D/R DOWNLOAD 2.13
What’s Trending
01/ On Google
This week, “best places to travel solo” trended +40%, highlighting how travelers are looking to embark on their next adventure alone.
02/ With Media
This week, media were interested in top family-friendly and budget-friendly spring break destinations, boutique hotels, emerging river cruise destinations, and beyond.
03/ In the Zeitgeist
The Seattle Seahawks dominated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX, with a 29-13 victory. Bad Bunny hosted the most-viewed halftime show in history with over 135.4 million viewers and surprise appearances from Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin.
As the 2026 Winter Olympics continue, Norway leads the medal count with 7 golds (14 total medals), followed by host nation Italy with 6 golds (17 total medals), and the United States with 4 golds (14 total medals).
Industry Insights
Sports tourism has reached new heights, with six million fans traveling to North America for the FIFA World Cup and millions more descending on destinations from Northern Italy's Winter Olympics to Formula 1 races in Las Vegas and Monaco.
'Gig-tripping' reached new heights as fans traveled for immersive music experiences, from Harry Styles' 30-night Madison Square Garden residency, which triggered a 1,273 percent spike in New York flight searches, to Latin American artists like Bad Bunny and Karol G drawing devotees to Puerto Rico, Medellín, and Mexico City.
This spring break, travelers embraced spontaneity by booking last-minute trips for better rates and gravitating toward beach destinations, with data from Datta and CheapOair also showing surging interest in international coastal spots.
Internova Travel Group's 2026 report found Millennials sought personalized, immersive experiences, Gen X prioritized wellness and luxury travel, and Baby Boomers favored traditional cruises and group tours. All generations increasingly turned to travel advisors for expert planning and personalized service.
Japan has canceled the iconic cherry blossom festival due to concerns over disruptive tourist behavior. In recent years, locals have reported instances of harassment and cultural disrespect during the celebrations.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom faces mounting pressure from unions after flight attendants issued their first-ever vote of no confidence and staged a picket demanding new leadership. The carrier has badly trailed rivals Delta and United in both profits and on-time performance, posting just $111 million in net income for 2025 compared to Delta's $5 billion.
Spirit Airlines, battling its second bankruptcy in under a year, sold 20 more Airbus planes to downsize its fleet to 94 aircraft while recalling 500 furloughed flight attendants ahead of spring break.
The Good
Invisible Cities transformed tourism into a force for social good by hiring people with lived experience of homelessness as walking tour guides. The innovative model gave tourists authentic city perspectives while creating opportunities for guides to share their knowledge and personal narratives.
The Bad
Ring's Super Bowl ad for "Search Party," a feature claiming to reunite lost dogs using AI-powered doorbell cameras, sparked backlash from consumers concerned about privacy and from experts who warned the technology could enable widespread human surveillance.
