Delta Holidays released data on the most notable trends for the 2024 holiday travel season, based on thousands of bookings already made.
Las Vegas is seeing a significant surge in popularity, with winter travel bookings up 46% over the previous year.
Kama Winters, president of Delta Vacations, attributes the increase in part to larger entertainment offerings.
“Whether people are flying in to see The Eagles at the Sphere or Garth Brooks at Caesar's Palace, it's clear that big concerts are a big reason we're seeing an increase in travel to Las Vegas this winter,” she said.
Internationally, Panama City, Panama has become a preferred destination, posting nearly 200% growth in bookings compared to 2023.
“Panama City has great restaurants and a vibrant nightlife,” Winters noted. “For years, our guests have raved about their trips to Panama City, but we’ve really seen word of mouth spread about it in the last few years.”
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Interestingly, some traditionally popular destinations are seeing a decline in bookings. Paris And Maui are experiencing a decrease compared to previous years.
“France is welcoming a lot of people this summer for the Olympics and Taylor Swift's Eras tour, but there are still some flights and hotels available for this winter. Maui is still recovering from last year's wildfires, which means the island won't be as busy as you might think.”
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Mexico and the Caribbean continue to dominate holiday travel, with more than 50% of all winter bookings concentrated in just five destinations: Cancun, Puerto Vallarta and San Jose del Cabo in Mexico, and Punta Cana (Dominican Republic) and Montego Bay (Jamaica) in the Caribbean.
The data also indicates a growing trend toward post-holiday travel. Bookings for late December are up 9% from last year, and bookings for mid-January 2025 are also up.
“More travelers are choosing to postpone their vacations beyond Christmas, taking advantage of the quieter period after the holidays for a more relaxed experience,” Winters said.
This article was generated by AI and based on a press release. It was reviewed by a TravelAge West editor.
