For many restaurants, summer is the season that defines much of their success. For those who have reached the pinnacle of achievement by becoming a destination hot spot, it can define their brand.
Recently, Chase Travel and Infatuation released their Travel & Dining Trends for Summer 2025. This new lifestyle report focuses on leisure travel and dining, exploring what consumers look for when planning their summer vacations.
Travel Bookings
There was some welcome good news in this latest summer dining and travel trends report.
- Travel bookings show a 14% year-over-year increase.
- Almost 40% of respondents believe they’ll spend more than usual on travel.
- 73% are likely to dine out.
- Nearly 80% are interested in planning their vacation around a destination’s food and restaurant options, with 70% willing to travel at least 30 minutes to another city for a meal.
In a time of economic uncertainty, those numbers say a great deal about an industry leaning into value. So, how can you get noticed in the travel circles and become a destination hot spot?
It may seem like it’s all about location, right? I mean, if you’re located in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, or West Palm Beach, Florida, your chances are far better at getting recognized by the many travelers to these well-known towns. However, today’s consumers are looking for the authentic and the unusual. They may be traveling to Italy to eat pasta, a not-so-unusual journey. But they’re looking for genuine and off-the-beaten-path experiences, not the tourist traps that offer the same kind of meals and experiences they could find in their hometown.
Summer Hot Spots Defined
The Infatuation, a restaurant discovery platform, explored the top spots of the summer. Their Chicago edition listed some of the restaurants to go to when “eating your way through the city.”
Perilla Korean American Fare
Of all the many restaurants in Chicago (by some estimates, over 10,000), why did this restaurant make the grade? While there were many reasons for this recent addition, one of the main offerings emphasized was their “Wiener Wars.” Taking place on their secluded patio every Monday, two restaurants, Kimski and Seoul Taco, compete for the crowd’s favorite hot dog. Of course, these aren’t just any hot dogs. A recent favorite was a scallion pancake corn dog.
This informs us that one way to show up in a destination publication for restaurants is to come up with unique events that incorporate today’s popular competitive eatertainment sphere. Even better if it’s outside.
Sportsman’s Club
If you want to know the place to be on summer Sundays, check out the Sportsman’s Club. It’s here, on this small patio, that about 17 hard-to-get-into restaurants rotate to serve unique barbeque dishes.
Miami also made The Infatuation’s travel lists, with several unique dining options that center around experiences.
Mai-Kai
This renovated tiki temple didn’t make the grade because of its unique take on Hawaiian Ono. Instead, it carried its weight because of the unique experience it offers, an iconic Polynesian dinner show. In November 2024, this 68-year-old Polynesian palace enjoyed a $20 million restoration, creating an entirely new experience.
While this doesn’t quite resonate with an authentic experience, immersed in local culture and cuisine—it is fun, and that is another exceptional draw as vacationers look to make the most of their summer months.
Additional Restaurant Draws
A few other interesting statistics in the travel report include the growing trend toward earlier dining. There was a time when summer months brought in the crowds after 8:00 pm. According to Chase Travel, today, over 50% of Gen-X prefer reservations from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm. The older crowds, however, are still leaning toward heading to restaurants at 7:00 pm and later.
Depending on your target market, you may want to consider offering unique items in the early hours, such as small plate specials or early bird dinner options.
They also noted that over 60% of respondents are more likely to splurge on a dessert in the summer. With searches for ice cream spots doubling as summer nears, consider a unique take on this refreshing after-dinner fare. The Infatuation noted several unique offerings in Los Angeles, such as Liu’s Creamery, which features ice cream with flavors like cilantro and peanut powder, as well as pineapple jam.
With summer just around the corner, now’s that time to define your brand with unique events, culinary delights, and refreshing drinks and desserts. Do it right, and you may find your restaurant in a destination travel guide.
