Destination Decisions, Powered by The State of the American Traveler 2026

Explore the latest insights shaping U.S. leisure travel with our annual webinar and research focused on how travelers choose their vacation destinations.

This year, we uncovered the latest trends shaping how U.S. travelers decide where to go. Hosted by Miles Partnership and Future Partners, the session shared fresh research on leisure travelers' latest destination selections, offered a look into their itineraries and explored what ultimately drives them to choose a destination.

Plus, we were joined by three destination organization experts—Carolann Ouellette, Director of Tourism, Film & Outdoor Recreation at the Maine Department of Economic & Community Development; Heath Dillard, President & CEO of VisitGreenvilleSC; and Racene Friede, President & CEO of Western Montana's Glacier Country—who shared practical lessons from promoting emerging areas, including what’s working, what they’ve learned and how they’re drawing visitors beyond the usual hotspots.