D/R DOWNLOAD 5.24
What’s Trending
01/ On Google
“Memorial Day Travel” increased by +200% this week, ahead of what is reported to be one of the busiest travel weekends in 20 years.
02/ With Media
This week media were interested in budget-friendly destinations, 4th of July events and activities, incredible room service offerings, the best Bahama resorts, and more.
03/ In the Zeitgeist
Despite previous threats of a recession and pessimism about the state of the economy, American spending continues to increase.
Many Americans are confused by the meaning of certain emojis leading to miscommunications across generations and geographical locations.
The US government has sued Live Nation, Ticketmaster's parent company after they claimed the company abused its industry dominance to stifle competition and abuse fans.
Exos CEO Sarah Robb O’Hagan switched to a 4-day workweek with 'You Do You Fridays', where workers can choose to do as much work as they can handle without contacting their colleagues. Within 6 months, they reported less burnout and increased productivity among employees.
Industry Insights
Around 40% of Millennials partake in “quiet vacationing,” taking time off without letting their supervisor know, though 78% of U.S. workers say they don't take all their PTO days.
Bloomberg reports six trends that will influence how travelers will vacation this summer: AI planning tools, the rising costs of vacations and hotels, more accessible travel, last-minute bookings, and more luxury all-inclusive resorts.
Major advancements in AI debuted this week: OpenAI introduced GPT-4o with higher speed and cost efficiency, Expedia launched Romie, a travel assistant that is intertwined into messaging apps, and Google showcased trip-planning tools.
Airlines are seeing significant increases in European air travel thanks to Taylor Swift's European tour. Companies like United Airlines saw spikes up to 25%, while the overall industry is preparing for “record-breaking summer travel.”
The European Commission and EU consumer authorities have written warnings to 20 airlines for misleading claims and greenwashing, giving them 30 days to comply with the law. These alleged practices include not giving travelers accurate and scientific answers, but advertising vague/false claims.
Spirit is getting rid of change and cancellation fees to elevate the customer experience. Flight changes can be done up to an hour before departure while cancellations can be done online.
Mastercard reports that summer travelers are prioritizing value, less expensive destinations, and longer stays in warmer climates. Popular destinations include Munich, Tokyo, and Tirana, which all offer favorable exchange rates, and appeal to those who love beach destinations.
Short-term rentals through Airbnb are leading to increased conflict between hosts and neighbors that emphasize broader issues around community disruption, safety issues, and regulatory responses.
The Good
After a baby went viral on TikTok with over 42M views in a video about going to the Four Season Hotel in Orlando, Brightline has partnered with the resort to give away transportation on their rail line and a luxury vacation at the resort for a group of four.
Hospitality group, Iberostar hired Megan Morikawa, a marine biologist as their global director of sustainability in an effort to eliminate food waste, save coral, and collaborate across the travel industry to cut carbon.
The Bad
A Singapore Airlines flight aboard a Boeing 777 from London to Singapore experienced extreme turbulence, resulting in one passenger’s death, several injuries, and an emergency landing in Bangkok. This is another addition to the series of dangerous and life-threatening Boeing aircraft incidents to have happened this year.
