The ManTripping Report: Why Men's Travel Is Quietly Outgrowing the Industry

Hollywood has been writing the script for the male group trip for nearly twenty years. The mental image is loud, chaotic, and obsessed with excess, a vibe that has dominated the conversation since the early 2000s. But the numbers just released by ManTripping.com suggest reality is moving in a completely different direction. The industry is still trying to sell the party, but the men are booking the hike.

The Data Defies the Stereotype

The survey results are counterintuitive for anyone who thinks the modern guys trip is about a penthouse party. When asked to identify the top request from male groups, 63% of tourism professionals cited adventure. This is a significant shift away from the nightlife-centric model that has defined the sector for years. The men are asking for things to do, not just places to drink. They are looking for shared experiences that test their limits or bring them closer to nature.

James Hills, the publisher of ManTripping.com, put the shift into context by noting that the conversation has been driven by movies instead of data. He describes the current trend as less about the chaotic energy of a film like The Hangover and more about a weekend of fishing, hiking, and real connection. This is a subtle but profound change in how men approach leisure. It is a move toward purposeful recreation, a trend that mirrors broader shifts in how adults spend their free time.

The data supports Hills' observation. The report ties this shift to broader societal forces. The share of U.S. adults who drink is holding at its lowest point since Gallup began tracking in 1939. At the same time, outdoor recreation reached a record 183.2 million Americans in 2025. Men are not just traveling differently. They are living differently, and their travel choices reflect that new normal.

The Missing Strategy

Here is where the industry starts to look a bit clumsy. If 63% of the demand is for adventure and outdoor experiences, why is only 6% of the supply equipped to handle it? The survey suggests that most tourism boards are still operating on outdated assumptions. They are marketing the same old packages, hoping that the men will show up because the location is famous. They are not building the specific infrastructure or messaging that these travelers are actively seeking.

This is a missed opportunity on a massive scale. The respondents who shared their location cover at least 15 U.S. states, plus Canada and Mexico. About 80% of those who identified their organization are destination marketing organizations and travel PR professionals. These are the people who shape how destinations are perceived. If they are not seeing the clear signal in the data, the market will be left to fill the void with generic offerings that do not resonate with the modern male traveler.

The Father-Son Shift

One of the most compelling findings in the report is the rise of multigenerational travel. The data shows a 17% year-over-year climb in men traveling with their fathers and sons. This is not just about a bachelor party. It is about legacy, bonding, and creating memories that span generations. The modern guys trip is increasingly a family trip, albeit one focused on male bonding.

This shift has significant implications for destination planning. A trip that includes a father and a son requires different amenities than a trip of twenty-year-olds. It calls for safety, comfort, and activities that can be enjoyed across a range of ages and physical abilities. The industry is not currently designing for this. It is designing for the single demographic that Hollywood created, and it is missing the one that is actually growing.

The Regional Advantage

The report also highlights a geographic trend that is often overlooked. Many of the most-requested activities, including fishing, adventure, breweries, and camping, are drive-to experiences. They do not require expensive airfare. This points to a growing preference for accessible regional destinations, such as the Great Lakes and the Midwest. Men are not just flying to exotic locations. They are driving to places where the experience is the product.

This is a win for smaller, regional tourism boards that have historically struggled to compete with major international hubs. If the demand is for outdoor adventure and local experiences, these destinations have a natural advantage. They do not need to build a new hotel or a new attraction. They need to market the landscape they already have. The challenge is that they are not currently doing that, at least not with the specific messaging that the data suggests is needed.

What Comes Next

ManTripping.com is not stopping with this first report. The publication plans follow-up reports on fishing and hunting, golf, adventure travel, and father-son trips. They intend to track how these trends change into 2027. This is a smart move. It turns a single data point into a longitudinal study, giving the industry a chance to adjust its strategies in real time. It also gives the media a continuing narrative to follow, which is good for the conversation.

The bottom line is that the industry is playing catch-up. The men have already changed their behavior. They are traveling more, they are traveling with family, and they are choosing experiences over excess. The tourism boards have the data to prove it. The question is whether they will have the agility to change their marketing before the next wave of travelers books a trip that ignores their current offerings entirely. The gap is real. The data is clear. The strategy is missing.