This month, tariff policies announced by the United States’ Trump administration, signs of a possible recession and potential impacts on the global travel industry have dominated news headlines. In order to get a pulse on consumer sentiment, MMGY conducted a survey of 1,000 U.S. adults between April 3 and April 5. The survey, as covered in The New York Times, found 83% of respondents still intended to travel – down just 4% since a similar survey in February – but that most intended to alter their plans. A third planned to travel closer to home; 29% said they would swap an international destination for a domestic one; and 24% would opt for a cheaper mode of transportation.
The following is a summary of other travel and hospitality trends and industry shifts that our global PR teams have compiled from recent media feedback, industry conferences, articles and webinars:
TRENDS IMPACTING THE TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY
• Cruise Industry Innovates for 80+ Audience: The cruise industry is on the verge of creating an entirely new segment within its age categories. Leading German shipbuilding company Meyer Werft presented a new ship concept, “Serenity,” at Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami, specifically designed for people aged 80 and above. The initiative is based on demographic forecasts predicting that by 2100, the population of people aged 80-plus in the U.S. and Europe will be as large as today’s population of those over 65 years old. In response to this anticipated demographic shift, the Meyer Werft team has developed a concept that focuses on the needs of this group, incorporating a barrier-free design and assisted living elements, such as wider corridors, accessible routes and social spaces, aiming to accommodate the growing number of elderly passengers in the future. The project signals a shift towards a more inclusive approach to cruise travel.
• Connected Holidays for Groups Gaining Momentum: With the rise of new tools like generative AI, the concept of connected holidays is gaining significant momentum. These technologies enable hyperpersonalisation, making it possible to cater to the unique interests and needs of individuals even in the context of group travel, which was traditionally not the norm for this type of travel. AI can now seamlessly integrate preferences, ensuring that every participant’s requirements are met while planning a holiday. This allows for a more cohesive and tailored experience, enhancing the travel journey for everyone, with shifts such as real-time updates and on-the-go adjustments for those travelling as part of a large group.
• Joy of Missing Out (JOMO): With constant pressure from social media and technology, the new travel trend ‘JOMO’ is encouraging travellers to embrace a slower, more mindful approach to trips, prioritising relaxation and authentic experiences over the pressure to see all the sights. Claire Irvin recently wrote a piece in The Sunday Times on how tour operators are tailoring itinerary-light trips to allow for more unstructured time with no fewer than two nights in one place.
• ‘Happy Hour’ With a Twist: Ahead of Earth Day, Fiji introduced the world’s first ‘happy hour for the environment’ to encourage visitors to get involved with conservation efforts. The new sustainable initiative, ‘Loloma Hour,’ invites travellers to dedicate an hour of their holiday to environmental, cultural or community projects. Partnering with hotels and tour operators, activities will be organised around four key pillars: wildlife conservation, community engagement, reef protection and coastline preservation.
UK MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES AND SHIFTS
• Ted Thornhill has left MailOnline after 10 years as travel editor to take up a new role as travel editor of The Independent U.S. Harriet Sime will now be overseeing all online travel content at the Mail.
• Ben Parker has been appointed deputy head of travel at the Daily Mail, starting in June, and will be leaving his role as travel editor at The Independent.
• Mark Palmer announced he will be leaving the Daily Mail.
• Isobel Turner has been appointed features writer at Aspire.
• Cyann Fielding has been appointed travel reporter at The Sun, having previously been at The Daily Mirror.
• Emma Cook is leaving her role as assistant editor at The Observer magazine to go freelance.
GERMAN MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES AND SHIFTS
• Two former editors of leading travel magazine Merian and founders of the travel news platform Plazy.travel have launched their own podcast, ‘Places to Go’ by Plazy. Each episode of the travel podcast features reliable and helpful information and recommendations on where to go, all in line with Plazy’s motto of ‘lazy planning.’
• Germany’s leading news magazine, Der Spiegel, is launching a new 46-member cross-media department to boost its social media presence and attract new audiences. The department will merge the audio, social media and reader interaction, and video teams, focusing on social cards, news videos, podcasts and video reports to enhance brand engagement and introduce new formats on the magazine’s website, Spiegel.de, and social platforms.
• Interior design magazine Wohn!Design has been renamed GOODLIFE (Wohn!Design). The magazine’s main focus continues to be architecture, interior design, art, fashion and general design topics.
• Funke Media Group, one of Germany’s leading publishing houses, is acquiring three major magazine brands from RTL Deutschland that were once flagship properties of Gruner + Jahr: the leading women’s magazine, Brigitte, the leading people’s magazine, Gala, and the leading family magazine, Eltern. Approximately 300 employees from the editorial and publishing teams will retain their jobs.
• Local news made easy to listen to “on the go” – that’s what the digital media company NOZ Digital, focusing on the distribution of news in northern Germany, and the Munich-based startup Articly offer through ‘botcasts.’ Using AI, they automatically generate narrated regional news, specially optimized for audio listening.
U.S. MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES AND SHIFTS
• The Points Guy experienced extensive layoffs, with Caroline Tanner’s role being eliminated along with the entire cruise team, including Erica Silverstein, Ashley Kosciolek and Kristy Tolley.
• Haley Bosselman was laid off from her role at Modern Luxury Los Angeles on the digital side.
• WWD has split with longtime executive editor Booth Moore, as shared on Instagram.
• Leah Chernikoff was named executive editor at Harper’s Bazaar. She was previously head of content at Glossier.
• Matt Kirouac-York and his husband Nathan have launched their own travel brand, The Gay Lane – your one-stop shop for queer and inclusive travel, featuring original stories, immersive travel guides, queer travel news and more (including a forthcoming YouTube channel). Check out the trailer here.
• For some inspiration, The New York Times recently published a piece titled “The Revenge of the Niche Fashion Magazine,” featuring 10 creative indie print magazines.
