#Trending This Week - Nostalgic Travel, Giant Martinis, Bookshop Bars, Hotels Want To Go Home With Guests, And The End Of Free Breakfast?
Issue 250 • July 1, 2025
We are about to head into the Fourth of July weekend here in the US and summer vacation time is in full swing. Before you sign off for the long weekend, here’s what you need to know in a quick three-minute read.
Travelers Want To Return To The Familiar
With so much perceived uncertainty in the world (economy, tariffs, employment, etc.) consumers are craving tradition and certainty now more than ever. And this emotional need is flowing into vacation choices as well. A growing number of families — particularly those in the luxury sector — now want to return to the same resorts or villas year after year. It simplifies planning, helps maximize time together, and builds lasting memories which become family traditions. Read more in The Manual here.
Hotels Want To Go Home With You
It’s no longer enough for a guest to have an amazing time at a hotel or resort and then vow to return again upon checkout. Hotels are endeavoring to go home with their customers in an intentional way — to offer a piece of themselves to their guests so they subliminally lurk in the background as a reminder of the wonderful time you had there. It’s been done with mattresses and sheets, candles and throws, and now one luxury hotel brand has launched its own line of pajamas. Read more in Breaking Travel News here.
Welcome To The Age Of The Shareable Martini
Picture this (or just check out the photo above): a giant Martini with about 16 olives and four straws. While oversized fruity drinks have been seen at resorts and Mexican restaurants, the giant Martini is the latest iteration slowly popping up at bars across the US. One offering in Austin, TX serves four to six people and the huge V-shaped glass has such a tall stem, it requires guests to stand up. Read more in Punch here.
Free Breakfast May Be On The Way Out
There’s a movement afoot with some major hotel brands testing the removal of complimentary breakfast at select-service hotels. Perhaps they are exploring the opportunity to upsell (like the airlines with economy plus seating and more legroom) by testing out a variety of rate options: some include breakfast, others do not, and guests can pay separately if they wish. Read more in Fortune here.
Bookshop Bars Are What’s Next
Listening bars were having a moment, but now it appears the next big thing will be the bookshop bar. Look to these spots to serves up paperbacks and Pinot Blancs. Read more in Condé Nast Traveller here.
