#Trending This Week - Over-The-Top Burgers, Theme Park Nannies, Destination Entrance Fees, Business Travel, And Summer 2024's "It" Meal
Issue 200 • June 11, 2024
It’s not even officially summer yet, but the SEASON’S OFFICIAL “IT” MEAL has already emerged in New York City — and it’s actually not as new and innovative as you would expect. This is going to be the SUMMER OF HIGHER FEES — we’re talking plenty of new tourist entry fees as well as higher hotel taxes in many cities. Even Greece is looking to tack on hotel fees which they are chalking up to “climate crisis resilience fees” to steel itself against climate disasters like last year’s wildfires. OVER-THE-TOP BURGERS are still creating a lot of media buzz and the price tag on this one is pretty hefty. LEISURE TRAVEL IS WANING, but there is some good news as other travel sectors are rebounding. And finally this is one of the weirdest trends we’ve tracked in a while: THEME PARK NANNIES who are getting paid handsomely to take rich people’s kids to the theme parks! Check it all out in our three-minute read below.
Paying For The Invisible Burden On Tourism
Summer travel is going to be costing more. While the new tourist fees and higher hotel taxes implemented in a lot of destinations are not “break the bank” costs in any way, these new fees have completely changed the travel landscape as destinations struggle to balance and offset the negative effects of tourism and protect the natural landscape and resources which draw travelers there in the first place. Visitors are also dealing with stricter rules (for example on public drinking in Milan and Majorca) in certain places as well. Read more in The New York Times here.
Over-The-Top Burgers Still Grab Attention
You might have thought the fancy burger craze has already come and gone, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. There’s a new burger in town — an $1,876 aptly named 1876 Burger Experience at the Montage Deer Valley. The burger itself is made from A5 Wagyu, topped with Golden Osetra caviar, tempura king crab and asparagus, white truffle brie, and béarnaise sauce, all on a gold-leaf bun. But the burger also has some cool sides…. Read more in The Robb Report here.
Leisure Travel Boom Is Waning
At the NYU Hospitality Investment Conference last week, CEOs of the major hotel brands said leisure travel is waning. But the good news is a surge in demand from business travelers and groups is indeed picking up the slack. The general consensus is "Business travel is back, and it's on a steady rise." Read more in Travel Weekly here.
Summer 2024’s “It” Meal
Looking for inspiration on what to include on summer menus? The “It” meal in New York City appears to be an interesting trio. Dubbed the “NYC Happy Meal,” social media is abuzz about the “girl dinner” comprised of Caesar Salad, a side of fries, and a Dirty Martini. Read more in The New York Post here. 📷 = winedinenashville/TikTok.
“Theme Park Nannies” Are A Thing
Here’s an idea for a service if you happen to operate a hotel in a city with a theme park or popular attraction. There’s a growing new cottage industry centered upon the “Theme Park Nanny.” Rich parents are paying “Theme-Park Nannies” to take their kids to Disney — at a cost of about $675 per day! Read more in Thrillist here.
How Can You Leverage These Trends?
At JC Communications, we are crazy about trendspotting. We’ve got our finger on the pulse of pop culture and what’s trending in hospitality, food and beverage, luxury, leisure, lifestyle, and sustainability. We keep a close eye on what’s happening and work to pitch our clients to the media to demonstrate how what our clients offer, either creates, leads, or fits into a notable trend — and the media love it. If you would like to find out more about how we can leverage our trendspotting for your brand, please to reach out to Jane Coloccia at Jane@JCCommunicationsllc.com.