Hilton Worldwide Holdings has unveiled the Why We Gather Report, a dedicated special section of its 2026 Trends Report, developed in partnership with Ipsos. Drawing on a survey of more than 3,000 adults across the U.S., U.K. and India planning to attend in-person work events over the next two years, the report examines behavioral, emotional and cultural drivers shaping meetings and events. Hilton emphasizes that while technology and artificial intelligence streamline logistics, 84% of attendees want to bring their “authentic selves” to work gatherings, underscoring the enduring importance of face-to-face connection.

The report highlights three strategic themes: IRL 2.0, The Blueprint and The Wellness Agenda. Under IRL 2.0, 49% of respondents identify meeting new people and team bonding as their primary reason for attending events, while 67% say AI assistance enhances event efficiency. In The Blueprint, 83% of attendees are conscious of appearing productive, 71% mirror behaviors of admired leaders and 57% change outfits multiple times daily. The Wellness Agenda reveals that 67% feel less engaged without downtime, 55% skip sessions to decompress and 81% of parents value alone time away from parenting pressures. These insights will steer Hilton’s product offerings, service enhancements and planner resources.

Hilton continues to leverage proprietary research to reinforce its leadership in global hospitality and meetings. The company’s portfolio spans 25 brands, 9,000 properties and over 1.3 million rooms in 141 countries. Consensus estimates forecast 13.2% growth in full-year 2026 EPS, underpinned by new unit growth, RevPAR normalization and a $4.6 billion share repurchase program. As Hilton scales its World’s Most Welcoming Events platform and EventReady tools, investors can expect sustained margin expansion driven by higher mix of premium meetings revenue, operational efficiencies from technology investments and continued capital return initiatives.