Global Leisure Perspectives 2024

The leisure sector is slowly bouncing back from the challenges of COVID-19, high inflation and economic uncertainty. Yet many challenges persist.

The leisure sector is slowly bouncing back

KPMG’s Global Leisure Perspectives 2024 provides travel and leisure sector executives and decision-makers with new ideas and insights to help drive growth in today’s challenging environment.

Through a series of articles authored by KPMG professionals around the world, this publication provides real-life examples and actionable takeaways focused around inorganic growth, performance improvement, technology enablement and customer-centricity.

In this environment, travel and leisure organizations and investors are looking for opportunities to unlock value, drive growth and build customer relationships. And that is leading to a focus on four key areas:

Inorganic growth

Deal activity in the travel and leisure sector remains down from the highs of 2021. Yet signs of a revival are emerging. In this section, professionals from KPMG’s network share their insights into the resurging M&A market globally with spotlights on current inorganic growth trends in China, India, Japan and Germany.

Articles in this section include:

- M&A in a down market: What to watch
- Hainan: Innovating travel retail in China
- Flying high: India’s travel and leisure sector reaches new height
- Japan’s comeback story
- Cautious optimism in Germany’s hotel market
- Boom times for branded residences

Technology enablement

Technology can’t replace the human touch in the travel and leisure sector. But can it enhance it? In this section, professionals from KPMG’s network unpack some of the opportunities and challenges of integrating technology – including generative AI – into the business without losing the human touch (or losing the humans’ data).

Articles in this section include:

- Digital transformation on the restaurant menu
- Customer experience: Orchestrating tech and the human touch
- Unlocking the power of generative AI in travel, leisure and hospitality
- Building cyber resilience

Performance improvement

In an uncertain economic environment, travel and leisure companies are looking for ways to improve performance across every facet of the business. In this section, professionals from KPMG’s network share their experience helping travel and leisure companies deal with complex problems – like CSRD compliance – more efficiently and effectively.

Articles in this section include:

- Maximizing profitability: Value-based pricing in hospitality
- Fit for the future: Simplify, modernize and optimize
- Getting ready for CSRD

Customer focus

As travel and leisure companies move to reorient their entire business around the customer, many are finding new ways to drive loyalty and customer lifetime value. In this section, professionals from KPMG’s network explain how some of the leading organizations are creating customer experiences and interactions that deliver long-term growth.

Articles in this section include:

- Loyalty boost: Remaining relevant
- Tap into the full value of your customers
- ESG in gaming: Responsible matters
- Creating economic growth with sustainable tourism
- 7 trends shaping the future of hospitality (IMHO)