#Trending This Week - Emotional Support Llamas, The Costliest Vacation Spots, Holiday Travel, And Record Store Tourism
Issue 223 • November 19, 2024
As we race toward the end of the year (can you believe we have less than seven weeks remaining in 2024 and some of those are holiday weeks?), we are still keeping a check on the trends as they develop. First off, we have a look at WHERE TRAVELERS SPENT THE MOST MONEY IN 2024 and the destinations may actually surprise you. Then we take a peek at 2025 FOOD TRENDS, including one they are naming “Newstalgia.” Everyone in our industry is always focused on HOLIDAY TRAVEL and this year, we are seeing reports people are opting out of going back home to visit family and instead are either staying home to save money and avoid crowds or using the time off to take a real vacation. Many airports are working to ease traveler anxiety and the latest entry is one which features EMOTIONAL SUPPORT LLAMAS. And finally, if you’re a fan of vinyl, you will love the story about how RECORD STORE TOURISM is becoming a thing. Check it all out in our three-minute read below.
Where Travelers Spent The Most Money In 2024
According to recent data, the world’s most expensive travel destination is Djibouti in the Horn of Africa, with an average trip cost of $28,594. This year, travelers spent 34% more on trips to the 10 highest priced locations (mostly in Africa) as compared to any other countries. In fact, over 15,000 travelers spent in excess of $82 million to visit the most expensive places around the planet, which was a 43% increase in spending as compared to 2023. Read more in Travel Pulse here.
2025 Food Trend Prediction: Newstalgia
A new report on 2025 food trend predictions has coined the term “Newstalgia.” It’s the blend of our old and familiar past with elements of the new and groundbreaking. This is an attempt by marketers to cater to elder millennials while also introducing Gen Z to something they might never have tasted before. An example: White Castle brought back its 1921 Slider and then added ghost pepper cheese to it for a modern twist. Read more about this and other food trend predictions in Food & Wine here.
People Are NOT Heading Home For The Holidays
With the upcoming holiday season, more people than ever are bucking the expectaton of visiting family, and opting to either stay home or take a proper vacation instead. The term “spending Christmas without family” is amassing more than 17.5 million posts on social meda. Some are choosing to stay home rather than brave crowded airports to save money. Others are ditching tense family dinners in exchange for more affordable international travel. TripIt reports 35% of Americans will travel internationally this winter. Read more in Thrillist here.
Airports Working To Ease Traveler Anxiety
Airports are working hard to ease traveler anxiety about flying. A few have begun utilizing therapy dogs in the terminals to interact with passengers. Others have worked to design fancy lounges for first class passengers including outdoor patio areas. Some incorporate trees, rocking chairs, and other calming elements. And now Portland International Airport has introduced emotional support llamas at the airport. Read more in Business Insider here.
Record Store Tourism Is A Thing
Say what you will, but TikTok is actually driving a lot of tourism interest. One of the latest TikTok trends is record store tourism. Mom 'n' pop record shops in cities around the US are going viral and drawing visitors from around the globe. In fact, many record stores have started to draw travelers to their relatively out-of-the-way locations purely because of how popular they’ve become on social media. Read more in Thrillist here.