D/R DOWNLOAD 8.14
What’s Trending
01/ On Google
“Best places to retire” rose +60% as more Americans look for destinations that match the lifestyle they want for their next chapter.
02/ With Media
This week, the media were interested in beauty amenities, football packages and educational experiences offered by hotels, quietcation destinations, baby boomers' interest in slower-paced itineraries, cruises for mature solo travelers, coffee experiences worth the trip and more.
03/ In the Zeitgeist
Julie Andrews confirms she will not appear in The Princess Diaries 3, following the franchise’s announcement of its return after 20 years, noting that it was time for the focus to shift to Princess Mia.
Camp Rock 3 is bringing back the Disney Channel franchise 18 years after the original movie premiered. The Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato return alongside a new generation of campers, making the film a fit not only for today’s kids, but also their parents who grew up with the original.
Billionaire Josh Kushner and former Disney CEO Bob Iger have reached a deal to acquire the Los Angeles Lakers for more than $12 billion, setting a new record for the most expensive sports franchise sale in history.
A 7.4 magnitude earthquake affected Western Colombia on Monday, killing more than 160 people, trapping others in collapsed buildings, and leading President Abelardo De La Espriella to declare a natural disaster protocol.
Industry Insights
YouTubers and influencers are changing the luxury vacation experience, with their resort reviews and social content increasingly shaping how high-end properties are marketed. The trend is also creating tension with travelers who don’t want their vacations documented online, raising questions about how hotels approach creator access and guest privacy.
The rise of the ‘Unstoppable American Tourist’ is reshaping international travel, with Americans taking a record 24 million trips to Europe in 2025. The surge is particularly visible in destinations such as Portugal and Greece, where the influx of American visitors is boosting local economies while also contributing to overtourism and tensions with residents.
“Skillcations” are on the rise, with travelers swapping traditional vacation downtime for immersive, hands-on experiences that teach a new skill. This is causing hotels and resorts to expand programming around various activities including fly fishing, surfing, cooking and more.
Airbnb is partnering with Tripadvisor to bring select tours, activities and attractions to its platform later this year, expanding its Experiences offering as demand for bookable activities continues to grow.
Marriott is tapping into the wellness travel trend through a new partnership with Therme Group, which will include travel packages pairing hotel stays with access to Therme’s wellness experiences.
Accor is using AI to tackle a common corporate travel headache: negotiated hotel rates disappearing when employees go to book. Its new tools will automate rate audits to identify issues and ensure corporate rates are visible and bookable.
The Good
Rosco’s Pizza in Michigan is turning pizza into an act of kindness with its “meal wall,” where customers can purchase meals for neighbors in need. What started with a mystery caller asking about leftover food has grown into a simple way for customers to pay it forward.
The Bad
A viral dispute between newly opened luxury resort Amanvari and YouTuber Ryan Walker highlighted the growing tension between hotels and content creators. After the resort canceled Walker’s reservation due to scaled-back capacity and filming restrictions, footage of him being turned away at the property surpassed 750,000 views, putting Amanvari’s luxury service standards under scrutiny.
