In this third instalment of our 2026 travel and hospitality trends series, Ashleigh and Michael discuss how travel is shifting from escape to expansion. Drawing on the brilliant Forbes trend series by travel writer Angelina Villa Clarke, alongside insights from The Future Laboratory, Fox Communications and leading hotel brands, they explore what guests will really be looking for in the years ahead.

From “sub-holidaying” and “puddling” to sleep tourism, AI-driven discovery and sports travel, this episode looks at how hotels and destinations can respond with more thoughtful, memorable and commercially smart experiences.

Connect with Us:

• Email: ⁠⁠podcast@gohalo.co.uk

• Website:⁠⁠ www.gohalo.co.uk⁠⁠

• Instagram: ⁠⁠@haloitsmichael⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠@haloitsashleigh⁠⁠

• LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Halo Business Consulting⁠⁠

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, or follow “The Halo Effect: Hospitality Stories with Ashleigh and Michael Donald” on your preferred podcast platform. Please get in touch if you would like to see us discuss a particular subject on a future episode.

We would love to invite fellow hospitality professionals and entrepreneurs to join us on future episodes, so please DM us via socials or email podcast@gohalo.co.uk if you are interested.

In our second Travel Trends episode, Ashleigh and Michael look beyond the classic capital cities to explore how travelers are rediscovering “second” cities, coastal communities, and lesser-known islands in response to over-tourism and rising costs.

From Bali, Lombok and Komodo to hill tribe communities in Vietnam, they discuss the realities behind regenerative travel, and how tourism can leave places better than it finds them. The episode also highlights the growing influence of midlife women as “travel powerhouses”, the rise of neurodiverse-friendly adventures and more hyper-focused, purpose-led itineraries.

We need to send a big thanks to the contributors and teams behind these articles that inspired some of these discussion points in the episode.

• eDreams ODIGEO, “A Year in Travel 2025”

• Lemongrass Travel Trend Report 2026.

• Spotlight Communication’s “The eight travel trends that will shape 2026.”

Connect with Us:

• Email: ⁠⁠podcast@gohalo.co.uk

• Website:⁠⁠ www.gohalo.co.uk⁠⁠

• Instagram: ⁠⁠@haloitsmichael⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠@haloitsashleigh⁠⁠

• LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Halo Business Consulting⁠⁠

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, or follow “The Halo Effect: Hospitality Stories with Ashleigh and Michael Donald” on your preferred podcast platform. Please get in touch if you would like to see us discuss a particular subject on a future episode.

We would love to invite fellow hospitality professionals and entrepreneurs to join us on future episodes, so please DM us via socials or email podcast@gohalo.co.uk if you are interested.

From decision overload to decision detox, Ashleigh and Michael chat about how travelers are rethinking the way they plan and book their trips. In this first Travel Trends episode, they explore why all-inclusive and fully curated itineraries are making a comeback, how luxury travel advisers and retreat operators are stepping in to remove cognitive load, and where AI powered tools such as ChatGPT and OTAs fit into the new planning journey.

We need to send a big thanks to the contributors and teams behind these articles that inspired some of this discussion.

• eDreams ODIGEO, “A Year in Travel 2025”

• Lemongrass Travel Trend Report 2026.

Connect with Us:

• Email: ⁠⁠podcast@gohalo.co.uk

• Website:⁠⁠ www.gohalo.co.uk⁠⁠

• Instagram: ⁠⁠@haloitsmichael⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠@haloitsashleigh⁠⁠

• LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Halo Business Consulting⁠⁠

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, or follow “The Halo Effect: Hospitality Stories with Ashleigh and Michael Donald” on your preferred podcast platform. Please get in touch if you would like to see us discuss a particular subject on a future episode.

We would love to invite fellow hospitality professionals and entrepreneurs to join us on future episodes, so please DM us via social media or email podcast@gohalo.co.uk if you are interested.