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] 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
• The global sports economy generates approximately $2.3 trillion (€2.2 trillion) in annual revenues today and is projected to reach $8.8 trillion (€8.3 trillion) by 2050. Sporting Goods Intelligence
• The continued growth of mobile and cloud gaming will bring interactive entertainment to new audiences around the world. GameSpace.com
• Premium leisure carrier beOnd will expand its winter 2026-27 schedule to the Maldives with new routes from Paris and London and additional frequencies from Zurich and Munich. Aviation Week Network
• Consumer research on North American travel patterns for 2025 and 2026 shows that many households expect to maintain or increase their trip volume, supported by strong demand for leisure travel and a continued shift toward experiences over goods. The Traveler
• A report by Oxford Economics predicts significant economic headwinds from a potential holiday tax in England, including a GBP 2.2 billion decline in GDP, a GBP 1.6 billion increase in taxes for vacationers, and a GBP 688 million fall in tax revenue by 2030 if a 5% levy is fully implemented. Hotel News Resource
• More than 4,900 flight disruptions, including about 600 cancellations, as strong winds and severe thunderstorms hit major airports, particularly in Atlanta and Orlando, both critical gateways for leisure travelers. The Traveler
• An impressive 76% anticipate taking more than one overnight leisure trip in 2026. hotelbusiness.com

Last updated: 15 April 2026