Global Scans · Leisure · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Online retailing will be one of the fastest growing channels between 2015 and 2019 as individuals do not have much time for leisure and seek convenience. Entertainment will continue to shift away from traditional broadcast media and print to reality augmented and deeply personalised content. The occupations with the largest new employment growth will be managers, professional and technical jobs, and caring and leisure occupations. Many middle-class professionals will be outsourced to machines within the next few decades leaving workers with more leisure time than they have ever experienced.

• [New] U.S. leisure travel demand is projected to remain strong in 2026, with annual household travel spending expected to reach a record $5,704 and an average of 3.87 vacations planned per household over the next 12 months. Hotel News Resource
• [New] Half of U.S. leisure travelers surveyed have used AI tools such as ChatGPT or Gemini to plan their trips, with adoption led by Gen Z and Millennials. Hotel News Resource
• [New] Women's sports revenues continue to surge Deloitte Global predicts that global revenues in women's elite sports will reach $3 billion in 2026, representing an increase of 340% since 2022. Cision PR Newswire
• [New] Soccer and basketball are expected to be the top revenue-generating women's sports globally in 2026, with each expected to represent 35% of the total revenue. Cision PR Newswire
• [New] Many fans are investing their time and money in women's sports: Matchday revenue is expected to grow to $911 million, representing 30% of total revenue in 2026. Cision PR Newswire
• [New] Women's sports have the potential to generate $2.5 billion in value for rights holders in the United States by 2030, including private equity investors, brand sponsors, and broadcast media rights holders. Yahoo Sports
• [New] By locking in the NFL as a cornerstone partner, ESPN has the potential to dominate the next era of sports streaming and transform what has historically been a cable-centric business into a powerful direct-to-consumer engine. Simply Wall St
• [New] Gaming and Entertainment will secure the largest share at 34.2% in 2026, followed by Healthcare at 21% and Education and Training at 18%. Bayelsa Watch
• [New] Revenues in women's elite sports rose by 248% from 2022 to 2025, and is expected to rise to 340% between 2022 and 2026. Inside World Football
• [New] Global revenues in women's elite sports will reach US$ 3 billion (£2.2 billion) for the first time in 2026. Inside World Football
• [New] Football and basketball will be the top revenue-generating women's sports globally in 2026, each expected to represent 35% of the total revenue. Inside World Football
• [New] Advertising and live sports are expected to become key revenue drivers for Netflix stock, with ad revenue projected to reach $3 billion in 2026. Economic Times
• [New] Live sports are the missing piece that could accelerate Netflix's ad revenue trajectory well beyond current projections. 24/7 Wall St.
• [New] Gen Z is projected to spend close to $40 billion on sports and fitness by 2030. Outlook Luxe
• [New] Entertainment is rumored to end in mid-May, with food closing over 2027. TouringPlans.com Blog
• Key factors to monitor in 2026 include the FIFA World Cup, which is expected to boost hotel performance, alongside trends in international travel and the entertainment sector's recovery. Hotel Online
• Global ad spend is expected to surpass $1 trillion for the first time in 2026, partially fueled by sports. Digiday
• By 2050, esports leagues could draw larger audiences than most physical sports. AOL
• The next 25 years could reshape transportation, medicine, entertainment, and even education. AOL
• Global revenues for women's sports are projected to reach $2.3 billion in 2026. Denver 7 Colorado News (KMGH)
• In 2026, Disney anticipates spending $24 billion on content across entertainment and sports. Streaming Media Magazine
• The World Economic Forum's Sports for People and Planet 2026 report flags physical inactivity as a systemic threat: globally, one in three adults and more than 80% of adolescents fail to meet recommended activity levels. Sporting Goods Intelligence

Last updated: 22 April 2026