D/R DOWNLOAD 2.2
What’s Trending
01/ On Google
National Plan a Vacation Day trended +1,100% this week as many travel companies and brands offered discounts celebrating the holiday, which occurs every last Tuesday of January.
02/ With Media
This week, media were interested in women-only adventure tours, elevated spa treatments and experiences, expert commentary on saving money when traveling, Spring Break family fun and packages and more.
Lonely Planet announced 20 of the world’s best beaches for the 2024 year. The beaches stretch across the globe, from Punta Paloma in Spain to Pink Beach located in Indonesia.
03/ In the Zeitgeist
Universal Music Group, the record label to musicians Taylor Swift, BTS, Olivia Rodrigo, Drake, and more, has pulled all their music from TikTok after the two corporations could not come to a financial agreement.
More employers are adopting a 4.5-day workweek, with Fridays as half-days, as an alternative to the 4-day workweek to give employees a mental break at the end of the week.
Industry Insights
Heritage Tourism or the act of traveling back to one's “roots”, is increasing in demand and availability. As more descendants of immigrants learn about their backgrounds through DNA testing companies like AirBnB, Conte Club, and 23andMe offer opportunities to travel to where their ancestors once came from.
According to The International Air Transport Association, air travel demand nearly reached pre-pandemic levels in 2023 with a rise of 94.1 percent compared to 2022, indicating that the pre-pandemic rebound remains strong.
American Airlines lays off 656 employees to create a new Customer Success team to provide customers with more elevated and convenient support, resulting in the elimination of 8.2% of customer-service-related positions.
Saudi Arabia Railways has partnered with the Italian hospitality Arsenal group to launch its first luxury train, “Dream of the Desert”. Opening in 2025, the train will showcase desert landscapes from Riyadh to Qurayyat.
Epic Universe, an upcoming theme park at Universal Orlando Resort, is set to open in 2025. The park will feature five immersive worlds, including Harry Potter, Nintendo, How to Train Your Dragon, and classic monsters, with Celestial Park serving as the central hub connecting them all.
American Airlines and United Airlines have added special flights with unique numbers in honor of Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, and the Super Bowl, one flight being flight AA 87 and the other AA 1989.
Fountainebleau Las Vegas opened this week, as the newest, tallest, and bluest resort in Vegas bringing the vibrant “Miami Beach life” to Southern Nevada.
Icon of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship, has set sail on its 7-day voyage from Miami, Florida, but concerns about the vessel's methane emissions remain high.
Cruise companies such as Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises and more are prioritizing guest and employee safety by rerouting and canceling voyages due to tension in the Red Sea as a result of attacks by Houthi rebels on vessels.
The Good
Siggi’s Dairy is offering up to $10,000 to those who will give up their smartphone for one month. This opportunity is described as a “digital detox challenge” and the winner will also receive a smartphone lock box, a flip phone, a one-month paid sim card, and three months' worth of Siggi’s yogurt.
The Bad
Applebee’s Date Night Pass, offering 52 “date nights” for $200 was sold out in just seconds. They received backlash as some customers complained it was used for free social media publicity and expressed frustration with the website crashes and server errors.
Dunkin Donuts is facing a $5 million lawsuit, with plaintiffs claiming they should not be made to pay a “vegan tax”, which is where consumers pay extra for non-dairy milk due to dietary restrictions.
