D/R DOWNLOAD 6.28

What’s Trending

01/ On Google

• “Busiest Travel Days 4th of July Travel Days” trended +160% this week, indicating travelers are planning to travel ahead of the holiday.

02/ With Media

• This week, media were interested in the history and development of the lobster roll, the best state fairs across the country, higher-end hotels and resorts with innovative wellness offerings, and more.

• The outlet Wired introduced Wired Travel, a new section that will cover transportation, aviation, vacation, and more.

• Robb Report has launched The Vault, a luxury e-commerce concept. This concept is a new, year-round counterpart to the outlet’s annual Ultimate Gift Guide.  

03/ In the Zeitgeist

• CNN highlighted the key moments and takeaways from Thursday’s presidential debate, which covered topics such as healthcare, the economy, immigration, and other key issues where the parties are divided.

Industry Insights

• The Taylor Swift travel effect is driving a booming business at Airbnb, with Americans searching for European Airbnb’s 70% more than usual and accounting for more than a third of bookings during Swift’s European leg of her Eras Tour.

• The iconic Grand Palais in Paris is set to reopen this summer after three years of closure for renovations. After restoring original features and doubling the venue’s capacity, the Palais will host Olympic events this summer.

• Condé Nast Traveler named the most exciting hotel openings for this summer, from California to Cape Cod.

• Starting in 2024, luxury cruise line Crystal Cruises plans to reintroduce casinos on two ships: the Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony. This reintroduction aims to enhance onboard experiences in various locations. 

• CLEAR has expanded TSA PreCheck services to seven new airports, with a total now of 27 locations. CLEAR’s goal is to make the airport more convenient for travelers, making their overall travel experience easier and more enjoyable.

• New reports find that travelers will prioritize airports that are destination-focused and user-friendly. The reports showcase that travelers want competitive pricing and technologically efficient airports. 

• Air France introduced a new lounge at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), perfectly timed for the upcoming Paris Olympics. The lounge offers various amenities, tarmac views, and a dining area serving French classics and other luxurious treats. 

• Spanning 40,000 square feet, the new Delta One Lounge at JFK Airport opened on June 26. The lounge is dedicated to long-haul business and first-class passengers to provide a luxurious experience with several amenities. 

• Bilt Rewards is having a one-day promotion on July 1st for the program's signature Rent Day, offering an unprecedented transfer bonus to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan. Depending on their status, members can earn up to a 100% bonus on miles transferred.

• Hyatt Hotels is expanding in New Orleans, opening two new hotels, Maison Métier and The Barnett. Hyatt is committed to growing in leisure and lifestyle markets by offering unique experiences for travelers in whatever hotel they stay in. 

• Boutique cruise line Celestyal is expanding its sailings to offer year-round cruises for the first time. The offerings include 21 Adriatic cruises and Arabian Gulf sailings, marking a 30% increase in sailings for the brand. 

• This summer, Greece is introducing the first-ever helicopter airline, Hoper. The airline will offer scheduled flights to 11 of Greece’s popular destinations including Athens and Santorini, giving travelers another method to island hop. 

• Disney is offering a new reservation system that allows guests to book rides up to a week in advance through their app. The introduction of this system aims to reduce wait times and enhance visitors’ experiences.

• There is a complex relationship between travel influencers and climate change. Travel influencers give the wrong message with excessive travel to remote destinations; increasing and contributing to carbon emissions.

The Good

• Viator and Amazon have recently partnered up to put Alexa-enabled devices in hotel rooms so guests can book tours and activities straight from their room. This partnership is a big step in the voice-activated travel booking industry.

The Bad

• Icon of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, experienced a small fire on board on Tuesday when docked in Costa Maya, Mexico. The flames were quickly extinguished and no injuries were reported.