D/R DOWNLOAD 5.26

What’s Trending

01/ On Google

• “NAACP travel advisory list” trended 4,100%+ this week due to the advocacy group issuing a travel advisory for Black Americans traveling to Florida as a result of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' recent legislation banning diversity and inclusion initiatives in schools and universities. Other advocacy groups, including the nation’s largest LGBTQ advocacy group the Human Rights Campaign, have issued travel advisories against the state as well.

02/ With Media

• Condé Nast Traveler introduced a new accessibility travel column, Beyond Barriers, run by television host and travel writer Sophie Morgan. The column will cover the latest news in accessible travel and travel tips to help disabled travelers fulfill their adventurous dreams.

• This week journalists were interested in information on over-the-top hotel amenities, travel industry executives in charge of DEI, expedition cruising, where to go in August, and more.

03/ In The Zeitgeist

• Warner Bros. Discovery announced two new Food Network shows featuring Selena Gomez in 2024. The shows will feature Gomez taking a cross-country quest to cook with the best chefs in the U.S. and a celebration-focused series.

• The well-known novel The Color Purple will be adapted once more and with a star-studded cast. Coming out this December, the movie musical will feature stars like Halle Bailey, H.E.R., Taraji P. Henson, and more.

Industry Insights

• United Airlines announced it has become the first carrier in the United States to support Live Activities for iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. The Live Activities include real-time access to their boarding pass, gate and seat numbers, and a countdown clock to departure on their Lock Screen.

• Uber plans to launch boat rentals to Mykonos, Greece this summer where users will be able to rent a boat for private charter just as easily as renting a car through the Uber app.

• The online bank Sofi launched a travel booking tool powered by Expedia to help travelers manage their travel budgets and keep track of their itinerary details all in one place.

• The booking platform GetYourGuide launched a new ChatGPT plugin where users can submit prompts and be presented with relevant ticketed activities to book.

• Booking.com partnered with Disney in honor of the premiere of The Little Mermaid and is offering three limited immersive experiences in an inspired Malibu beach house. Guests will also be treated to a private dinner by a personal chef, and get the chance to watch a screening of the film at a theater near the house for $5.26 as a nod to the day the movie hits the theaters.

• As inflation and pent-up demand make travel more expensive, people are finding novel and cheaper ways to travel by working in hostels as house sitters, helping out on organic farms, and more in exchange for inexpensive or free accommodations.

• Branded residences affiliated with hotels or other high-end companies are attracting buyers despite the housing market. With a 40 percent increase from 2010, 38,900 branded residences across 200 developments were built in the United States towards the end of 2022 – 80 percent are affiliated with a hotel.

• Burnout retreats are a rising trend in wellness travel experiences as burnout rates continue to rise to an all-time high since the pandemic. Hospitality brands are offering treatments aimed at executives suffering from burnout, such as weeklong detoxes in Australia, one-on-one mindfulness coaching, extensive spa treatments, and more.

Best Practices

01/ The Good

• Brands are celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month by introducing new campaigns and policies. For instance, the retailer Saks Fifth Avenue launched a multifaceted campaign that raises funds for Saks Fifth Avenue Foundation through selling self-affirmation decals. TikTok created a fund to donate $2 million in ad credits to organizations like the Alliance for Eating Disorders and Made of Millions.

02/ The Bad

• Skincare brand Bioré received backlash this week after a partnership with a survivor of the Michigan State school shooting went viral on Tiktok and Twitter. A part of the brand’s, “Strip Away the Stigma” campaign, the video in which the influencer and gun violence survivor detailed how Bioré’s pore strips help her manage her anxiety, was deemed by viewers to be insensitive and making light of a serious situation.