D/R DOWNLOAD 1.30
What’s Trending
01/ On Google
“Where to Go in the U.S. this February for warm weather” trended +3,650% this week, as the majority of the country is battling major snow and ice storms and freezing temperatures.
02/ With Media
This week, media were interested in romantic getaways, spring gardens, affordable travel destinations, and resorts with private beaches.
The New York Times reports that The Washington Post is preparing significant newsroom cuts and restructuring aimed at curbing financial losses, likely including layoffs and scaled‑back coverage in areas like sports, foreign and local news.
03/ In the Zeitgeist
The 2026 Sundance Film Festival marked the final year the event was held in Park City, Utah, before relocating to Boulder, Colorado in 2027, and included a tribute to founder Robert Redford for his decades of support for independent film and emerging filmmakers
Netflix’s live special “Skyscraper Live,” which streamed Alex Honnold’s free‑solo climb up Taipei 101, drew about 6.2 million global views on Netflix, landing it at No. 3 on the platform’s English‑language TV rankings for the week.
Industry Insights
Carnival Cruise Line announced new cruise destinations for 2027, including first ever stops to Africa aboard the Carnival Sunshine.
The American Hotel & Lodging Association released its 2026 State of the Industry report, pointing to continued strength and reinforcing that U.S Hotels are entering 2026 with solid demand and a focus on long-term operational investments.
The Cayman Islands launched a new campaign to hire its first-ever “Chief Relaxation Officer,” inviting one U.S resident to spend two weeks embracing sleeping, unwinding, and experiencing island life.
Southwest Airlines has officially ended its open seating policy, introducing assigned seating and a structured boarding process across its flights.
Amtrak closed out its 2025 fiscal year with another record-breaking 34.5 million riders, driven by strong demand on hallmark corridors like the Northeast Regional and high-speed Acela between Boston and Washington, D.C., as well as popular long-distance routes such as the California Zephyr and Texas Eagle.
National Geographic’s Best of the World 2026: Wellness Destinations highlights a range of places and experiences where travelers can truly unplug and recharge. Top picks include seaweed bathing in Ireland’s west coast, traditional hammam steam baths in Istanbul’s restored Zeyrek Çinili Hamam, and nature‑immersive stays like Glen Dye’s Highland retreat.
Booking.com’s 2026 Travel Trend Report shows travelers are choosing trips based on personal goals, hobbies, and unique interests.
The brightest meteor shower of 2026 will be the Perseids, expected to peak under a moonless sky on the night of August 12–13, with up to 50–100 meteors an hour visible in ideal conditions across the Northern Hemisphere.
Airlines are adding lots of extra flights and seats to handle the rush of fans heading to Super Bowl LX in the San Francisco Bay Area
Celebrity Cruises is launching a new river cruise brand with a fleet of 10 European riverboats set to debut in 2027, bringing its premium hospitality and design to iconic waterways like the Rhine and Danube.
The Good
Luxury hotels are teaming up with rugged outdoor brands to bring function‑driven fashion and gear directly into guest experiences this winter. Aspen‑linked properties collaborated with Sorel on an alpine boot collection built for both performance and style, while Arc’teryx joined with Songtsam Resorts to create high‑altitude outerwear reflecting Himalayan culture and conditions.
