New booking data from Global Travel Collection (GTC), part of Internova Travel Group, shows increasing demand for domestic destinations among today's luxury travelers.
According to the data drawn from advisor bookings through the first quarter of 2026 for summer travel between June and September, summer hotel bookings across the United States have risen more than 20 percent year-over-year, with average daily rates climbing 40 percent as demand grows.
A handful of U.S. destinations stand out when it comes to where affluent travelers are going this summer, including resurgent Hawaii.
The Big Island, Maui and Kona are among GTC's highest-growth domestic destinations for summer 2026.
Other hotspots include Big Sky, Montana, which offers unparalleled seclusion and nature immersion, and eastern Tennessee, specifically places like Knoxville and Walland. "Home to the acclaimed Blackberry Farm and Blackberry Mountain, this region is drawing food-and-nature-focused luxury travelers," GTC points out.
University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville. (Photo Credit: knowlesgallery/Adobe)
Luxury travelers are also in search of coastal retreats in regions like New England, where Newport, Rhode Island, is seeing strong booking growth.
Other in-demand cities for affluent vacationers this year include Los Angeles, Boston and Miami Beach.
Top-Booked Luxury Resorts by GTC Advisors for Summer 2026
- Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection — Hawaii, Big Island
- Four Seasons Resort Hualalai — Hawaii, Kona
- Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea — Hawaii, Maui
- The St. Regis Aspen Resort — Aspen, Colorado
- Ocean House — Watch Hill, Rhode Island
- Hualalai Villas and Homes — Hawaii, Kona
- Blackberry Farm / Blackberry Mountain — Walland/Knoxville, Tennessee
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