Canadian travel habits are changing, new Expedia survey says

Expedia Group’s latest survey, the Traveller Value Index 2025, has revealed significant shifts in how travellers plan and book their trips compared to previous years.

This year's findings highlight the growing influence of social media and the critical role of trust in travel decisions.

Three-quarters of travellers are willing to pay more for lodging with better reviews, underscoring the importance of confidence and reliability in their choices. Over half (61 per cent) now find trip ideas on social media platforms, up from 35 per cent in 2022.

Another 73 per cent say influencer recommendations have influenced their decision to book a trip or travel component, emphasizing the growing importance of trustworthy, peer-driven insights.

Specifically for Canada, the index takes a comprehensive look at the evolving landscape of travel, highlighting the importance of affordability, the impact of economic factors and the growing influence of loyalty programs.

Canadians are notably more price-sensitive than their global counterparts. When it comes to booking values, price is a bigger factor for Canadians across all travel types.

With hotels, 29 per cent of Canadians consider low pricing the top value, while 33 per cent prioritize low pricing for vacation rentals and 37 percent see price as the most important factor for air travel.

For cruises, 33 per cent of Canadians value low pricing the most, whereas it’s a priority for 40 percent when it comes to car rentals and 36 per cent for tours and activities.

A significant 60 per cent of Canadians report that inflation is impacting their travel plans for the next 12 months, compared to the global average of 44 per cent.

Canadians also show a strong preference for loyalty programs, with 74 per cent interested in redeeming loyalty points for travel and 77 per cent saying they would book travel through a non-travel loyalty program if they could earn points for it, compared to the global average of 68 per cent.

Don't miss a single travel story: subscribe to PAX today!  Click here to follow PAX on Facebook.