D/R DOWNLOAD 11.15

What’s Trending

01/ On Google

• “Black Friday Travel Deals” trended +90% this week. With only two weeks left until the big savings event, this trend indicates how travelers are preparing to save big on their next trip. 

02/ With Media

• This week media were interested in the best coolcation destinations, Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Travel Tuesday travel deals, 2025 European travel trends, the best destinations and events to visit in December, well-priced and well-valued family resorts, and more. 

03/ In the Zeitgeist

• Pinterest claims that its flexible work policy boosted productivity, fostered more collaboration, and enhanced well-being based on a 2023 internal analysis, debunking claims by other large companies, like Amazon and The Washington Post, that continue to enforce return to office mandates for employees.

• San Juan County in Washington State introduced a 32-hour workweek for its employees, offering full benefits and extra time off instead of raises, resulting in improved work-life balance, higher employee satisfaction, and cost savings.

Industry Insights

• The Points Guy released its Where To Go in 2025 list featuring 29 destinations at the forefront of major travel trends, like sustainable and indigenous tourism. Destinations include Morocco, Vienna, Indianapolis, and more. 

• Condé Nast Traveler listed Alaska, Palau, Southwestern Nigeria, and 22 more destinations as the 25 Best Places to Go in 2025, all of which share a common theme – they’re places that are changing. 

• More travelers are starting to take “skillcations”, which involve engaging in activities to learn new skills such as cooking or knitting while traveling.

• Nestlé has come out with its 2025 food trends predictions, which include “newstalgia,” home-cooked convenience, and more.

• The city of Florence, Italy has banned key boxes used by short-term rental landlords and tour guide loudspeakers in new efforts to battle overtourism.

• The FAA has prohibited U.S. airlines from flying to Haiti for 30 days after Spirit and JetBlue aircrafts were hit by gunfire on Monday while landing in Port-au-Prince. 

• Apple is introducing a new “share item location” feature, which will allow users to securely share an AirTag’s location with third parties, including airlines, to aid in recovering lost luggage.  

• The "Skip Forward" package from Villa Vie Residences welcomes travelers aboard the Odyssey ship for up to four years, allowing passengers to “skip” the length of Donald Trump’s upcoming presidential term. The ship will visit over 140 countries across seven continents.

• The Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris will reopen on December 7, more than five years after a devastating fire in 2019 destroyed its spire and roof.

The Good

• Ahead of the new Gladiator II movie, Airbnb and Paramount Pictures have partnered to give 32 lucky winners the chance to watch and join in on a gladiator fight inside the Colosseum after hours. 

The Bad

• Mattel pulled its "Wicked" dolls off the shelf after consumers found that the packaging featured a link to an adult website instead of the highly-anticipated movie.