Here are 15 more amazing travel industry predictions for 2025 by Steve Glenn

This week, I will add predictions 31-45 to my annual list of travel industry predictions. My next 15 predictions are coming next week. CLICK HERE to read my first 30 predictions. 

31. Hotels will start charging a $15 Housekeeping Fee – The pandemic allowed hotels to introduce housekeeping fees, and now many are charging an additional $15 per night for daily cleaning. If you want your room cleaned every day, you’ll need to notify the front desk and pay the fee. It seems hotels have adopted Winston Churchill’s adage, “never let a crisis go to waste,” by adding these daily cleaning charges on top of the room rate. These hidden fees are frustrating for travelers, and I hope hotels will take a more transparent approach, treating guests with honesty and no additional charges.

32. Most 2025 river cruises in Europe will be sold out by March 1, 2025 – River cruising is going wild. Baby boomer Americans cant get enough of the unpack once -and-done experience. At the beginning of 2025, 67% of all Europan river cruises were already sold-out. Procrastinator beware! 

33. Most people will renew their passports online this year – The U.S. government has finally launched a new online passport renewal system that most people will want to use to renew their passports in 2025. This will be a giant time saver as currently, it can take 5 – 9 weeks to get a passport renewed by sending in the forms via mail. This new process offers the possibility to shorten the renewal time by half. 

34. Facial recognition will replace airline tickets and passports – Paper tickets are long gone, and soon even digital tickets and mobile boarding passes will be obsolete. The travel industry is rapidly adopting facial recognition scanners to streamline airport security. Global Entry users are already experiencing this shift, as facial scans replace the need to present passports. Many airport gates now accept just a photo ID for security clearance. While this advancement enhances convenience, it’s also a bit unsettling, as it means the government tracks your every move.

35. Baby Boomers will accelerate their travel as they try to spend down their 78 trillion dollars in wealth before they kick the bucket –Baby Boomers will take heart to the old saying, “You can’t take it with you” and accelerate the number and frequency of travel in 2025. Add to this many Boomers will also be downsizing from jumbo houses and try to simplify life with no-maintenance condos and apartments. This will free them up for even more travel. 

36. Business Class and First Class airline seats are set to skyrocket in popularity among Generation X and Millennials –  As the great wealth transfer from Boomers to these generations begins to take shape, trillions of dollars are shifting into the hands of individuals eager to embrace the finer things in life. Luxury travel is at the top of their list, and these travelers are ready to upgrade their experiences, making premium airline seating a prime beneficiary of this newfound affluence.

37. Travel in 2025 is as much about storytelling as exploration –In the past year I have been to the major cities of Rome, Florence, and New York City and was miserable walking and driving with the hoards of people and cars. I don’t like crowds and feel intimidated walking like a sardine up a stream. The sidewalks in NYC and Rome are so full that you have to walk in the street to move ahead. I am not saying don’t go to these cities, however, you have to have a three-point plan that includes 1) Travel off-season and avoid holidays. 2) Rise early and hit the hot spots before 10 AM. 3) Purchase reservations for timed entry into top attractions.