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] Following 2.1% growth in 2025, domestic leisure travel spending continues to expand, rising 0.9% to $909 billion in 2026 and growing more quickly in 2027 and beyond. U.S. Travel Association
• [New] The optimism around women's pro sports is so high that accounting firm Deloitte predicts the global women's sports industry will surpass $3 billion in revenues in 2026 - an increase of 340% since 2022. The Christian Science Monitor
• [New] Global revenues from women's sports are projected to exceed $3 billion in 2026. LinkedIn
• [New] Although the first Micro RGB televisions (also referred to as RGB Mini-LED, True RGB, or RGB LED by some manufacturers) showed up in 2025, 2026 is said to be the year that Micro RGB TVs will finally take over your home's entertainment setup. BGR
• [New] Feedstock pressure intensified as coal tar and oil-based inputs rose sharply post-holiday, further supported by higher energy and logistics costs linked to the Iran war and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Procurement Resource
• [New] Core inflation is projected to climb sharply, rising from around 3% in the first quarter to as high as 6% by the fourth quarter of 2026, driven by second-round effects such as higher costs for restaurants, recreation and personal services. philstar.com
• [New] The global sports economy is worth US$ 2.5 trillion and could reach US$ 3.7 trillion by 2030, while sports assets have compounded at 13.1% annually over six decades. Asian Golf Industry Federation
• [New] From global padel expansion to a reported $225 million pickleball investment wave, the pace of growth across racket sports continues to create new opportunities for clubs, coaches and entrepreneurs alike. Racket Business
• [New] The Spring Economic Update 2026 proposes to provide $755 million over five years, starting in 2026-27, and $118 million ongoing to Canadian Heritage to support Canada's sport system to: Host and compete with the best: $50 million over five years to bring more world-class sporting events to Canada. The AI Journal
• [New] Domestic leisure is the only major travel segment to exceed pre-pandemic spending in real terms, with spending projected at $909 billion in 2026. U.S. Travel Association
• [New] In 2026, industries such as finance, healthcare, supply chain, real estate, and digital entertainment will see major transformation through blockchain adoption. Malgo Technologies
• [New] AI is going mainstream in travel planning with 50% of travelers having used it to plan or research a holiday, up from 41% the previous year, and 50% expressing comfort at the prospect of using AI to book accommodations in the future. FINN Partners
• [New] Live sports monetization could accelerate Netflix's ad revenue trajectory beyond current projections, as sports viewers do not skip ads and command premium rates. 24/7 Wall St.
• [New] The spatial computing entertainment segment was valued at USD 45,245.44 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 218,418.73 million by 2032, growing at a 22.2% CAGR. openpr
• [New] Soccer and basketball are projected to generate the highest amount of global women's sports revenue in 2026, driven by varied investments - including the launch of new leagues and competitions - that are expected to fuel the future of women's sports. Cision PR Newswire
• Projected U.S. leisure travel spending will reach a historic high of $5,704 per household in 2026, with the utilization of AI travel planning tools becoming more common among travelers and international travel reaching its highest level since before 2020. Hotel News Resource
• Demand signals remain mixed rather than weak: U.S. leisure spending is projected to reach a new high, but travelers are showing greater price sensitivity in destination choice, increasing the importance of value-oriented revenue management and segmentation. Hotel News Resource
• Younger age groups are more likely to plan friend trips, weddings, bachelor or bachelorette parties, concerts, professional sporting events, and work trips in summer 2026, which helps explain stronger vacation rental demand among Gen Z and millennials. / USA StayFi
• Deloitte forecasts women's elite sports revenues will surpass $3 billion in 2026-up 25% from 2025's $2.4 billion-driven by strong growth in broadcast and matchday streams; basketball and football each account for ~35%, with North America ($1.64 bn, 54%) and Europe ($434 m, 14%) leading. Global Banking & Finance Review
• Annual sports betting wagers will likely exceed $120 billion, while revenue from sports wagering will approach $11 billion. SweepsPulse

Last updated: 20 May 2026