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What’s Trending
01/ On Google
“High-end business travel services” trended +4,900% this week, confirming travelers' consistent interest in luxurious experiences.
02/ With Media
This week media were interested in sober hotels, destinations and experiences, the best places to go in November, quick weekend getaways, new hotel openings in 2025, casino/gaming resorts with a diverse variety of excitement, and more.
Hemispheres, the award-winning on-board magazine for United Airlines, will be folding this September.
Reports show an increase in the phrase "did not respond to a request for comment" in news articles. This rise in ghosting reporters correlates with organizations choosing to issue statements or post on social media rather than responding to press inquiries.
03/ In the Zeitgeist
Blue Mind Theory, which relates to the benefits of being in or near a body of water, is trending on TikTok. The theory claims it helps decrease stress hormones, increase well-being, and boost creativity.
Due to Hurricane Beryl, over 2,000 flights were canceled or delayed across the United States on Monday. The majority of the cancellations were in Texas, with Houston’s George Bush International Airport canceling 80% of its outgoing flights.
Industry Insights
As the global luxury travel market rapidly grows, specifically among Gen-Z and Millenials, so does the demand for luxury travel advisors. The global luxury travel market is currently worth $1.3 trillion and is expected to grow 7.9% by 2030.
Travel brands are beginning to implement innovative subscription models such as including surprise experiences, stacking perks, and being sustainability-centric. These models are in response to the increasing demand for monthly or annual payments instead of singular purchases.
It is projected that international tourists will spend a record €800 billion (approx. $872 billion USD) in Europe this year, with 72% taking place in Western European destinations due to priorities like warm weather and value for money.
Bon Appétit has laid out the 8 trends that define bars in 2024. Trends include savory cocktails, destination drinking, going beyond “mocktails”, listening bars, and more.
Many safari lodges and resorts are remodeling to accommodate the increased demand for private safaris and camps. The remodelings include adding personalized experiences, camps-within-camps, and more.
Five-star hotels are beginning to elevate their turndown service to stand out to guests. Examples of gifts hotels are providing are ski jackets, velvet toiletry bags, and monogrammed items.
Due to the fact that Americans have increasingly traveled to international destinations, the role of tourism has become more prominent in the US economy. As of June 2024, US passport holders now have visa-free access to 150 countries and territories.
Food & Wine debuts the biggest food trends for 2025: “swicy” foods, pickled/canned staples, “fancy groceries,” ready-to-eat Korean meals, and honey-infused products. Between Hot and Spicy Gummy Bears and freeze-dried salsa, these culinary trends lean more on the adventurous side.
A recent report shows Spain will become the most visited country by 2040. Thanks to the family-friendly hotels, beautiful beaches, and amazing restaurants, predictions highlight there will be as many as 110 million visitors, a 24% increase from 2023.
To protest the inflated cost of living and general over-tourism, thousands of Barcelonians took to the streets of the city to spray tourists with water guns. This comes after other countries such as Japan, Greece, and Italy took governmental action to stabilize tourism.
Last week, Mount Etna in Sicily erupted, spewing ash up to 15,000 feet in the air, a higher level of activity than normal. As a result, the mayor of Catania has put travel and driving restrictions in place.
ESPN has launched its first-ever sports tour. Starting at $6,999 per person, the trip includes a five-day Major League Baseball tour, with stops at stadiums such as Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium.
Playbill Travel is now the official travel agency for the tri-annual cruise, Seth’s Big Fat Broadway Cruise. The next ship is scheduled for January 11-18 and will have an interactive variety show, master classes, Broadway Bingo, and more.
Seaborn has unveiled its newest ship, Seaborn Pursuit, that will take 264 passengers along Australia’s Kimberly coast. Traditional Owners of the region where the ship visits, the Wunambal Gaambera people, have been named godparents of the ship.
The Good
Starting July 15, Copenhagen will offer travelers who participate in the city’s “green initiatives” exclusive activities, free meals, kayak rentals, and more. This approach is to help positively mitigate the environmental challenges that come with tourism.
In honor of the new partnership between Princess Cruises and Tom Gemignani, where new fresh-from-the-oven pizzas will be offered on board, the cruise line will attempt to earn a Guinness World Record title for the largest pizza party at multiple venues with the 13-time World Pizza Champion.
The Bad
Boeing has agreed to plead guilty to the charges related to the 2018 and 2019 fatal crashes. The company is expected to pay $243.6 million in criminal offense fines and invest more than $455 million in compliance programs.
Delta issued an apology and cut ties with a social media staffer after its official X account tweeted a statement that was insensitive towards Palestinians. The airline emphasized its mission to connect with the world and is working towards a welcoming environment for everyone.
