D/R DOWNLOAD 1.10

What’s Trending

01/ On Google

• The term “Best Travel Credit Cards of 2025” trended 70%+ this week, indicating how travelers want to earn points, cash back, and more on their purchases. 

02/ With Media

• This week, media were interested in affordable destinations for Canadian travelers, romantic resorts for Valentine's Day, snowy destinations in the US, Canada, and Europe, the best hotels and resorts near national parks, and more. 

• Substack, a newsletter platform founded in 2017 that allows writers to monetize directly from audiences, bypassing traditional media, is steadily gaining popularity following mass media layoffs.

03/ In the Zeitgeist

• The wildfires in Los Angeles continue to burn and are on track to be the worst wildfire disaster in the U.S., destroying tens of thousands of acres and over 9,000 structures. Condé Nast Traveler and The Cut share travel advice and some ways to help. 

• Gen Z is entering the workforce with high expectations but is often leaving jobs quickly due to mismatched values and workplace dynamics. Employers must adapt by offering flexibility, better training, and support, while Gen Z should align their expectations with workplace realities.

• Meta will end its fact-checking program and adopt community-driven moderation, citing a shifting political and social landscape and a desire to embrace free speech.

• A potential U.S. TikTok ban could disrupt the digital landscape for advertisers, creators, and businesses. The Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments today, with a ruling expected in the coming days.

• The Golden Globes were awarded this past Sunday, with notable winners being “The Brutalist” and “Emilia Pérez.”

Industry Insights

• Several publications revealed their top 2025 travel trends – including Condé Nast Traveler, The Washington Post, TODAY, and Forbes – with notable top trends being detour destinations, women-only travel, opting for luxury extras, and more.

• Condé Nast Traveler, TODAY, ELLE, and The New York Times revealed their top places to travel in 2025. Greenland, Thailand, India and Australia were among the places spotlighted as top destinations. 

• The New York Times is celebrating 20 years of its 52 Best Places to Go list, highlighting how the initiative – and travel itself – have evolved over the past two decades. 

• REI Co-op is shutting down its travel business, REI Experiences, due to financial struggles, ending a division that has been unprofitable since 2019.

• BBC recapped its favorite travel stories of 2024 that took readers on unforgettable journeys, from exploring Mexico’s sacred cenotes to uncovering the hidden culture of California’s ancient societies. 

• Delta Air Lines introduced several new AI-driven innovations at the Consumer Electronics Show this week, including the Delta Concierge assistant, which will help travelers handle tasks like flight rebooking and finding the fastest route to their next gate.

• In 2023, Chinese tourists outspent U.S. travelers by $46 billion, with China spending $196 billion on international tourism. While China leads global outbound tourism, the U.S. topped international travel receipts, earning $176 billion from visitors..

The Good

• Airbnb is now offering refunds to travelers with reservations in and around Los Angeles due to the wildfires, only reversing its stance after the company received backlash on social media.