Tour Tourism
As part of Live with Kelly & Mark’s Great Getaways week, I was thrilled to share some highlights from Expedia’s Unpack ‘24 “The Trends in Travel” campaign, which steeped in research, predicts the travel trends and destination hotspots for the upcoming year. Watch the fascinating segment about the growing popularity of Tour Tourism!
What is Tour Tourism? Taylor Swift and Beyoncé started the craze this year. With the high-demand for tickets, for 2024 Expedia research shows 30% of travelers say they would travel outside of their nearest city for their favorite artist because tickets are cheaper elsewhere.
According to a survey, Nearly 70% of respondents are more likely to travel to a concert outside their own town & Over 40% saying they’d travel for a concert as an excuse to visit a new place. Instead of traveling for the night, the trend shows that people will spend a few days, or plan full vacations, in a city with the concert as one activity.
Which cities should be on our radar? Next year, HUGE artists including Taylor Swift, Madonna, Olivia Rodrigo, Bad Bunny, Jonas Brothers, Metallica and Blink182 are on tour, and in these places fans can snag hotel rooms for less than $150/night on average — and in some cases that may be less than the price of the concert ticket.
Houston, Texas
o Taylor Swift is coming in April. If you can score a ticket, you can bundle a round-trip flight from NYC and a 4-star hotel for 3-nights under $600
o Home of NASA's Space Center
o A cultural hotspot. There are urban parks, a thriving downtown packed with a vibrant food scene, colorful street art, and world-class museums and galleries
Mexico City, Mexico
o Madonna tickets are available for her dates in Mexico, and since it’s her “Celebration” tour, why not go all out!
o Average hotel rate is $119/night
o Plaza de la Constitución, Latin America’s largest public square. The area is flush with history, from recent to Mesoamerican
o Take time to immerse yourself in Aztec history at the Templo Mayor site
o Savor authentic Mexican cuisine at local eateries
o The Xochimilco Canals, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, once supplied the Aztec capital crops, but these days are popular for locals and tourists alike
Antwerp, Belgium
o Olivia Rodrigo’s “Guts” tour in the US sold-out on Ticketmaster, but you can get tickets to her show this May in Antwerp, starting at $84!
o Average hotel $140/night
o Large port city on a river feeding into the North Sea
o Historic cobblestone ways and modern architecture
o As a Belgian city, it’s also known for delicious waffles and chocolates
Warsaw, Poland
o Taylor Swift also is making a stop here, and if you can make a trip abroad, Warsaw is budget-friendly: free attractions, cheap eats, and affordable accommodations
o Average hotel $119/night
o The heart of Central Europe, the capital city of Poland
o Dynamic and modern city, filled with traditional beauty and modern energy
o Royal Castle Warsaw
o Warsaw Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Birmingham, United Kingdom
o Average hotel $127/night
o Most Michelin-starred restaurants outside of London
o Canal network flows right through the city center, and there’s plenty to do along the pathways including pit stops at a number of canalside bars
o Calling soccer fans – see a match while in town. Aston Villa and Birmingham City both play in Birmingham.
To hear about more these Tour Tourism hot spots, watch the live segment!
Concert reporting and ticket availability reflect segment airdate, November 8, 2023, and may be subject to change.