D/R DOWNLOAD 1.31
Foreword from Decker/Royal: Our thoughts are with those impacted by this week's terrible aviation tragedy.
What’s Trending
01/ On Google
“Real ID travel requirement date” trended +180% this week, indicating travelers are trying to ensure they have the proper identification to align with new regulations.
02/ With Media
This week, media were interested in affordable boutique hotels, hot travel trends in Central and South America, cooler weather destinations for U.S. summer travel, and more.
03/ In the Zeitgeist
The State Department has suspended passport applications with “X” as the gender marker, following an executive order from President Donald Trump mandating government recognition of only male and female sexes.
The Mona Lisa is leveling up in The Louvre with her own room as the museum expands. The Louvre will undergo extensive renovations to alleviate overcrowding at the museum and the museum plans to increase ticket prices for non-European Union visitors starting in 2026.
Remote work tops the list of workplace accommodation requests, leaving HR leaders to navigate the interactive back-and-forth negotiations.
Industry Insights
American Express released its top 10 travel destinations for 2025, highlighting the most in-demand places, ranging from Paros, Greece to Moab, Utah.
DeepSeek, a new AI startup based in China, could have a significant impact on the travel industry. Cheaper to produce, it could be less expensive for travel agencies to integrate; however, some believe that AI could evolve to change the way travel agencies operate entirely.
Split, Croatia tops the list of feel-good destinations around the world for its sunny weather, walkability, and air quality.
Tripadvisor’s first-ever Trendcast unveils the travel trends of 2025. Travelers are ditching the traditional for immersive, learning-based experiences, and with interest-driven trips on the rise – think beauty, food, and wellness – travel is becoming more personal than ever.
AAA Travel predicts over 20 million people will set sail on cruises in 2025, with the top destinations being the Caribbean, Alaska, and the Mediterranean.
Smoking has been banned in Osaka, Japan ahead of Expo 2025, with the goal of creating a cleaner and safer tourist destination.
Croatia is seeking to redefine travel after a record-breaking 2024 with 21.3 million visitors. Tourism leaders are shifting focus to sustainability, year-round tourism, and showcasing the destination’s hidden gems.
Caribbean tourism is booming, with several islands surpassing pre-pandemic travel numbers. The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association has three key focus areas for this year: hospitality training, improving guest experience and hotel operations through tech-driven initiatives, and local industries.
After offering to buy the airline in 2022, Frontier Airlines is trying to join forces with Spirit Airlines again for $2.1 billion, far less than its previous $2.9 billion offer.
Celebrity Cruises is entering the river cruise market on the iconic rivers of Europe following a hot growth opportunity driven by rising demand from loyal guests.
The Good
Lyft and Animal Planet are teaming up for the Puppy Bowl, giving 50% off two pet-friendly rides from February 2-9 to help raise awareness for pet adoptions.
