D/R DOWNLOAD 3.1
What’s Trending
01/ On Google
‘Leap Year travel deals’ increased +3,200% this week as consumers sought to save big on this year's “extra day.”
02/ With Media
This week, media were interested in top events to travel for in the Spring, the most well-known hotels in each state, dark sky parks in the southwestern United States, solo travel initiatives, best current travel deals, and more.
U.S. News & World Report has acquired Culture Trip, a travel guide and booking site. This acquisition enables U.S. News to offer travelers reliable information and resources for trip planning.
03/ In the Zeitgeist
After a year-long experiment in Britain, the 4-day work experience has reported an increase in both happiness and efficiency strengthening movement towards a reduced work week.
A Willy Wonka experience in Glasglow, Scotland, went viral this week after misleading AI advertisements of the event and its activities resulted in disappointed parents and children, and even a call for the cops to shut it down. Users have now created a petition to reopen the experience to enjoy it ironically.
Industry Insights
Gen Z is redefining travel in 4 key ways: the use of social media for travel inspiration and to discover off-the-beaten-path destinations, opting for more cultural experiences than parties, sober travel, and solo travel (women in particular).
Hilton has partnered with AutoCamp to provide glamping experiences in national parks. The collaboration gives guests the chance to enjoy upscale outdoor accommodations and camping experiences within National Parks with the ease of booking directly with Hilton.
Delta Air Lines has added a second flight, Delta Flight 1010, to view the total solar eclipse from 30,000 feet after the first flight sold out in less than 24 hours. The special flight will depart from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and arrive in Detroit.
The Eiffel Tower in Paris has reopened to visitors after a temporary closure due to a workers' strike. Visitors who purchased tickets during the closure period will receive a refund.
United Airlines has increased baggage fees in line with American Airlines. Economy passengers on domestic flights will pay $35-$40 for the first checked bag and $45-$50 for the second.
Flight Centre Travel Group is closing down its wholesaler Gogo Vacations as part of its shift in strategy to focus more on luxury travel and independent contractors. Struggles of the wholesale model and the high costs associated with maintaining the brand are among the factors that lead to its closure.
Singapore is eyeing “concert economics” as the government sees an economic correlation with the recent Taylor Swift and Coldplay concerts.
One of Mexico’s most dangerous volcanoes, Popocatépetl, erupted on Tuesday, emitting massive columns of ash and smoke. The eruption led to flight cancellations at Mexico City's Benito Juárez International Airport. Although around 25 million people live within a 60-mile radius of the volcano, there is currently no immediate risk to the population.
Nepal will now require all Mt. Everest climbers to sew a microchip into their jackets for tracking purposes.
Sanrio Puroland, a Hello Kitty theme park in Tokyo, was temporarily closed after receiving a terrorist threat. Operations resumed the following day after it was determined there were no longer any safety threats.
The Good
Vaseline introduced its “Mended Murals” campaign where local artists restore street art and murals in Black and brown communities as a metaphor for skin health. The restoration is accompanied by a donation and aims to show the inequalities in skincare and access to skin health resources. The brand is now asking the public to recommend other murals to be restored across North America.
The American Hotel & Lodging Association has adopted the Green Key sustainability program to promote environmental responsibility in the hotel industry by aligning with the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This initiative aims to encourage hotels to implement sustainable practices and reduce their environmental impact through third-party evaluations.
The Bad
A hotel guest discovered their expensive room service meal was actually a frozen Trader Joe's dinner. The hotel had advertised a chef-driven menu featuring artisan food, but it was revealed that the meals were prepackaged items from the grocery store.
