justin.post@bofa.com

• US travel intentions remain healthy and improved vs. last year: 47% of respondents Nafeesa Gupta

expect to travel more than usual over the next 12 months (vs. 43% in 1Q25). In Research Analyst

BofAS

addition, 81% plan to travel the same or more in Summer 2026 vs. Summer 2025, +1 415 436 3558

with ~30% planning to travel significantly more (vs. ~20% last year). nafeesa.gupta@bofa.com

• Higher fares (fuel cost pass through) can impact travel: when asked on higher air

fares and hotel rates, around 30% indicated they could postpone vacation plans if

prices increased, and 24% indicated they could travel locally vs taking a flight.

AA: Alternative Accommodation

• AI adoption accelerating: 44% have used ChatGPT/Gemini/Claude for travel

planning, up from 18% in 1Q25. Also, 40% have used Booking or Expedia’s AI OTA: Online Travel Agency

chatbot (vs 26% in 1Q25). 38% indicated they would use an AI agent to

STR: Short Term Rental autonomously book travel, while 30% are interested but not yet comfortable.