D/R DOWNLOAD 4.15

What’s Trending

01/ On Google

• Following the CDC’s mask mandate extension for airlines, “airline mask mandate” trended +5000% this week.

02/ With Media

• Journalists this week expressed story interest in U.S. summer destinations, outdoor adventures, solo travel and more. 

• Business publisher Quartz announced this week that it is removing the paywall from its website to focus more on driving members via its email newsletters.

03/ In The Zeitgeist

• Starbucks has launched their mobile order and pay feature in 70 airports across cities in the U.S. including Seattle, New York, and Los Angeles.

• Legislation in California is considering adapting to a shorter work week of 32 hours and potentially 4-days for companies with over 500 employees and resulting in no cut in pay as employers battle with the “Great Reshuffle.” 

Industry Insights

• George Airport Authority (PGAA) is partnering with Copilot, a dispensary that is pioneering cannabis for travel, to launch the world’s first airport cannabis dispensary opening this summer in Canada.

• Atlanta’s International Airport was recently ranked the busiest airport in the world with more than 75 million travelers  passing through in 2021.

• Luxury Hotel Poseidon in Positano, Italy is partnering with designer sunglass company Creo Positano Glasses to provide guests a unique opportunity to design their own pair. For 350 Euros, visitors can sit down with owner Crescenzo Parlato and learn about the history of the brand while he creates their custom glasses. 

• This week, luxury travel subscription company Inspirato announced eight members-only cruises sailing in 2023, starting at $7,500 per package. Within 24 hours, the company sold out two itineraries, amassing over $3 million.

• As gen z’s and millennials begin traveling more frequently and luxuriously, finances remain a large concern. To meet the needs of these travelers, data suggests a potential rise in ‘buy now, pay later’ travel options for travel companies, through partnerships with firms like Uplift, which offers payment plans for travel expenses. 

• According to a recent survey, rising gas prices are not slowing down the travel industry; 90% of Americans have trips planned in the next 6 months. However, 38% said that gas prices will impact their travel decisions, some opting to reduce the number of trips planned or travel closer to home.

• Sustainability is becoming a stronger influence on travel decisions with 87% of travelers in a recent survey agreeing on the importance of eco-friendly travel. However, cost and convenience remain the biggest roadblocks, highlighting the need for more budget-friendly options. 

• Alaska Airlines partnered with Intelsat to upgrade its in-flight WiFi, providing satellite-enabled high-speed service on planes. For only eight dollars, travelers will be able to stream live video and stay connected from boarding to landing.

Best Practices

01/ The Good

• Advertising and PR agency, Ogilvy UK, announced that it will no longer work with influencers who photoshop their bodies or faces. This effort aims to combat the mental health harms of social media. 

• Yelp announced this week that it would cover expenses for its employees and their spouses who must travel out of state for abortion care, becoming the latest company to respond to a Texas law that bans the procedure after about six weeks of pregnancy.

Covid-Related Updates

• Originally set to expire this week, the CDC and Biden Administration extended the mask mandate on airports and planes through May 3.

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