Marriott Bonvoy® Survey Shows 91% of Americans Plan to Travel in 2026

by Anthony Losanno
Marriott Bonvoy

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A new survey from Marriott Bonvoy® reveals that 91% of Americans intend to travel in 2026 (with nearly 50% aiming to travel more than they did in 2025). The findings highlight a cultural shift toward prioritizing meaningful experiences. 67% of respondents say they plan to choose travel over material purchases in the coming year. Many travelers are seeking deeper connections and personal well-being through their journeys with 55% hoping to spend more time with loved ones and 57% citing rest as one of the most meaningful benefits of travel. Culinary exploration also ranks high, with 46% excited to try new dining experiences in 2026. Convenient, close-to-home escapes top the list of preferred travel types, including domestic road trips and local weekend getaways.

Marriott Million Points Giveaway

To help travelers bring their travel resolutions to life, Marriott Bonvoy® is launching the Marriott Bonvoy® New Year’s Eve Sweepstakes, which will award one million Marriott Bonvoy® points to five members. Winners can design their ideal year of travel, whether that means a bucket-list getaway, a serene stay on the beach, a family gathering, or a food-filled adventure. Members can enter the sweepstakes from December 22nd to January 1st here.

The survey also underscores the value travelers place on loyalty programs. More than half of Americans are enrolled in at least one hotel loyalty program and 80% believe these programs make it easier to fulfill travel aspirations through free stays and upgrades. Nearly half view loyalty programs as an important way to save money. Among Millennials, the desire for travel is particularly strong: 70% say they would rather give up dining out for six months than miss a vacation.

Marriott Bonvoy® now has more than 9,700 properties in its portfolio. The sweepstakes aligns with Marriott Bonvoy®’s integration into Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2026. The broadcast airs live on ABC on December 31st and streams the following day on Hulu. Travelers can learn more here.

Mandy Gill, Managing Vice President of Brands, Marketing, and Digital, US and Canada at Marriott International, said:

Many Americans are heading into the new year wanting to travel more than they did this past year, fueled by a desire for deeper connection, new discoveries, and more meaningful experiences. Marriott Bonvoy® is uniquely positioned to help bring those plans to life. With the chance to win 1 million points — enough to fund unforgettable getaways, bucket list adventures, or dozens of nights across our variety of brands — we’re giving travelers the opportunity to turn their travel dreams into reality across our global portfolio.”

Anthony’s Take: It’s crazy how massive Marriott has become with 9,700 properties globally. I’m definitely in the 91% of Americans looking to vacations next year and I urge everyone to find time to do the same. One million Marriott Bonvoy® points would also be nice and I’ll be entering that as well.

(Image Credits: Marriott.)

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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.

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