D/R DOWNLOAD 5.30
What’s Trending
01/ On Google
“Nespresso travel cooler bag” trended +350% this week, driven by a limited-time promotion and viral buzz on TikTok, indicating how travelers are leaning into stylish, functional gear that enhances everyday routines.
02/ With Media
This week, media were interested in restaurants with spectacular seafood dishes ahead of National Seafood Month, floating hotels and villas, buzzworthy new properties, hotels with sustainable and unique initiatives, pet-friendly properties in the Northeast, and more.
Business Insider laid off 21% of its staff as it restructures to focus on core business and tech coverage. The company is exiting most commerce operations, citing traffic declines and AI-driven efficiencies, and a new live events arm, BI Live, will launch later this year as part of the pivot.
03/ In the Zeitgeist
The American Music Awards aired live for the first time since 2022, drawing 4.86 million viewers, where Billie Eilish swept all seven categories she was nominated in, including Artist and Album of the Year.
A glacier collapse in southern Switzerland destroyed much of the village of Blatten this week. The entire village was evacuated after warnings from scientists, who say the collapse is a dramatic display of the impact of climate change.
e.l.f. Beauty is set to acquire Hailey Bieber’s fast-growing skincare brand rhode in a $1 billion deal, expanding its reach into the prestige beauty market. Bieber will remain the Founder and take on a new role as Chief Creative Officer, as the brand prepares for global retail expansion with its first in-store launch at Sephora later this year.
Industry Insights
Travel lingo is evolving in 2025 to reflect shifting habits and priorities. Terms like townsizing (small-town escapes), land snorkeling (mindful wandering), and JOMO travel (unplugged vacations) are on the rise, alongside trends like live tourism, mystery tours, and noctourism, all pointing to more intentional, personalized travel.
A rising trend dubbed “tattourism” sees travelers swapping souvenirs for tattoos as mementos of their travels. Kimpton Hotel is tapping into the movement with pop-up Tiny Zaps tattoo studios at select U.S. properties, offering guests complimentary tiny tattoos inspired by each city’s local culture.
Concord Wilshire Capital will invest $827 million to redevelop over half of the 56-acre Grand Lucayan Resort on Grand Bahama Island into a hotel, casino, golf course, and themed waterpark designed for cruise guests. Slated to open in 2028, the destination will host 10,000 daily visitors and echo the rise of private island-style ports with curated experiences just steps from the ship.
JetBlue and United Airlines launched a new partnership called Blue Sky, allowing travelers to earn and use loyalty miles on either airline, while customers who fly frequently with both will get added benefits like free checked bags and priority boarding. As part of the agreement, JetBlue is giving United up to seven daily round-trip flight slots at JFK Airport.
TSA is warning travelers to avoid airport USB charging ports and public Wi-Fi due to hacking risks and instead use a personal power bank and skip online purchases on unsecured networks. Privacy experts are also raising concerns about TSA’s facial recognition tech, urging travelers to opt out, despite TSA’s claim that images aren’t stored or used for surveillance.
Delta is upgrading its Delta One cabin with a new collection designed in partnership with Italian fashion brand Missoni. Starting this summer, passengers can anticipate Missoni-branded duvets and pillows, updated amenity kits with Grown Alchemist skincare, custom socks, slippers, and breathable eye masks. The full Delta One x Missoni experience will be available across all Delta One flights by the end of the year.
