There’s a familiar saying in travel: if you blink, you’ll miss the trend. The Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) clearly took that to heart, announcing a replay of one of the Beyond Borders Summit’s most talked-about sessions, a lively, data-rich deep dive into how Australians will travel in 2026.
The encore, set for Thursday, 13 November at 11 a.m. (AEDT), offers members a second crack at Adele Labine-Romain’s presentation, an eye-opener from the Head of Travel and Tourism at Roy Morgan Research.
Her original talk in Brisbane was, by all accounts, standing-room-only. It blended charts, wit, and a fair bit of foresight, precisely the kind of session with travel agents scribbling notes and muttering, “We’d better get on top of that.”
Consumer Mood Swings and Meaningful Miles
Labine-Romain’s research traces a subtle but unmistakable shift in traveller motivation. “We’re seeing purpose creep into every purchase,” she observed at the summit, outlining how Australians are leaning towards meaningful experiences, such as volunteering abroad, slow rail journeys through Europe, or reconnecting with the outback.
Her message was simple: travellers want to feel good about where their money goes. That means sustainability isn’t a slogan anymore — it’s an expectation.
ATIA Chief Executive Dean Long said the rerun was designed for those who couldn’t make it to Brisbane but don’t want to miss the message.
“Insights like these are invaluable for any business looking to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving market,” Long said. “Adele’s presentation was one of the most in-demand sessions because it goes straight to the heart of what’s changing — how people think, choose, and book. We want every member to have access to that intelligence as they plan for 2026 and beyond.”
Why the Replay Matters
For many operators, 2026 is shaping up to be when consumer confidence finally steadies after the stop-start recovery of the early 2020s. But confidence comes with complexity, fluctuating currencies, carbon-offset confusion, and the rise of AI-curated itineraries.
Labine-Romain’s data, drawn from Roy Morgan’s vast consumer panel, aims to give the industry a compass rather than a crystal ball. Expectations have shifted, she notes: the same traveller who once chased cheap fares now weighs ethics alongside economics.
And if that makes product planning more complicated, that’s the cost of progress.
A Data-Driven Encore
The webinar, Consumer Trends Shaping Travel: Beyond Borders Rerun, will unpack the latest behavioural metrics and travel-intention data in real time. Registration is open now via GoToWebinar.
For an industry that thrives on timing, ATIA’s decision to hit “rewind” may help its members move forward quickly. After all, when anticipating tomorrow’s traveller, getting a second look is never wasted.
