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What’s Trending
01/ On Google
“Uconn travel issues” trended +200% this week as the UConn men's basketball team experienced a delay in their flight to the Final Four in Arizona due to mechanical issues with their plane. After over 8 hours of delays at Windsor Locks, Connecticut, the team finally departed on a smaller Allegiant Air plane for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
02/ With Media
This week, media were interested in the best cruises to Asia, sustainability activations at hotels, shoulder city tourism, high-tech spa treatments, summer travel trends, and more.
According to a new report by Edison Research, the number of Americans listening to podcasts is at an all-time high, with 47% of people listening last month and 34% of people listening last week. Younger Americans are driving this trend, with 59% of those under 35 listening at least once a month.
03/ In the Zeitgeist
The dating app Thursday created an event called LuvSki which takes place in Val Thorens, France and is designed for singles to meet and mingle on a ski trip. The trip sold out quickly, showcasing that people are looking for real-life connections and face-to-face interactions beyond a screen.
Corporate America participated in April Fools' Day with a range of pranks and jokes. Notable pranks from 2024 include Duolingo's announcement of a fictional multilingual musical on ice and Krispy Kreme's promise to glaze anything customers bring in.
Industry Insights
According to a NerdWallet study, 20% of Americans are willing to put a portion of their 2024 travel expenses on a credit card, without paying it off in the first billing cycle. This new data showcases that despite concerns about finances, travel remains a top priority.
Icelandair pulled off an April Fools' prank by announcing a matchmaking feature that would pair passengers for in-flight dates. The airline later revealed it was a joke and offered participants the chance to win airline points as a consolation.
Hyatt Hotels has introduced a new brand called Hyatt Vivid, an adults-only brand catering to millennial travelers. The brand focuses on “blending all-inclusive amenities with a casual atmosphere.”
JetBlue has updated its checked bag fees again, incorporating peak and off-peak pricing. During peak times, passengers will be charged $50 for the first bag and $70 for the second, while off-peak rates are $45 for the first bag and $60 for the second.
"Dupe travel" is a rising trend, with travelers seeking out cheaper and less-crowded alternatives to popular destinations, while still enjoying similar attractions or cultural activities. It allows travelers to save money, experience more authentic travel, and discover exciting, off-the-beaten-path destinations.
Eight passengers were stranded on the African island of São Tomé and Príncipe after their Norwegian cruise ship left without them. They were more than an hour late to return from a private tour that was not organized by the cruise line. Eventually, they rejoined the cruise in Dakar, Senegal, with their travel costs reimbursed by Norwegian.
The Australian-owned company Aurora Expeditions announced its launch of the new ship, Douglas Mawson, named directly after the Australian geologist and explorer. The ship is scheduled to launch in December 2025, and will offer trips to East Antarctica; Aurora’s first time sailing there in over a decade.
Businesses in the food and flight industries are capitalizing on the upcoming solar eclipse, creating unique advertisements and merch. Local towns and vendors anticipate a big turnout for the solar event.
American Airlines has changed its pet policy, now allowing flyers to bring a pet and a carry-on for a “carry-on pet fee”, instead of only allowing one or the other.
Taiwan suffered its largest earthquake in 25 years, at a 7.4 magnitude. Nine people died, over a hundred people were stuck in tunnels, and nearly 1000 people were injured. There have been 29 aftershocks at a magnitude of over 4.0, and the Taiwanese government is working to resolve the disaster's damages.
A Southwest Airlines flight encountered severe turbulence, resulting in injuries to a passenger and a flight attendant. The incident prompted the captain to declare an emergency and make an emergency landing in Tampa, Florida.
The Good
Data from the World Travel & Tourism Council predicts the travel industry in 2024 will provide a record $11.1 trillion to the world economy. In addition, the council predicts that jobs related to tourism will make up 12.2% of the global job sector.
The Bad
Several state parks in California closed after a portion of Highway 1 collapsed. Highway 1 is part of Big Sur, a major tourist attraction in California. All state parks in the Big Sur area are closed for day visits and camping until further notice, and visitors with reservations have received refunds.
