Authorities Shutdown Impacts IMEX Travelers, Hilton Releases

With the federal government shutdown grinding on, the ripple results are getting actual—simply ask me and three of my fellow Smart Meetings writers. We had been among the many many IMEX vacationers caught within the FAA staffing scarcity at Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), the place “weather delays” rapidly revealed themselves to be one thing a bit extra bureaucratic. Cue missed connections, late-night arrivals and prolonged stays within the ever-glamorous runway purgatory.

In this week’s Smart Travel, I’m unpacking what this implies for planners, plus digging into two new journey research and a few upbeat information out of one among Australia’s high locations.

Hilton Forecasts Purpose-Driven Travel, Quiet Escapes and Family-Centric Journeys for 2026

What’s the No. 1 purpose vacationers will pack their baggage in 2026? Rest and recharge, based on Hilton’s newly launched Trends Report. Conducted in partnership with Ipsos, the research surveyed greater than 14,000 vacationers throughout 13 nations and revealed a powerful world shift towards purposeful, passion-driven journeys.

The report discovered 56% of vacationers now cite rest as their main journey motivation, whereas many are designing itineraries round quiet solitude (dubbed “hushpitality”), solo days earlier than or after household holidays (48%) and even private development: 72% wish to discover a talent or passion whereas away.

Home rituals and luxury journey are additionally on the rise, with 77% of vacationers reporting they go to grocery shops overseas and almost half prepare dinner on journeys. Loyalty runs deep, too; 66% say their lodge preferences mirror these of their mother and father, and 58% report utilizing the identical loyalty applications they grew up with.

Multigenerational journey is evolving: 50% of oldsters at the moment are vacationing with only one little one at a time, and skip-gen getaways (children and grandparents solely) are gaining traction. Road journeys are again in full swing, particularly within the U.S., the place 71% plan to hit the highway subsequent yr, with must-haves together with comfortable beds, lodge stops inside 5 hours and complimentary breakfast.

The information underscores a want for extra emotionally resonant, restorative experiences that prioritize consolation, connection and intention.

Shutdown Strains Aviation System as Staffing Shortages Cause Delays Nationwide—Including for IMEX Travelers

Flight delays rippled throughout U.S. airports because the federal authorities shutdown entered its second week, with the FAA citing staffing shortages at management facilities in Atlanta, Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth, in addition to at airports in Nashville, Boston, Chicago and Philadelphia. About 92% of flights nonetheless departed on time, however analysts warned that continued pressure might quickly have an effect on vacation journey. Travel knowledgeable Henry Harteveldt stated the state of affairs is “growing more concerning by the day” as important staff proceed working with out pay, including that if the shutdown persists, “it could disrupt, and possibly ruin, millions of Americans’ Thanksgiving holidays.”

Read More: Largest IMEX America Extends Residency to 2030

By Wednesday at Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), a number of Smart Meetings staffers and sources discovered themselves caught within the type of “weather delay” that solely tells a part of the story. For two of our editorial workforce members, pilot chatter confirmed what many suspected: Staffing shortages had been including gasoline to the holdup. While the FAA had already flagged potential slowdowns at LAS earlier within the week, experiencing it firsthand—with runway marathons, gate ping-pong and the thrill of deplaning and reboarding with out a lot clarification—was nonetheless a shock to the system.

As the shutdown lingers, Smart Meetings is staying tuned to the newest on how this might have an effect on upcoming conferences and occasions.

American Express Meetings & Events Sees Strong 2026 Growth Across All Regions

The thirteenth annual American Express Meetings & Events Forecast factors to a wholesome yr forward for the worldwide conferences trade, pushed by robust demand, in-person engagement and finances stability.

In 2026, 73% of occasion professionals count on assembly spend to extend or keep the identical, and 82% predict extra in-person conferences. Internal conferences are main the cost globally, whereas incentives and buyer occasions are seeing notable development. Respondents additionally shared that attendees are exhibiting higher engagement and satisfaction at in-person gatherings, serving to to strengthen government buy-in for conferences applications.

AI-powered planning instruments are on the rise, with adoption highest in North America and Europe. At the identical time, environmental sustainability stays a shared focus, particularly in Europe and Asia Pacific. About 60% of planners globally say they issue sustainability into sourcing, although value and useful resource constraints persist.

Regional Highlights:

North America: Meeting quantity and budgets are anticipated to rise barely, with a shift towards extra regional and inside occasions. Hotel compression is pushing demand towards secondary cities.

Europe: Budget pressures are excessive, however assembly exercise stays strong. Sustainability and ROI are high priorities.

Latin America: Budgets and in-person conferences are climbing, particularly for incentives.

Asia Pacific: Cost-saving measures stay vital, however assembly exercise is rising steadily.

The report additionally notes a shortening planning cycle, with many conferences booked beneath three months out. Flexibility, expertise and well-being proceed to play an important function in attendee expectations and program success.

With in-person engagement robust and inside conferences on the rise, now’s the time to refresh team-building experiences and regional incentive choices. Consider AI instruments to streamline logistics—and secondary cities to stretch your finances.

Visit Victoria Sets Sights on 2030 with New Strategy for Sustainable Growth

Visit Victoria has unveiled its Strategy 2030, outlining formidable objectives to develop the state’s customer financial system from $26.5 billion in 2022 to $41.8 billion by 2030. The eight-year plan facilities on high-yield, sustainable visitation, with a concentrate on regional dispersal, year-round journey and Aboriginal tourism experiences.

Among its targets:

• Increase regional customer spend to $16 billion by 2030
• Attract extra worldwide guests, notably from New Zealand, the U.S., India, China and Southeast Asia
• Expand Victoria’s calendar of main and enterprise occasions throughout the state
• Strengthen the “Stay close, go further” message for home journey
• Drive tourism product innovation aligned with key pillars like arts, nature, sport and culinary tradition

The technique identifies key development segments together with luxurious vacationers, enterprise occasion attendees and culturally motivated guests, with a particular emphasis on boosting off-peak and shoulder season journey. Destination advertising and marketing will lean into Victoria’s distinctive place as a inventive, walkable, inclusive vacation spot with world-class wine areas, design-forward lodging and local-led experiences.

With Melbourne main the cost and regional locations just like the Grampians, Gippsland, Great Ocean Road and High Country entering into the highlight, the technique goals to unfold customer advantages whereas constructing a resilient, future-ready tourism ecosystem.

For assembly and incentive planners, Victoria’s renewed concentrate on occasion infrastructure, cultural depth and worldwide airlift makes it an more and more compelling alternative for world applications with function.