The U.S. Travel Association’s Spring 2026 forecast, published May 7-8 and powered by Tourism Economics, projects modest growth for the U.S. travel sector in 2026. Inflation-adjusted total travel spending is expected to reach $1.37 trillion this year and climb to $1.42 trillion in 2027. Domestic travel will drive the expansion, accounting for roughly 87% of spending; domestic leisure is forecast at $909 billion in 2026 and remains the only segment above pre-pandemic levels. Business travel is projected to grow modestly to $319 billion (+0.7%) in 2026. International inbound spending is expected to rebound slightly to $178 billion (+1.6%) with visitation rising about 3.4% to 70.6 million, supported in part by the FIFA World Cup, though full recovery to 2019 levels is not expected until 2029. The report flags downside risks including persistent inflation and energy prices, geopolitical instability, long visa wait times and negative perceptions of the U.S., and notes the slow inbound rebound widened the travel trade deficit to $72 billion in 2025.

Retailers and travel editors are pushing wrinkle‑resistant garments and capsule-packing strategies ahead of the summer season. On May 24, People highlighted Amazon’s Memorial Day sale featuring lightweight, wrinkle‑free pieces — maxi dresses, tees, jumpsuits and palazzo pants — with discounts up to 55% and prices starting around $9. Travel + Leisure (May 23–24) published multiple roundups recommending seven to 15 versatile items (linen shirts, wide‑leg pants, a UPF‑50 cami‑one‑piece, shorts and a skirt) that can create 14+ outfits for carry‑on‑only trips, with quoted price points from about $36 to $54. Articles emphasize mix‑and‑match sets, petite‑friendly sizing, pockets and fabrics that hold up in suitcases, and note celeb and consumer interest in more travel‑friendly wardrobes. The pieces are pitched as practical for long flights, European itineraries and resort travel, promising polished looks straight from luggage without ironing.

Toronto is gearing up to host six FIFA World Cup 2026 matches from June 12 to July 2, including Canada’s opening game against Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 12 at the renovated BMO Field—rebranded as “Toronto Stadium at Exhibition Place” after a $146-million makeover that added 17,000 temporary seats and raised capacity to about 45,000. The city will stage official FIFA Fan Festival sites at Fort York and The Bentway, with about 80% of tickets distributed free and limited premium access; other large public viewing areas include Harbourfront Centre and an adidas Brand Hub at STACKT Market that can host roughly 1,200 fans daily. Bell Media holds exclusive Canadian broadcast rights (TSN, CTV, RDS). Tourism and hotel groups expect a positive economic impact—Destination Toronto forecasts roughly 80% occupancy for June and July—despite reports of a lack of a sharp surge in bookings and FIFA cancellations of thousands of hotel reservations in host cities. Toronto has allocated a $380-million budget for the tournament, while FIFA previously estimated up to $940 million in potential economic output for the Greater Toronto Area.

U.S. travelers faced a busy Memorial Day weekend as forecast updates and transportation reports warned of heavy demand and spotty weather. CBS News meteorologist Rob Marciano outlined variable conditions nationwide heading into the holiday, with localized thunderstorms possible in parts of the Midwest and Southeast and calmer conditions across portions of the West and Northeast. Transportation correspondent Kris Van Cleave reported a record number of Americans expected to travel by air and road beginning May 22–23, straining airport operations, rental car inventories and key highway corridors. Officials and carriers urged early arrivals at airports, flexible itineraries and checks on weather-related advisories; some flights and ground services were expected to see delays. The combined travel-and-weather picture raised safety and logistical concerns for commuters, family trips and tourism-dependent businesses during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

Seven acres in the famously named unincorporated town of Hell, Michigan, are on the market for $625,000, offering buyers the “Gateway to Hell” parcel and an established novelty tourism business. The package includes two buildings (about 3,600 sq ft), a souvenir shop/ice cream parlour known as The Crematory, a devil-themed miniature golf course, a wedding chapel, and associated branded assets operated under HellMI LLC. Owner John Colone, 80, has listed the property to retire after running the site since 1998. The listing reports gross income of roughly $327,000 in 2024, and the site draws tour buses and national attention for its tongue-in-cheek attractions and event bookings; the town also hosts the Hell Saloon music venue. Located roughly 20 miles northwest of Ann Arbor, Hell traces its name to the 1830s and has longstanding viral and merchandising appeal. The sale transfers both physical land and an established brand that has been marketed as a multifaceted revenue generator with seasonal footfall and social-media visibility.

A long-running Roman souvenir known as the Calendario Romano — popularly dubbed the “hot priest” calendar — has been revealed to feature models who are not always clergy. Italian newspaper La Repubblica identified the cover face, Giovanni Galizia, now 39 and a flight attendant in Verona, as a 17-year-old model who posed in priestly attire for photographer Piero Pazzi more than two decades ago. Galizia’s portrait has been reused on several editions of the primarily black-and-white calendar, which Pazzi produces independently of the Vatican. Pazzi says around one-third of this year’s subjects are genuine priests but declined to specify which. The calendar sells for about €8 in tourist shops around the Vatican and Pazzi estimates several thousand copies per year. The Vatican has declined to comment. Galizia says he signed a release and received no payment; the photographer defends the project as artistic, noting it plays on contrasts between the sacred and the secular. The revelation has drawn attention across Italian and international media to the calendar’s authenticity and the overlap of religion, tourism and souvenir culture in Rome.