D/R DOWNLOAD 2.4
What’s Trending
01/ On Google
“Lunar New Year” led search trends this week with more than 10 million searches as we began the year of the tiger.
“Winter storm warning flight”’ trended +3,650% after over 4,000 flights were canceled due to heavy snow in the eastern states.
02/ With Media
Victoria Walker, a Senior Travel Editor with The Points Guy announced her departure on Twitter this week, sharing her salary publicly and calling for more financial transparency in the editorial world. Following her tweet, a string of journalists began publicly sharing their salary progressions and supporting her call for transparency.
Ad Age promoted Alfred Maskeroni to Deputy Digital Editor.
Journalists this week expressed story interest in sustainable travel, U.S. family getaways and solo trips.
03/ In The Zeitgeist
This week, The New York Times surpassed their goal of 10 million subscribers and set a new goal to promote bundle subscriptions and reach 15 million subscribers by the year 2027.
Industry Insights
Etsy partnered with Airbnb to create their brand new ‘Art of Hosting’ collection with home items to purchase ‘For Hosts, By Hosts,’ including warm and modern decor pieces, chic cleaning supplies, and five-star level amenities.
Following the success of viral word-guessing game Wordle, Scott’s Cheap Flights launched ‘Airportle,’ a new version of the daily puzzle that challenges players to guess a three-letter IATA airport code from around the world.
Travel app Hopper is getting into the vacation home rental business. The company launched ‘Hopper Homes,’ a new selection of short-term home rentals that travelers can book in the same app they look for flight, hotel and car rental deals.
Avalon Waterways has unveiled its ‘2022 Storyteller Sailings,’ including a ‘Sex & the City’ - themed cruise with author Candace Bushnell.
Actor, writer, and producer Issa Rae, is teaming up with Airbnb to offer travelers a weekend stay at a gorgeous home in South LA and the opportunity to meet her virtually. The stay comes with a hand-curated itinerary of the South LA area, with a focus on the culture, black-owned businesses, and communities close to Rae’s heart.
Virgin Atlantic is helping Americans find love this Valentine’s Day with a contest that will bring U.S. travelers across the pond for free. For eight winners, The ‘Tickets to Love’ experience will include a roundtrip ticket to London, a stay at The Standard, a psychic love reading and a meet and greet with a ‘Bachelorette’ reality show star.
United Airlines is officially the first major U.S. carrier to own and operate its own flight training school, United Aviate Academy.
Best Practices
01/ The Bad
Spotify is under fire for allowing their most popular podcast host, Joe Rogan, to continue spreading misinformation surrounding COVID-19 vaccines. Several artists pulled their music from the platform in protest. The company responded by adding a COVID-19 advisory to the platform informing listeners where to get the most accurate up-to-date COVID-19 information.
Covid-Related Updates
A growing number of destinations are factoring a booster shot into existing vaccine mandates for travelers, allowing those who have received a third shot to bypass some COVID-related protocols. Destinations include Hawaii which recently implemented a booster requirement, Croatia, France, Austria, the Netherlands, Spail, Israel and Singapore. Some cruise lines have also begun requiring the third shot for travel as well.
Turks and Caicos implemented a new age requirement for COVID-19 testing procedures getting into the country. The new rules, which will remain in place through at least Feb 28, will now require visitors two and older to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of travel.
Australia, which has previously restricted travel to citizens, permanent residents, visa holders, international students and others with special permission, could potentially open fully to vaccinated tourists as soon as April.
You might also like…
