#Trending This Week - The 6-Figure Vacation Surge, Girl Dinners, Icescape Travel, Women Head To Africa, And Hotel Amenities On Steroids
Issue 236 • March 4, 2025
Here’s something to look forward to this week: clocks spring ahead this coming Sunday, March 9th, which is great news for those who can’t wait to spend more time outside. But before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s focus on this week’s trends.
Have you heard about the SIX-FIGURE VACATION SURGE where people spending $100,000 or more on vacation is on the rise?
If you are involved in F&B, you might want to familiarize yourself with THE “GIRL DINNER” TREND and see how you can meet this TikTok movement by offering a snack-focused offering on your menu.
ICESCAPE TRAVEL is having a moment as people are growing weary of overpaying for warm-weather travel to Florida in the winter, so they’ve pivoted to paying less for unplugging in cold weather destinations.
SOLO TRAVEL TO AFRICA is on the rise as women are seeking more adventurous pursuits.
And things like the “family pantry” are becoming more prevalent as HOTELS OFFER A GREATER VARIETY OF AMENITIES for travelers who just don’t like to pack.
Check it all out in our three-minute read below.
The Six-Figure Vacation Surge
There is a small but growing segment of six-figure vacation travel — trips which involve a spend of $100,000 or more. In fact, multigenerational travel represents one of three key categories driving six-figure vacation bookings, along with private jet or yacht excursions and expedition travel. Many of these consumers tend to be in their late 50s or 60s, are done supporting their kids’ education, have amassed some wealth from careers in law, medicine, dentistry, or as second- or third-generation business owners, and have the itch to travel while still healthy. Read more in Travel Weekly here.
“Girl Dinner” Movement May Impact Menus
One of the top trends identified by the Specialty Food Association at the recent Winter Fancy Foods Show is “Girl Dinner.” It’s basically grabbing a bunch of different things to nosh on when you don’t have to cook for a family and could range from an informal charcuterie board to snacking on Pop Tarts, chocolate, a block of cheese, chips, etc. They key word is “snacking” and it was popularized on TikTok. Perhaps this is a concept to add to a restaurant or room service menu to appeal to those who are no longer into a full entrée. Read more in Gifts & Decorative Accessories here.
Trading In Sun And Sea For Icescape Travel
The unaffordability and unpredictability of winter travel to Florida and other warm-weather destinations where plans for sun can easily be hampered by rain has prompted a new trend: Icescape Travel. It’s an escape to a Northeast beach location in the winter months like Newport, Rhode Island or the Hamptons for some “glacial calm.” These snowy yet serene getaways help to relax the mind and disconnect while reading by the fireplace, taking a walk out in nature, or enjoying a spa treatment. If you operate a hotel in a snow zone, this could be a great marketing strategy for next winter. Read more in Pop Sugar here.
Solo Travel In Africa Is On The Rise Among Women
Solo travel has been on the rise since COVID, but now many females are passing on the European getaway in favor of adventure explorations in Africa. And many tour operators are responding with empowered women types of journeys which include companionship with like-minded women and more immersive experiences which highlight the female experience. According to Virtuoso, women allocate 34% more of their travel budget to trips that offer purpose and personal enrichment compared to general leisure travelers. Read more in Travel Weekly here.
Hotels Are Providing More So Guests Pack Less
People love to travel, but few love to pack. Hotels are embracing this philosophy by partnering with brands to offer guests a wide variety of “must haves” including bulky sporting goods, clothing and luxury handbags, baby gear, pet supplies, and more. The “Family Pantry” at the Shangri-La Hotel Singapore is just one example of how hotels are heeding the call from guests. Read more in CNBC 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.