D/R DOWNLOAD 8.8
What’s Trending
01/ On Google
“Fall foliage map 2025” trended up 250% this week as summer ends and travelers look for potential leaf-peeping destinations.
02/ With Media
This week media were interested in the best Labor Day destinations, boutique hotels where food is the star of the show, the best ski destinations, the best September events, and more.
The New York Post will launch The California Post in early 2026, bringing its bold, celebrity- and sports-focused style to Los Angeles with its newsroom and print edition, targeting California’s weakened local news market and large Post readership.
03/ In the Zeitgeist
Jet2 Holidays, the UK’s largest tour operator, gained global attention after an ad featuring Jess Glynne’s “Hold My Hand” went viral on TikTok. Known for friendly service and stress-free package deals, the brand’s catchy jingle has been used in over a million humorous videos, boosting its profile worldwide.
The U.S. State Department has issued a Level 2 travel advisory for Antarctica, urging Americans to “exercise increased caution” due to extreme, unpredictable weather and limited emergency services.
Industry Insights
Run-cations, or multi-day trips centered on trail running, are growing in popularity as travelers seek active, scenic, and community-focused experiences. These guided or self-planned adventures around the world highlight cultural connections, mindful pacing, and enjoyment of the journey over competition.
The European Union is planning to nearly triple the cost of its upcoming ETIAS travel authorization, raising the fee from seven to 20 euros. This change, which would affect travelers from more than sixty visa-exempt countries, including the United States, Canada, and Japan and is meant to help fund the EU's new border security systems.
Seabourn announced its first pole-to-pole, expedition-style voyage set to depart in 2027. The 94-day journey will begin in Greenland and culminate in Argentina, covering more than 20,500 nautical miles with 60 port calls and expedition experiences in 14 countries.
A $1 million private Antarctic expedition aboard the icebreaker Legend gives up to 12 guests access to remote landscapes, luxury amenities, and adventure gear, while a professional film crew captures and edits their journey into a personal nature documentary.
Booking.com has launched its first U.S. credit card, the no-annual-fee Genius Rewards Visa Signature®, offering up to 6% back on bookings, instant Genius Level 3 status, and travel credits, plus a $150 bonus after meeting initial spending requirements.
Travel rewards influencer Brian Kelly (The Points Guy) has joined Lerer Hippeau and Slow Ventures in co-leading Journey, a new loyalty platform focused on independent hotels and private rentals. The startup uses AI to personalize rewards for travelers while offering boutique properties technology to boost direct bookings and enhance guest experiences.
JetBlue and United have received approval from the Department of Transportation for their Blue Sky partnership, launching this fall to offer reciprocal booking, loyalty benefits, and expanded flight options. The collaboration will allow customers to earn and redeem MileagePlus miles and TrueBlue points across both airlines, share select JFK and Newark slots, and more.
Kimpton will debut its first-ever all-inclusive resort, Kimpton Tres Ríos, on Jan. 1, 2026, in Mexico’s Riviera Maya. Set within the 326-acre Tres Ríos Nature Park, the 355-suite beachfront property will blend boutique design with seven restaurants, five bars, a spa, wellness programs, and family-friendly nature adventures, marking the brand’s high-end entry into the competitive Caribbean all-inclusive market.
Soho House has opened Soho Farmhouse Ibiza in Santa Gertrudis, a nine-acre members’ retreat with 13 guest accommodations, a restaurant, spa, boutique, and pools, blending rustic finca style with modern luxury and Balearic-inspired dining.
The Bad
Delta is defending itself against accusations of AI-driven price discrimination after Senate Democrats raised concerns about its partnership with pricing tech firm Fetcherr. The airline insists its system uses only aggregated route and demand data—not personal data—to adjust fares up or down, though critics argue its public statements conflict with investor messaging about “individualized” pricing.
