D/R DOWNLOAD 3.21

What’s Trending

01/ On Google

• “Unique family vacations USA” trended 70%+ this week, indicating travelers are looking to explore more atypical American destinations.

02/ With Media

• This week, media were interested in the best spring travel deals, the best destinations to visit in April, top travel contests or sweepstakes, new wellness travel experiences, and more. 

03/ In the Zeitgeist

• This week marks the start of the annual men's and women’s NCAA March Madness basketball tournament, where 68 teams compete for the National Championship title. 

• Forever 21 will close all its U.S. stores by May 1 due to financial struggles, with bankruptcy possibly looming for its remaining 350 locations. The closure highlights the shift to online fast fashion brands like Shein and Temu, with millennials and older Gen Z'ers nostalgically noting the brand's faded influence.

Industry Insights

• American Express’ 2025 Global Travel Trends report highlights four key shifts in travel: a rise in purchasing bespoke souvenirs, multi-gen travel with more family involvement in planning, the growing influence of credit card rewards and loyalty points, and the increasing use of AI for travel planning, from activity recommendations to budgeting.

• European airline stocks, including British Airways owner IAG and KLM-Air France, have suffered significant losses amid fears of a U.S. recession driven by Trump's aggressive trade war. Meanwhile, recent reports of detained tourists in the United States, including German and British citizens, have raised concerns about a potential decline in U.S. tourism. 

• Trump's tariffs, trade policies, and potential new travel ban have travelers reconsidering their U.S. travel plans. The proposed ban includes 41 countries, categorized based on various deficiencies, with affected nations including Cuba, Haiti, Antigua and Barbuda, and Iran. These tariffs and policies are expected to impact U.S. travel, with the tourism industry significantly projected to face an $18 billion loss this year due to an anticipated 5.1% decline in visits and an 11% decrease in tourist spending. 

• The “airport theory” is TikTok’s latest travel trend in which travelers show up to the airport 15-20 minutes before their flight departs in hopes of speeding through the security process. 

• Tour operators are concerned that the Trump administration's sudden dismissal of 1,000 National Park Service workers could disrupt operations during the busy summer season. While some parks have already cut hours or canceled tours, tour operators are unsure how the layoffs will affect their services.

• TripAdvisor 2025 Travelers’ Choice Awards has named Aruba’s Eagle Beach the number one beach in the Caribbean due to its quiet nature and clear waters. 

• Adventure World has reinforced its commitment to ethical animal tourism, emphasizing the importance of standing against animal cruelty following the recent World Animal Protection report. 

• Beloved beer brand Corona is opening its eco-friendly private island off the coast of Colombia to the public, offering travelers an immersive, conservation-focused experience featuring 10 premium bungalows, all-inclusive stays, and activities like yoga, snorkeling, and mangrove planting.

• Cory McGillivray, Senior Director of Sales Operations and Channel Marketing for the Globus family of brands, declared 2025 as the company's "Year of the Travel Advisor," emphasizing the importance of enhancing partnerships and supporting travel advisors.

• A major power outage shut down Heathrow Airport for 24 hours after a fire at a nearby electrical substation, disrupting over 1,300 flights and impacting nearly 300,000 travelers. Authorities are investigating the incident, with counter-terrorism police involved, though no foul play is currently suspected. 

The Good

• Heineken is running a campaign to find a new owner for McLoughlin’s Bar on Achill Island, Ireland, with the requirement that the successor shares the McLoughlin surname. The initiative aims to preserve the cultural legacy of Irish pubs, addressing the challenge of many family-run establishments lacking successors.

• In response to Southwest Airlines' recent policy changes, Frontier Airlines has announced new perks for travelers. From March 18 through August 18, the airline will offer their Economy Bundle for free, which includes a free carry-on bag, free seat selection, and free flight changes.