Global Scans · Leisure · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Online retailing will be one of the fastest growing channels between 2015 and 2019 as individuals do not have much time for leisure and seek convenience. Entertainment will continue to shift away from traditional broadcast media and print to reality augmented and deeply personalised content. The occupations with the largest new employment growth will be managers, professional and technical jobs, and caring and leisure occupations. Many middle-class professionals will be outsourced to machines within the next few decades leaving workers with more leisure time than they have ever experienced.

• [New] Projected U.S. leisure travel spending will reach a historic high of $5,704 per household in 2026, with the utilization of AI travel planning tools becoming more common among travelers and international travel reaching its highest level since before 2020. Hotel News Resource
• [New] Demand signals remain mixed rather than weak: U.S. leisure spending is projected to reach a new high, but travelers are showing greater price sensitivity in destination choice, increasing the importance of value-oriented revenue management and segmentation. Hotel News Resource
• [New] The global vacation rental market is estimated to be worth USD 84.02 billion in 2026 and is projected to reach USD 125.50 billion by 2033, growing at a 5.9% CAGR from 2026 to 2033. StayFi
• [New] In 2026, the U.S. short-term vacation rental market is projected to reach $76.46 billion and grow to $125.14 billion by 2033 at a 7.3% CAGR. StayFi
• [New] Younger age groups are more likely to plan friend trips, weddings, bachelor or bachelorette parties, concerts, professional sporting events, and work trips in summer 2026, which helps explain stronger vacation rental demand among Gen Z and millennials. / USA StayFi
• [New] The global vacation rental market is projected to continue growing from 2025 to 2030, with further expansion expected across revenue, user volume, and online sales share. StayFi
• [New] Online channels are projected to lead the global vacation rental market in 2026 as digital booking habits continue to strengthen across travel planning and accommodation discovery. StayFi
• [New] Deloitte forecasts women's elite sports revenues will surpass $3 billion in 2026-up 25% from 2025's $2.4 billion-driven by strong growth in broadcast and matchday streams; basketball and football each account for ~35%, with North America ($1.64 bn, 54%) and Europe ($434 m, 14%) leading. Global Banking & Finance Review
• [New] Annual sports betting wagers will likely exceed $120 billion, while revenue from sports wagering will approach $11 billion. SweepsPulse
• [New] ESPN is presented as a pivotal growth engine, with partnership potential, especially with the NFL, that could reshape sports streaming. Simply Wall St
• [New] Netflix shares rallied to more than $100 Monday morning, fueled by subscription price hikes driving 31.5% operating margin guidance for 2026, ad revenue projected to double to $3 B, and live sports strategy expansion. 24/7 Wall St.
• [New] The XR market will reach $380 billion by 2036, with enterprise adoption contributing significantly more than consumer gaming or entertainment segments. TechStoriess.com
• [New] FanDuel Predicts is a $300 million investment commitment from its parent company Flutter Entertainment that indicates the potential opportunity and the threat that prediction markets will be to traditional gaming companies. Iredell Free News
• [New] A 2026 industry outlook based on a survey of 244 property managers representing more than 43,000 vacation rentals found that 42% expected local or state regulations to limit their ability to meet 2026 targets, while 47% reported operating under strict permitting or licensing requirements. StayFi
• [New] U.S. leisure travel demand is projected to remain strong in 2026, with annual household travel spending expected to reach a record $5,704 and an average of 3.87 vacations planned per household over the next 12 months. Hotel News Resource
• [New] Half of U.S. leisure travelers surveyed have used AI tools such as ChatGPT or Gemini to plan their trips, with adoption led by Gen Z and Millennials. Hotel News Resource
• [New] Women's sports revenues continue to surge Deloitte Global predicts that global revenues in women's elite sports will reach $3 billion in 2026, representing an increase of 340% since 2022. Cision PR Newswire
• [New] Soccer and basketball are expected to be the top revenue-generating women's sports globally in 2026, with each expected to represent 35% of the total revenue. Cision PR Newswire
• [New] Many fans are investing their time and money in women's sports: Matchday revenue is expected to grow to $911 million, representing 30% of total revenue in 2026. Cision PR Newswire
• [New] Women's sports have the potential to generate $2.5 billion in value for rights holders in the United States by 2030, including private equity investors, brand sponsors, and broadcast media rights holders. Yahoo Sports
• [New] By locking in the NFL as a cornerstone partner, ESPN has the potential to dominate the next era of sports streaming and transform what has historically been a cable-centric business into a powerful direct-to-consumer engine. Simply Wall St

Last updated: 29 April 2026