D/R DOWNLOAD 1.16
What’s Trending
01/ On Google
“The Best Places to Travel Solo” trended +80% this week, highlighting a surge among travelers seeking tips, resources, and inspiration for independent trips that maximize flexibility and personal experience.
02/ With Media
This week, media were interested in romantic vacations, winter travel, honeymoon destinations and “whycations”.
The esteemed Gourmet magazine, originally closed in 2009, is being revitalized in January 2026 as a digital newsletter by a team of five journalists who acquired the trademark from Condé Nast.
03/ In the Zeitgeist
Harry Styles announced his next album, signaling a return after a long creative pause and immediately reigniting fan anticipation around his next musical era.
The 83rd Golden Globe Awards telecast on CBS drew about 8.7 million U.S. viewers, making an approximate 7% decrease in audience compared with last year’s broadcast.
The upcoming fourth season of The White Lotus will be filmed at Château de La Messardière, a historic 19th‑century palace‑turned‑luxury hotel in Saint‑Tropez, France, marking the series’ first major setting outside the Four Seasons brand
Industry Insights
Travelers weighed in on the destinations they’re most excited about for 2026, spotlighting a mix of global cities, beach escapes, cultural hubs, and under-the-radar regions that reflect shifting traveler priorities and curiosity-driven exploration.
New industry data highlights that travel advisors remain a valuable resource for many, particularly among older and higher‑spending travelers who seek expert planning and personalized service in an increasingly complex travel landscape.
Private jet travel hit an all-time high in 2025, fueled by sustained demand for flexibility, privacy, and time efficiency, with industry experts signaling continued momentum and innovation in the private aviation space this year.
U.S. travel agencies crossed a major milestone, exceeding $100 billion in air sales as travelers increasingly rely on expert planning for complex itineraries and high-value trips, signaling a strong rebound for advisor-led travel.
Touchless ID technology is expanding to more U.S. airports, allowing travelers to move through security using facial recognition and digital identification, reducing friction and accelerating the modernization of the airport experience.
Planning is already underway for the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics, with travelers advised to track event locations, ticketing strategies, and long-term booking considerations as the Games are expected to reshape travel demand across Southern California.
American Airlines is significantly expanding service out of Chicago O’Hare, adding more than 100 new flights to strengthen the airport’s hub status and improve access to key domestic and international destinations.
The Mexican Caribbean is taking a strategic approach to future growth with the launch of a new advisory board designed to guide sustainability efforts, long-term destination planning, and industry collaboration across the region.
Morocco and Egypt are experiencing record-breaking tourism growth, solidifying their positions as Africa’s most visited destinations as improved air connectivity and global demand drive continued expansion into 2026.
AI-powered travel assistants are making their way into corporate travel management, promising smarter planning, improved personalization, and greater efficiency for business travelers and organizations alike.
The travel industry’s transformation over the past two decades highlights how technology, sustainability priorities, and changing traveler values have fundamentally reshaped the way people explore the world.
A rare administrative error has led some U.S. passports to be mistakenly flagged as lost or stolen during in
The Good
Philippine Airlines’ innovative new in‑flight safety video takes the form of a six‑minute, soap opera‑style novella, weaving a dramatic love‑triangle narrative with essential safety information, and has quickly gone viral with millions of views online.
The Bad
Marriott is facing backlash from animal rights activists after falling short of its decade-old promise to use only cage-free eggs across its global portfolio, with critics accusing the hotel giant of corporate greenwashing and protesting its failure to fully meet the pledge.
