D/R DOWNLOAD 10.18
What’s Trending
01/ On Google
“Overseas travel” trended +250% this week, indicating that travelers are looking to take their next trip internationally.
02/ With Media
This week media were interested in how the travel industry is using AI, the destinations to travel to this winter, where to go in March, hotels with haunted pasts, new cruise itineraries in 2025, and more.
03/ In the Zeitgeist
Americans' trust in the mass media has registered a new record-low, according to a new study, with 36% of Americans recording zero trust.
The Federal Trade Commission approved a “click-to-cancel” rule, ensuring businesses can’t force customers to cancel a subscription using a method different from how they signed up.
YouTube’s “What We Watch 2.0” report and expansion includes survey and study results from viewers and looks into what and why people are watching. Over half of viewers feel that their content choices foster a sense of belonging while younger viewers report that watching content on sites like YouTube and Twitch helps them feel recognized and understood.
Inc.’s annual CEO survey delves into what more than 1,000 company leaders have learned from Gen Z. The top lessons include valuing personal growth, being direct, letting employees fail in order to learn, and more.
Representatives from eight MLB teams and host cities announced the "More Than a Ballpark" initiative, which aims to host more non-baseball events in ballparks.
Industry Insights
Expedia announced its travel predictions for 2025 using data from 25,000 consumers across multiple travel booking websites. Top trends include a hotel restaurant renaissance, set-jetting, and travel for natural phenomena.
According to Booking.com, 2025 travel trends will include baby boomers spending their kids' inheritance on vacations, connecting with the universe through travel, and more.
Skyscanner has released new data on the world’s top trending travel destinations for 2025, which includes Quepos, Costa Rica; Antwerp, Belgium; and other international destinations. Europe’s new tourist registration system, the post-Brexit Entry-Exit System (EES), which will automatically register non-EU travelers when they enter and exit EU member states and four non-EU countries: Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. The program is expected to launch in November.
The Grand Egyptian Museum, located near the Giza Pyramids, opened its doors this week after over a decade of construction. This museum will welcome 4,000 daily visitors to view 12 halls with exhibits including 100,000 artifacts of Egypt’s ancient treasures.
Expedia Group is being explored as a potential bid target by Uber. Uber hopes to transform itself into a “super app” by moving into train and plane bookings through Expedia.
Wellness in Travel & Tourism’s new program allows hotels and resorts to become wellness-certified. The process for a hotel or resort to become certified focuses on five pillars: healthy eating, holistic healing, nature, movement and local impact.
Airbnb has launched an expanded co-host program to assist hosts in managing their properties. Within this network, co-hosts will manage listings, respond to reservation inquiries, message guests, take care of problems at the property, and contact cleaning services.
Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri, announced plans to invest half a billion dollars over the next decade to expand its theme park, making it the company’s largest investment since its start. New attractions, such as the Silver Dollar City Resort, are under construction and set to open in late 2026.
The Good
Duracell’s Chief Marketing Officer Ramon Velutini shared advice for staying relevant in consumers' minds, citing past creative campaigns and self-awareness.
Hilton announced it is partnering with Be My Eyes to improve accessibility for guests with blindness or low vision. Be My Eyes is a free mobile app that connects blind and low-vision users with volunteers and companies through live video and AI.
