#Trending This Week - The Next Lodging Craze, Influencers As Travel Agents, The Rise Of Saturday Brunch, And The Comeback Of Theme Restaurants
Issue 153 • August 15, 2023
We’ll keep it short and sweet since we know many are out of the office or in summer vacay mode. What’s the next big thing in alternative lodging? It could actually be the high-end RV park. Simply drive in with your own accommodation and gain access to some pretty cool upscale amenities. And just when you thought it was safe to dine out again, theme restaurants are making a comeback, but this time they are paying more attention to the food. These destinations are trending for Labor Day Weekend travel — and they aren’t as beachy as you would think. Saturday Brunch has now become the busiest day part for restaurant sales. And influencers are poised to become the next travel agent as not only do they have the highest impact on how people select where they want to go and what they should experience at a destination, but technology is starting to come around to help them turn followers into clients. Check it all out in our three-minute read below.
High-End RV Parks Could Be Next For Lodging
What’s the latest in the lodging category? Word on the street is that high-end RV parks could offer a new type of alternative accommodations. Designed to be an amusement park or summer camp-type feel for families, amenities planned for these parks include resort-style pools, lazy rivers, rope courses, fitness centers, outdoor games, dog parks, lakes for fishing, zip lining, and more. In essence, it’s a BYOL – bring your own lodging – concept. There’s been a huge uptick in RV ownership (62% increase) attributed to retiring baby boomers, younger generations, and digital nomads who enjoy outdoor lifestyles and have more freedom about where and when they work. Read more in PhocusWire here.
Theme Restaurants Are Making A Comeback
While we all witnessed the downfall of the themed restaurant (think Planet Hollywood, Rainforest Cafe, Jekyll & Hyde, etc.), we are starting to see the genre making a comeback. Now, as the public emerges from its pandemic-induced haze, the experiential dining trend is raging back. People are hungry for colorful, transportive experiences that get them out of their living rooms and into alternate realities. This time, with the help of social media, theme restaurants are able to build excitement on platforms like TikTok and Snapchat, adding fuel to the FOMO. They serve higher quality food developed by pedigreed chefs and, in many cases, operate as pop-ups, a more efficient approach than the permanent installations of the past. Read more in Bon Appetit here.
City Destinations Rule For Labor Day Travel
It’s the last unofficial weekend of summer and it might only be a three-day weekend, but consumers are planning to head to the cities. The top four domestic locations for Labor Day Weekend travel this year include New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Seattle, while the top four international destinations include London, Rome, Tokyo, and Paris. Read more in Thrillist here.
Saturday Brunch Is Now The Busiest Meal Time
More than 10% of all dining dollars are spent from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays, which has replaced Friday lunch as the industry’s peak period, according to new data from Square. With more people working remotely, combined with pent-up demand for dining out, weekends are now the prime time to visit restaurants. Brunch is in a unique position to benefit from this shift, being as much of an activity as it is a meal. It caters to large groups looking to celebrate and socialize and booze is usually involved, adding to the fun atmosphere and boosting sales. It might just be time to upgrade and enhance your Saturday brunch menu. Read more in Restaurant Business here.
Influencers Are Becoming The New Travel Agents
Influencers have increasingly become a new breed of travel agent, helping consumers decide where to go and what to do when they get there. On TikTok alone, the “travel” hashtag boasts more than 182 billion views, while on Instagram, 695 million posts bear the same tag. Even search giants like Google are realizing that around 40% of users age 18-24 are looking to TikTok or Instagram first for travel inspiration. All this content is great for general inspiration, but the industry is lacking some crucial infrastructure to make it actionable. Influencers still need an easy way to monetize their efforts, and travelers need the follow-on details to recreate their favorite influencers’ experiences for themselves. Read more in PhocusWire here.