D/R DOWNLOAD 11.3
What’s Trending
01/ On Google
“steps program travel” trended 450% following the US travel advisory calling for caution when traveling overseas. The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program is a free service to allow U.S. citizens and nationals traveling and living abroad to enroll to receive the latest security updates from the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
02/ With Media
This week, media were interested in stories regarding the best holiday hotels, expert input on slow travel, culinary cruises, U.S. group tours, and how to live on a cruise ship full time.
Thrillist is expanding their column, Location Scout. The section covers the intersection of entertainment and travel, delving behind the scenes of top movies and TV shows around the world to showcase their backdrops as prime travel destinations.
03/ In the Zeitgeist
Elf will be featured on the big screen again in wake of its 20 year anniversary. Theaters will be showing the movie as part of this holiday season's limited showings, with special events at select locations to accompany like beer tasting and raffle prizes.
WeWork, the company that allows other businesses to rent office space, is filing for chapter 11 bankruptcy after consistent quarterly losses.
As the lines between people’s work and personal lives blur, in addition to how connected we are today, FOSO or “Fear of Switching Off” is a new phenomenon where even on vacation, people are finding it hard to disconnect from their devices.
Industry Insights
Ghost Towns are getting a new life as tourist destinations, rebranding themselves as a time of yesteryear.
The interest in sober travel is increasing, with more companies like Hooked and Safari Guru offering mocktails and booze-free experiences
Horror Movie Inspired vacations are rising in popularity, with consumers looking to book iconic horror movie filming locations and haunted hotels.
Goop debuts The Colony, a one-of-a-kind villa apartment available for long-term booking and stocked with Goop products.
Ahead of the holiday season, Hilton has partnered with Hallmark to create holiday-inspired suites to select properties.
Due to ongoing staffing issues and dissolution of the Northeast Alliance with America Airlines, JetBlue is dropping 14 major flight routes next spring.
Ahead of the next leg of her world tour, hotels around the world are cashing in on Taylor Swift's popularity, offering the best of the best for future visiting Swifties.
Around 117 million Americans are predicted to travel this holiday season, a 2% increase from last year.
Cruises are now taking up to 75% of travel agents bookings, according to Allianz Partners USA, with ocean cruises accounting for over 80% of that number.
Michelin grants five restaurants in Atlanta with a star for the first time, in addition to granting two “green stars” aimed at recognizing restaurants’ sustainability efforts.
The Good
Swimply, the app that allows you to book pools, is now offering customers the option to book pickleball courts amid the sport's rising popularity.
In this year's Black Friday ad from Walmart, the original cast of Mean Girls, Lindsay Lohan, Amanda Seyfried and Lacey Chabert reunited to recreate scenes inspired by the movie to promote the store’s holiday sales.
The Bad
[solidcore], a “modern day” pilates franchise, received backlash on social media after running a promotion that offered $100 in class credit to anyone who got the company’s logo as a permanent tattoo.
