#Trending This Week - Nude Cruising, Luxury Elopements, Ozempic After-Effects, Senior Travel, And Jetset Hacking
Issue 237 • March 11, 2025
Keeping an eye out on how things are evolving in the travel industry is a great way to determine how to innovate your amenity and service offerings moving forward. Any business working in the hospitality and travel industry has to keep shifting and innovating in order to meet changing consumer preferences. So here’s what you need to know this week.
LUXURY ELOPEMENTS are on the rise. With the high cost of weddings, couples are deciding that a curated wedding for themselves or a few friends and family is a much more affordable yet high-end option.
Yes OZEMPIC IS IMPACTING THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY. It’s not just about if people will be eating and drinking less, but how it is affecting their bodies and lifestyle and what they want to do while on vacation to accommodate for the changes.
OLDER AMERICANS ARE TRAVELING MORE THAN EVER. We’re talking multiple trips a year and whether it’s domestic or international travel, they are packing their bags and heading out.
BUSINESS TRAVELERS ARE INTO JETSET HACKING, which is focusing on many new wellness treatments to combat the toll being a road warrior is taking on their bodies.
And yes, we had to chuckle at this one, but NUDE CRUISING IS ON THE RISE. We’ll just leave it at that.
Check it all out in our three-minute read below.
Luxury Elopements Are On The Rise
As the cost of a traditional wedding continues to skyrocket (we’re talking $33,204 on average), more couples are opting for elopements than ever before. Surveys found that over 60% of engaged couples would consider eloping. But today’s elopements are a very personal, intimate, and romantic experience that couples can choose to spend just by themselves, or with a few family and friends. These are not running off to a resort with a wedding package, but a fully curated, high-end experience designed around the couple’s unique vision, preferences, and personal style. Read more in Forbes here.
Ozempic’s Impact On Travel
According to travel planners on the front line, Ozempic is causing a shift in the way we eat and travel. Resulting changes include the desire for toning trips since weight loss drugs lead to a loss of muscle; “vibe restaurants” which are about seeing and being seen, celebrating love, looking fabulous, and dancing on tables; private shopping requests for those who need to buy a new wardrobe; and affair travel (yes, apparently thin bodies mean more extra-marital affairs). Read more in Insider Travel Report here.
Older Americans Traveling More Than Ever
According to AARP research, there is a significant rise in the percentage of adults age 50 and older who plan to travel. In 2024, adults 50 and older took more trips than anticipated. The most popular domestic destinations for 2025 travel are Florida (15%), California (11%), Las Vegas (6%), New York (6%), Texas (6%), and Arizona (4%). Bucket list (22%) and family or multi-generational trips (11%) are the top motivators for international travel. Read more in AARP here.
Jetset Hacking Is Trending For Business Travelers
Business travelers are now choosing to prioritize their wellbeing while on the road. From sleep labs to cryo chambers, wellness-focused innovations are redefining business travel, helping professionals stay healthy and productive while on the move. From late dinner meetings with clients or sleepless nights caused by jet lag or strange beds, business travel can take a toll on one's wellbeing and executives are working hard to reverse the impacts. Read more in GlobeTrender here.
Baring It All At Sea
Nude cruises are having a moment. That’s right, a growing percentage of people are choosing adult-only, clothing-optional cruises. Participants find themselves more relaxed and withholding less of who they are without the barrier of clothing. Of course you still have to wear clothing while in port and in the dining room. Read more in Time Out here.
INTRODUCING CURATED #TRENDING REPORTS
JC Communications has been producing its #Trending newsletter covering the hospitality, travel, food, and sustainability industries for over five years now to help owners, marketers, and publicity representatives leverage the latest trends as part of their sales and marketing strategies.
And now we are introducing Curated #Trending Reports exclusively created for individual hotels, hotel brands, resorts, restaurants, destinations, tour operators, etc. We’ll have a meeting with you and ask you to fill out a questionnaire to determine the key facilities, services, and USPs of your brand and then curate an exclusive personalized report of relevant trends which you can tap into as you plan your ongoing sales, marketing, and PR strategies.
For more information on the Curated #Trending Reports, reach out to Jane Coloccia at Jane@JCCommunicationsllc.com.