#Trending This Week - The Growth In After-Dark Experiences, Food Trends For 2024, Digital Detox Group Travel, And Americans Are Traveling This Holiday Season
Issue 171 • December 19, 2023
This is the last #Trending for 2023 as we take off for the holiday season. But before we go, here’s what you need to know. After-Dark Experiences are growing in popularity. They began to appear during COVID as a way to socially distance outside, but travelers still want to experience the great outdoors and beautiful venues long after sunset. The annual Carbonate Food Trends 2024 report is here and it’s got some interesting predictions including the cuisine, cocktail, dessert, and drink of the year. Digital detox group travel is becoming a thing as the focus is on getting out of your room and off your phone and actually immersing yourself in experiences and personal connections. And yes, despite the troubled economy, Americans still want to travel and share experiences over the holidays. Check it all out in our two-minute read below. Happy Holidays to all.
After-Dark Experiences Are Growing In Popularity
There is a growing movement of guests heading to resorts located in spectacular destinations in nature who are seeking outdoor evening activities to make the most of their time in nature. We’re talking full-moon hikes, twilight cross-country ski tours, full-moon yoga, stargazing programs, rides in a ski slope groomer, nighttime outside spa treatments, and even after-dark city tours. Read more in Travel Weekly here.
Food Trends For 2024
What’s happening in the food world in 2024? According to the trend experts at Carbonate, there is a lot going on. Philadelphia is the food city of the year. Korean is the cuisine of the year. Cross-cultural cooking is the food trend of the year. Pavlova is the dessert of the year. Caprese Martini is the drink of the year. Mortadella is having a moment. And everything tastes better with uni on it. To learn more, download the Carbonate report here.
Digital Detox Group Travel Is Actually A Thing
If you’ve traveled recently, you probably noticed that no one goes anywhere without their phone — including the bathroom and the spa tranquility room. Well the owner of Black Tomato is saying there’s a new way to travel which is growing in popularity: Digital Detox Group Travel. The point is a group trip planned to get everyone off their devices and out of their rooms. The goal being to take a mental health moment through connection. The trip encourages being fully present in the moment with others and being mindful. Participants each have individual experiences each day and independence, so no forced interactions, and then fellow travelers will meet for dinner or drinks to share experiences. Read more in PureWow here.
Americans Are Indeed Traveling For The Holidays
Call this the modern-day version of “Planes, Trains, And Automobiles” as we look to the upcoming holiday season. AAA projects 115.2 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the 10-day, year-end holiday travel period. Despite the cost, more Americans are investing in travel to make memories with loved ones and experience new places. It is expected nearly 104 million people will drive to their holiday destinations, 7.5 million travelers will fly, and more than 4 million Americans will take alternative transportation (bus, train, cruise) over Christmas and New Year’s. Read more in Hotel Business here.