D/R DOWNLOAD 6.27

What’s Trending

01/ On Google

• “Worldwide travel advisory” trended +1,700% this week as global news around safety concerns and geopolitical tensions prompted more travelers to seek real-time updates and government-issued guidance before planning or continuing their trips.

02/ With Media

• This week, media were interested in hotels offering summer travel deals and packages, July 4th-inspired cocktails, travel companies leveraging AI for planning and booking services, luxe glamping retreats in America, and more.

03/ In the Zeitgeist

• Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s upcoming wedding in Venice is facing backlash from local activists. Seen as emblematic of overtourism in the city, the event—expected to host around 200 guests—is drawing protest plans aimed at blocking land and water access to the rumored venue.

• Anna Wintour is stepping down as editorial director of Vogue after 36 years. While she will remain Condé Nast’s global chief content officer and Vogue’s global editorial director, the company is now seeking a new leader for the U.S. edition.

Industry Insights

• Following the conflict in the Middle East, the U.S. Department of State issued a global travel advisory, urging Americans to exercise increased caution abroad. The alert warns of the potential for airspace closures across the Middle East and directs travelers to consult the State Department’s country-specific advisory pages before departure.

• According to data from Allianz Partners, Americans are leaning into shorter, more intentional trips as micro-cations—leisure getaways lasting four nights or less—make a comeback. The trend offers a flexible fix for high travel costs, tight schedules, and the growing desire for quick, meaningful escapes.

• More newlyweds are opting for domestic honeymoons, driven by tighter budgets, limited time off, and a preference for low-stress travel. The trend favors laid-back escapes over packed international itineraries.

• A new Microsoft Work Trend Index report reveals that remote work is blurring boundaries, with meetings increasingly spilling into early mornings and late nights. One in five meetings now takes place outside regular hours, and workers are interrupted roughly every 1.75 minutes. 

• THE NAT, a new initiative aimed at closing the global nature finance gap, has launched with support from cultural figures like Stella McCartney, Harrison Ford, and Sabrina Elba. Its flagship fundraising event, the NAT Gala, is set for September in New York with a $20 million goal for nature restoration.

• JetBlue will discontinue its Boston-Miami route after September 3 due to underperformance. The route launched in 2021 under a now-ended partnership with American Airlines. The airline will continue flying to nearby Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, where it maintains a larger presence.

• Starting this September, Greece will implement a new cruise tax to address overtourism. Passengers visiting Mykonos and Santorini will be charged €20 during the peak season (July 1–Sept. 30), while other ports will impose lower seasonal rates ranging from €1 to €5.

• Carnival Cruise Line is set to debut Celebration Key in Grand Bahama on July 19. Highlights include the Caribbean’s largest freshwater lagoons, a 10-story Suncastle with dual 350-ft water slides, an adults-only beach area, and luxurious Over-The-Lagoon Super Villas with private amenities and lagoon access.

• Through a newly launched booking platform, Marriott Vacation Club owners can now use Club Points to stay at over 8,000 Marriott properties globally. Enrollees in the Abound by Marriott Vacations program will also have access to more than 90 resorts across affiliated brands.

• The European Union is moving to ban airlines from charging passengers extra fees for carry-on bags. A recent vote by the EU’s transport committee supports allowing travelers to bring one personal item and one small carry-on bag for free on all flights within the EU. The proposal still needs final approval from EU governments before it becomes law.

The Good

• Capitalizing on the buzz around Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s lavish Venice, Italy wedding, JCPenney hosted a $10K wedding in Venice, CA, outfitting the entire event with its affordable merchandise. The stunt plays off of consumer frustration about the celebrity wedding and promotes the brand’s value-driven positioning using #TheOtherVeniceWedding.