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What’s Trending

01/ On Google

• “Travel professional near me” trended +600% this week, implying users are increasing their searches for travel-related services near them, such as travel advisors.

02/ With Media

• Media this week were interested in the greenest countries, underrated summer travel destinations, 4th of July must-haves, and more.

• Peter Lindberg, previously the editor of Travel + Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler, is launching Further, a new online luxury publication that will debut this June.

• Similar to Dotash Meredith, Vox Media has partnered with ChatGPT, meaning they will receive “brand attribution and audience referrals” within the program.

• Dossier is officially relaunching, providing consumers with amazing travel and personal stories. The weekly newsletter will also be available in print soon.

03/ In the Zeitgeist

• On May 30th, Donald Trump was convicted guilty on 34 counts related to the falsification of business records in attempts to silence a porn star. His sentencing will take place on July 11th, where the sentence can be up to 4 years in prison

Industry Insights

• The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) signed an amendment this week that will make it impossible to track celebrity private jet activity, giving private jet owners the right to remain anonymous.

• TripAdvisor has released its 2024 ‘Summer Travel Index’, naming Las Vegas, Nevada the #1 U.S. destination for this summer. Yosemite and Yellowstone National Park were also considered two of the “fastest-growing domestic destinations.”

• New York City’s average hotel rate is now $301.61, an 8.5% increase from 2023. This rate increase is largely due to the 135 hotels and 16,532 rooms in the area that became migrant shelters during the pandemic when tourism was low. Through multimillion-dollar deals with the city, hotels became safe havens that are now being uprooted due to the influx of tourists.

• Vogue recently came out with its first-ever global spa guide, highlighting 100 of the best spas in the world. From New York to Singapore, the guide covers a variety of lavish spas for any relaxing experience imaginable.

• SEO Travel created 100 AI-generated itineraries for a recent study and found that 90% of them had at least one error. Additionally, 24% of the itineraries recommended visiting a restaurant or attraction that had shut down.

• Elle is opening its “first branded residence” in Miami, offering one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments, as well as penthouses. Additionally, the residence will provide unique amenities, such as a meditation lawn and spa.

• After six years, Macomb, Illinois opened the "the world's largest Monopoly game.” The 1-million square-foot game can be played through an app, where players can go around the town square like it's the actual board. The game can be played as an individual or in teams up to five.

• The World Economic Forum named the United States “the world’s best country for travel and tourism in 2024.” Factors that went into consideration were infrastructure, natural resources, competitive pricing, sustainability, and labor availability.

The Good

• Uber has introduced a unique experience called  "Uber Bubbles."  From June 7 to August 17, visitors can go from Paris to Epernay to tour some of the best Champagne houses in the world.

The Bad

• Bette Nash, the flight attendant who held the Guinness World Record for "Longest Career as a Flight Attendant" for 64 years of service, passed away last week at age 88. She inspired flight attendants around the world.