D/R DOWNLOAD 11.21
What’s Trending
01/ On Google
“Travel Tuesday deals 2025” trended +200% this week as travelers hunt for holiday-season bargains and early 2026 getaways amid rising demand for discounted flights and hotel offers.
02/ With Media
This week, media were interested in 2026 hotel and resort openings, unexpected adventures in the Caribbean, international ski destinations, longevity travel and 2026 travel trends.
03/ In the Zeitgeist
Writer and influencer Chanté Joseph’s viral Vogue UK essay, “Are Boyfriends Embarrassing,” sparked intense debate over modern heterosexual dynamics, resonating with many women while drawing backlash from men online. The discourse revived optimism about digital journalism’s ability to ignite meaningful conversations.
Cloudflare experienced a major software failure that caused its largest outage since 2019, taking down huge portions of the internet, from OpenAI and Spotify to X and Canva. The disruption stemmed from an internal database error, emphasizing how heavily the web relies on a few infrastructure giants, and renewing concerns about the fragility of the systems powering today’s AI-driven internet.
Industry Insights
The Global Wellness Institute reports the wellness economy has hit a record $6.8 trillion, up 35% since 2019, and is projected to reach $9.8 trillion by 2029. All sectors now exceed pre-pandemic levels, with wellness real estate and mental wellness driving the fastest growth as consumers prioritize prevention and holistic health.
Fodor’s 2026 “No List” urges travelers to ease pressure in overtouristed, fragile destinations, highlighting Antarctica and Spain’s Canary Islands as places where rising visitor numbers are straining ecosystems, housing and local communities.
Travel + Leisure released its 2026 Best Places to Travel list, spotlighting culturally buzzy cities, Olympic and World Cup host destinations, emerging adventure hubs and next-wave beach escapes as the year’s must-visit spots.
Intrepid Travel partnered with REI Co-op to launch two new collections of nearly 90 adventure trips, marking Intrepid’s largest U.S. partnership to date. Starting in January, REI members will receive exclusive discounts on itineraries ranging from U.S. treks to global expeditions, as the retailer reenters the travel space and Intrepid accelerates its growth in the American market.
SiteMinder’s 2026 Changing Traveller Report reveals three major shifts shaping global travel behavior: Online travel agencies (OTAs) have overtaken search engines as the top starting point for hotel research, more travelers are upgrading to premium rooms and “smart shopping” is rising as many research on OTAs but book direct.
David’s Bridal launched “Travel by David’s,” a new global booking platform offering curated honeymoons, destination wedding planning, group travel, cruises and weekend getaways. The service taps into rising demand for experience-driven celebrations, offering preferred hotel rates and concierge-style support at no extra fee.
The Good
Hilton and Calm, the leading meditation and sleep app, launched a first-of-its-kind Sleep Story recorded inside the newly restored Waldorf Astoria New York, narrated by influencer Paige DeSorbo. The collaboration expands Hilton’s wellness push, bringing Calm’s relaxation content directly into guest rooms as travelers increasingly prioritize rest and recharge.
The Bad
Shay Mitchell addressed backlash to her new kids’ skincare line, rini, after criticism that sheet masks for ages 3+ could reinforce early beauty standards. Mitchell defended the products as “age-appropriate” and rooted in self-care, saying they were inspired by her daughters’ interest in her routine and the need for safe, gentle options for shared parent-child moments.
