Travel 2025: what trends are coming?

Hi there,

Let’s be honest: nobody has a crystal ball for the future of travel. 🔮

What we can do is keep asking the right questions, staying tuned to the trends, and staying curious about what’s next. That’s what we’ve been doing all year at FutureTravel, and it’s been awesome sharing those insights with you here.

Sometimes signals come from the startup ecosystem, other times from big shifts in consumer behavior, or even unexpected ideas from other industries influencing travel. Week after week, I’ve loved diving into this research for you. And seems like 2025 is going to be packed with opportunities to do even more.

To close out the year, I reached out to some smart people to ask: what trends or innovations are you excited to see in 2025? And we gathered all their answers in this article:

Before you head out for the holiday, check out the news below. It’s been a busy week! Oh, and yes, there’s even a little ad break in the mix.

• Space chic. Accor partners with Orbite, commercial spaceflight company, to launch luxury space tourism experiences. Together, they’re creating the Spaceflight Gateway campus in Florida for elite space training and introducing exclusive Paris programs in 2025. Offering flight simulations, specialized courses, and immersive dinners, this is a mix of high-end hospitality with cutting-edge space exploration. Something like space camp for grown ups.

• Selling everything, and then selling travel. OLX India, known as a go-to platform for buying and selling everything from furniture to second-hand bikes, is now stepping into travel. In an exclusive partnership with EaseMyTrip, OLX has launched a ‘Travel’ section where users can book flights, hotels, and holiday packages directly. With 35 million monthly users (especially in smaller cities) OLX is turning into more than just a classifieds site, it’s becoming the place to go for everyday needs, and now including vacations.

• Going all the way. Founded in 2017, Nuitée has raised a $48M Series A led by Accel and top industry leaders to transform travel technology. Specializing in a robust API-first platform, Nuitée simplifies connections between OTAs, fintechs, super-apps, and hotels. This funding will accelerate product development, expand partnerships, and grow their global team, positioning Nuitée as a key player in the $75B B2B hotel market.

• Expanding the ride game. BlaBlaCar just bought a big piece of Turkey’s top bus ticketing platform, Obilet. This move helps BlaBlaCar grow its reach in shared and sustainable transportation. Obilet, which sold 45 million tickets in 2024, will stay under its current leadership. The deal boosts BlaBlaCar’s goal to go beyond carpooling and into multi-modal travel, supported by a €100M funding round earlier this year.

• Betting on the outdoors. Marriott is diving into the outdoor travel market by acquiring Postcard Cabins, a startup with 1,200 tiny cabins near U.S. parks and urban hubs. This move supports a new outdoor-focused hospitality brand launching in 2025, aimed at travelers seeking nature experiences with modern comforts. Alongside Postcard Cabins, Marriott is partnering with Trailborn to cater to the growing demand for upscale outdoor stays.

• Big funding for STR. Finland-based vacation rental management platform Hostaway has raised a whopping $365M, pushing its valuation to $925M. Led by General Atlantic with participation from PSG Equity, this is one of the largest funding rounds in short-term rental tech. Hostaway’s software helps property managers list on platforms like Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking, while also running a marketplace of 200 services. The funds will help them serve professional property managers with seamless multi-platform tools.

• More than mobility. Meili just raised €8.1M to grow its mobility distribution platform. The Dublin-based startup connects airlines, travel brands, and car rental companies like Lufthansa, Accor, and Budget. founded by former CarTrawler execs,With over €20M raised since its 2022 launch, Meili is pushing for big changes in how travel brands offer add-ons like car rentals. The funding, led by Schooner Capital and Tribal Ventures, helps Meili scale its vision of innovation across the travel industry.

• Pushing for better hotel experiences. Hotel booking platform Safara has raised $14M in funding, led by Sequoia and Defy.vc, and acquired its rival Skipper, an independent hotel booking engine. Safara focuses on empowering independent hotels by offering commission-free bookings and direct integration with its app. The platform combines curated hotel listings, community recommendations, and a rewards program for guests. With fresh capital, Safara plans to scale its offerings and create new experiences for both hotels and travelers by 2025.

• Let’s talk about health. Ok, this one’s not directly about travel, but stay with me. If you’re interested in industries making a huge impact, check out the HealthHack newsletter. It’s a fresh take on innovation, trends, and startups in health, wellness, and fitness. And it's written by my talented colleagues. From groundbreaking tech to big ideas reshaping wellness, you’ll want to check this out. Who knows, maybe there’s a crossover with travel innovation waiting to happen?

You’ve heard me say it before: I love tech. But this time of year is perfect for stepping back, switching off, and recharging. This season is for slowing down, not inbox zero <3

Happy holidays & see you in January,
Ana

Thank you for reading until the end.

The content of this newsletter is curated and published by Ana Metz, an innovation expert, passionate about technology and excited about the future of travel.

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