D/R DOWNLOAD 10.27
What’s Trending
01/ On Google
“Lubbock travel abortion ban” trended +1,200% this week, as Lubbock became the fourth and largest county in Texas to pass the ordinance that will punish people for aiding pregnant women seeking abortions outside the state.
02/ With Media
This week, media were interested in stories about summer towns that transform into winter wonderlands, holiday travel hacks everyone should know, budget-friendly destinations, trips ideal for older women, and more.
03/ In the Zeitgeist
Occurrences called “witch paddles” are popping up across the U.S. during spooky season. At these events, people dress up as witches and paddleboard through the water, switching broomsticks for paddles on lakes, ponds, and harbors.
A mass shooting occurred in multiple locations across Lewiston, Maine, leaving 18 dead and many more injured. The suspect is still at large, causing many institutions in Maine to remain in lockdown.
In response to the growing popularity of the sober lifestyle, many big alcoholic brands are investing in non-alcoholic options, such as Molson Coors, Heineken, AB InBev, and more.
Industry Insights
The European Union has again postponed the launch of its ETIAS, their new Border Entry Security System, to 2025; it had previously planned to launch in 2024.
Uber is now offering users the chance to swap a car for a hot air balloon ride in Turkey, timed just ahead of Turkey’s hot air balloon season, when the region sees a 30% increase in visitors.
Following the devastating fires earlier this year, Maui mayor, Richard Bissen, announced that the island will no longer continue to open in multiple phases. Rather, the entire coast will reopen to the public next week on November 1.
India is now the U.S’s second top market for travelers outside of North America, with more than 800,000 Indian visitors coming to the U.S in the first 6 months of 2023.
On Wednesday, Hurricane Otis hit Acapulco, Mexico as a category 5 storm, killing at least 27 civilians and damaging infrastructure.
Two private jets collided at a Houston Airport causing a temporary grounding of all flights. According to the FAA, the incident occurred because one plane took off without permission.
The Philadelphia International Airport is introducing a system that allows for non-travelers to apply for a pass that will grant access past security points. This will allow visitors to say goodbye, have a meeting, or just simply hang out with travelers waiting for their flight.
Menopause Retreats are on the rise, with people spending thousands of dollars to experience them. Treatments include reflexology and cranial osteopathy, guided reef snorkeling tours, cycling and mixology classes, and more.
One&Only Palmilla, a 5-star resort in Mexico, has partnered with LUX Tennis to create an exclusive training camp with tennis prodigy Carlos Alcaraz. Alcaraz will play tennis with select resort guests on Saturday, December 2, followed by a meet and greet.
Amidst the conflict in Israel, many travelers are looking for guidance about whether it’s safe to travel or not. Americans were advised to “stay alert in locations frequented by tourists,” forcing many to make a personal judgment regarding the risk.
The Good
Sweden releases comedic travel ads to combat and clarify the frequent confusion between them and Switzerland.
Southwest Airlines decided to show off their favorite (and most humorous) items checked for a flight, including a huge stuffed giraffe, kayaks, a miniature police car, and a pool noodle.
The Bad
An off-duty pilot onboard a plane to San Francisco disrupted the engine operation and changed the route to Portland, Oregon, and is now being charged with 83 felony counts of attempted murder.
