D/R DOWNLOAD 3.15

What’s Trending

01/ On Google

• “Adventure Sports Travel Insurance” increased by +80% as more travelers look to book these types of experiences throughout the year. 

02/ With Media

• This week media were interested in trending resort packages, the best new fine dining restaurants, charming places to stay in Connecticut, the best solo cruises, and more. 

03/ In the Zeitgeist

• The House of Representatives passed a bill that will ban TikTok in the United States unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, divests from the app. The bill is now headed to the Senate for a vote. 

• The Oscars ceremony aired this past weekend, with Oppenheimer winning “Best Picture” plus wins for Christopher Nolan for “Best Director” and Cillian Murphy for “Best Actor”.  Emma Stone won “Best Actress” for Poor Things and the film was recognized for “Best Costume Design”, “Best Production Design” and more. 

• The Royal Family came under scrutiny this week after they released a photo that was allegedly edited by Kate Middleton herself after a series of conspiracy theories regarding her extended disappearance emerged online.

Industry Insights

• Starting on April 30th, Airbnb will prohibit hosts from having indoor security cameras in their rental properties for guest safety purposes. The new policy requires the removal of all indoor cameras and to inform guests of any outdoor monitoring technology before booking.

• AI Tech Company WeatherPromise is offering to pay for a customer’s vacation if a certain amount of days experience rain or unfavorable weather. The promotion is aimed to provide not just a piece of mind, but also prove its reliability. 

• Hilton has bought Graduate Hotels for $210 million. The acquisition includes 33 hotels positioned in college towns both in the U.S. and the U.K. 

• Hyatt's Inclusive Collection Resorts will be showcased on the 28th season finale of "The Bachelor." The resorts featured in the episode offer inclusive and luxurious experiences for guests. Viewers will get a firsthand look at the resorts' offerings during the episode.

• As more Americans get less sleep, resorts around the world are offering sleep packages designed to give guests elevated sleeping experiences with treatments and take-home kits. 

• Japan is limiting visitors to Kyoto’s Gion neighborhood and Mt. Fuju to combat overtourism after a surplus of visitors since the pandemic. 

• The opening of the Paris Olympics on the Seine River will no longer be open to the public, as it has transitioned to an invite-only event due to security concerns and managing crowd movement. Approximately 300,000 tickets will be available. 

• Death Valley National Park has reopened 195 miles of roads that were damaged by Hurricane Hilary. The longest closure ever, the roads that are now open to visitors include Emigrant Canyon, West Side, Ibex, Saratoga, and Owlshead roads. 

• The 2024 Amex Travel Trends Report listed sports travel as the top travel trends for 2024,  in addition to an increase in solo travel and spontaneous travel. 

• Hopper’s 2024 Spring Break Travel Outlook named Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport the worst airport for spring break travel followed by airports in Las Vegas, Orlando, and Baltimore. The airport had the highest percentage of flight delays at 34.87% delayed and 4.63% canceled. 

• Fifty people were injured on a LATAM Airlines flight, operated by Boeing, from Sydney to Auckland due to a sudden strong movement during the flight. The cause of the incident is not yet clear. Injured passengers received medical treatment, while Boeing is investigating the incident and offering support to LATAM Airlines.

• Spain has proposed a ban on short-haul domestic flights that can be replaced by train journeys under 2.5 hours. The ban’s goal is to reduce carbon emissions and focus on flights between cities like Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante, Seville, and Madrid.

• Virgin Voyages is offering a month-long cruise pass for remote workers aboard its Scarlet Lady Ship with a starting price of $9,990 for two people. Passholders can choose from four different cruises in June, July, August, and September, with early access to dining reservations, shore excursion bookings and exclusive access to Richard's rooftop. 

The Good

•  Kahlúa is infiltrating Guinesses with its own St. Patrick campaign using data suggesting Brits would rather have an espresso martini over a dark ale and guerilla marketing techniques including posters and advertising trucks in the U.K. and Ireland. 

• JSX, a semi-private jet company, is giving away seats for a special flight to see the solar eclipse from the sky. The flight will depart from Dallas and fly into the path of totality on April 8 with former NASA astronaut Bill Gregory will be on board to provide expert commentary.

The Bad

• Southwest Airlines is responding to backlash as their new slimmer seat design is being dubbed the “Ozempic” of airline seats. Despite these negative opinions, the new designs are set to be released in 2025.