D/R DOWNLOAD 5.2

What’s Trending

01/ On Google

• “Pay LaterTravel” trended +250% this week. The program, which allows travelers to book flights with a small down payment and spread the rest over weekly or bi-weekly payments, is indicative of how travelers are looking to finance their next vacations. 

02/ With Media

• This week, media were interested in wintertime travel in the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean, hotels and resorts in Blue Zones, romantic getaway hotels, restaurants, and attractions, best city parks, high-tech wellness spas at sea, and more.  

03/ In the Zeitgeist

• The once-reliable U-shaped happiness curve is flattening as young adults report historic lows in well-being across mental health, relationships, and life purpose. A global study reveals that today's youth are stressed and struggling to flourish, prompting urgent questions about how society supports them.

• A new Microsoft report revealed a work culture stretched thin, with workers facing up to 275 interruptions each day, including late-night messages, pushing companies to eye AI as a lifeline.

Industry Insights

• Airbnb’s 2025 summer travel trends revealed major shifts in consumer behavior: travelers are ditching luxury resorts for street food, stadiums, and spur-of-the-moment road trips. This year, it’s all about bold bites, big events, and real experiences that don’t break the bank.

• Pinterest's 2025 Wedding Report predicts bold tuxedo colors for grooms, surreal florals, and a nostalgic return to '90s wedding dresses and vintage engagement rings. For honeymoon destinations, couples will shift toward Africa, with Cape Town, Seychelles, and Zanzibar gaining popularity, while couples embrace laid-back island aesthetics

• The “hot Caribbean summer” trend has gained popularity as trips to Europe become pricier. Travelers are turning towards tropical island escapes with lower airfares and value-packed luxury resorts this summer.

• Travel is increasingly recognized as a valuable tool in coping with grief, with different types of "grief travel" gaining popularity, such as restorative, contemplative, and commemorative trips. This form of travel is part of the broader wellness trend, offering opportunities for healing through activities like mindfulness, physical activity, and honoring loved ones.

• Travelers are trading poolside cocktails for mountain hikes and scuba dives as adventure travel overtakes luxury getaways in popularity, especially among Millennials and Gen Z. Driven by a craving for meaning and amplified by social media, this $1.6 trillion trend reshapes what it means to take a memorable vacation. 

• Spain and Portugal are investigating the worst power outage in nearly 20 years, which brought metros, airports, and daily life to a standstill. While cyberattacks have been ruled out, officials suspect issues in the power grid and are calling for EU audits to uncover the cause.

• Chattanooga, a southeastern Tennessee destination, has been designated as North America’s first National Park City by the National Park City Foundation. 

• The Grand Egyptian Museum, located near the Giza Pyramids, is now partially open following significant delays due to political and global challenges. Despite ongoing construction, its anticipated full opening later this year promises to be a major cultural milestone for Egypt.

• JetBlue, reeling from blocked mergers and mounting losses, is in talks with United Airlines for a potential partnership to boost connectivity and profits. With shares down 47% this year and only two profitable quarters out of nine, the airline is betting on alliances to stay airborne.

The Good

• Gemma Collins, a UK reality TV personality, launched a 24-hour, AI-powered travel agency in collaboration with Archers, a UK beverage company, designed to generate instant itineraries for budget-friendly, authentic local experiences. The service caters to the growing trend of quick minibreaks, with popular European destinations like France, Ireland, and Italy.

The Bad

• Nike faced backlash for using the phrase "Never Again" in advertisements during the 2025 London Marathon, a phrase closely associated with Holocaust remembrance. Critics found it insensitive, while Nike apologized, explaining that the slogan was part of a campaign aimed at motivating marathon runners.