D/R DOWNLOAD 9.26
What’s Trending
01/ On Google
“Travel Elite Pass” trended +2,300% this week around speculation about a new cross-brand loyalty subscription promising bundled perks like lounge access, upgrades, and elite status benefits across airlines, hotels, and transport.
02/ With Media
This week, media were interested in fall travel deals for young families, executive insights on future travel trends, retro motels in small towns, ways to spend the holidays in Paris, and more.
The Guardian is expanding its U.S. presence with “The Whole Picture,” its first major stateside campaign, featuring interactive New York billboards that ask passersby to peel away “censorship” stickers to uncover the message beneath.
03/ In the Zeitgeist
Jimmy Kimmel’s return drew 6.2M viewers in his first episode back after a Disney-ordered suspension, nearly quadrupling its usual audience despite dozens of ABC affiliates refusing to air it, fueled by the national debate of free speech.
Industry Insights
Travelers are opting for immersive cultural experiences over bucket-list sightseeing, favoring slower itineraries, local connections, and even “destination dupes” like Porto over Paris to avoid crowds.
“Bookish travel” is on the rise, with surveys showing nearly half of UK travelers now choose destinations for reading and learning. From Florence to Crete, organized retreats and literary holidays are driving a $2.4B market projected to hit $3.3B by 2034, turning novels into lived experiences.
Amid rising screen fatigue, wellness experts say picking up small, intentional hobbies, from journaling or cooking to volunteering or fitness, can cut stress, boost mood, and offer healthier alternatives to endless scrolling.
Apple’s new iPhone Air is eSIM-only, eliminating the need for physical SIM cards and making it easier for travelers to switch between local plans abroad. The thinnest iPhone yet, it supports dual eSIMs, streamlined setup in iOS 26, and launches at $999.
Fifteen years after a volcanic eruption put Iceland on the travel map, the country is feeling the strain of mass tourism. With 2.3M visitors in 2024, up from fewer than 500,000 in 2010, locals warn that unchecked growth could “deplete Iceland’s unique spirit.”
Spirit Airlines will furlough about 1,800 flight attendants, a third of its cabin crew, as part of its second bankruptcy in a year, while also seeking $100M in pilot cost cuts to stabilize operations.
United says Newark Airport just had its most reliable summer ever, with cancellations dropping sharply, though ongoing air traffic control tech glitches and staffing shortages mean questions remain about long-term stability.
The Good
A TikTok prank about a $1,000 rock put Anthropologie, the retailer known for its often overpriced home décor, at the center of a viral moment, which it smartly embraced by creating its own marketing videos pretending to sell rocks for $1,000, turning the joke into a full-blown viral campaign.
