D/R DOWNLOAD 12.6
What’s Trending
01/ On Google
“Cyber Monday travel deals” trended +1150% as travelers eagerly sought savings for cruises, flights, tours, and other travel experiences.
02/ With Media
In the past two weeks, media were interested in sleep retreats, trending destinations for 2025, F&B travel trends, adventure travel, and more.
Podchaser revealed Black Friday and Cyber Monday as hot topics in podcasting, with Black Friday having 6x more mentions than Cyber Monday despite the rise of online shopping.
Dotdash Meredith laid off 53 employees, or 1.5% of its staff, tied to the company’s print business.
03/ In the Zeitgeist
Oxford University Press named ‘brain rot’ the 2024 Word of the Year, with an increased usage frequency of 230% between 2023 and 2024. The term refers to any internet content deemed to be of low quality or value, or the supposed negative psychological and cognitive effects caused by it.
Spotify Wrapped had a remodel this year, and users are underwhelmed with the change. With AI replacing previous years' creative features, such as personalized playlists or the city you belonged in based on your music taste, people are taking to social media to express their disappointment.
Pantone named ‘Mocha Mousse’ the 2025 Color of the Year, marking a shift in the perception of brown as dirty or drab, but instead a sign of sophistication and wealth.
Industry Insights
According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), December 1st was recorded as the busiest air travel day in the administration's history with record-breaking numbers of over 3 million air travelers.
Forbes dived deeper into ‘Silent Travel,’ an emerging travel trend for 2025, highlighting destinations that offer tranquility and a disconnect from technology.
Virgin Voyages announced a new annual cruise pass valued at $120K, allowing passengers to sail on any voyage at any time within the 12 months.
Starting next year, cruise ship passengers traveling to Mexico will be required to pay a $42 tourist tax, following the Mexican Senate's approval of a new bill. The bill also increases airport immigration charges and raises entry fees for nature reserves.
PhocusWire pinpointed strategies to win over Gen Z travelers, such as leveraging data to curate personalized experiences and enhancing the search, check-in, and payment process.
Pinterest shared its predictions for 20 trends in 2025, showing that people are leaning toward expression and maximalism. Examples include an increase in ‘Peak Travel,’ or out-of-the-way mountainous locations.
The Points Guy released its 2025 travel trends report, comprised of insights on why and where Americans travel. Trends include travel planned around a central event like concerts, natural phenomena, and more, alongside off-season travel, shared experiences, and mitigating over-tourism.
The Good
Amazon partnered with StudentUniverse to offer a limited number of $25 flights around the U.S. to students who have a Young Adult account on Prime in time for holiday travel. According to StudentUniverse, 66% of Gen Z anticipated incurring debt during the holiday season, with one-third allocating their holiday spending to travel.
