Feeling just a little uneasy about all of the speak of financial slowdown? You’re not alone—new analysis reveals U.S. vacationers are beginning to go for shorter journeys and extra reasonably priced stays as they brace for tighter budgets. Curious how staffing challenges in hospitality may form occasions shifting ahead? Marriott’s newest partnership means housekeeping robots may quickly greet your visitors—sure, actually. Excited about Asia-Pacific on your subsequent incentive getaway? One of many world’s high cruise traces simply charted a brand new course into the area.
As all the time, Good Journey is right here to deliver you this week’s must-read journey and tourism information.
Seaside.com Report Reveals American Vacationers’ Recession Fears
A brand new report out this week from Seaside.com reveals that many American vacationers are feeling the pinch of financial uncertainty, and it’s beginning to form the place they go and the way they spend. However as an alternative of giving up their much-needed getaways, they’re getting artistic and discovering good methods to make each greenback depend whereas nonetheless making room for some well-earned R&R.
Key findings:
61% of People are involved a couple of recession impacting their trip plans, and 72% say they’ll modify their journey habits if a recession happens.
75% count on journey prices to rise in 2025 in comparison with 2024, prompting 47% to decide on extra reasonably priced locations.
67% of People are contemplating different trip choices, with 72% choosing street journeys and 61% planning staycations.
Regardless of financial uncertainty, 44% of vacationers don’t plan to buy any journey insurance coverage.
American survey respondents’ high different trip choices had been street journeys, staycations, native day journeys or excursions, visiting Nationwide Parks and staying with household or buddies.
What about these dreamy days spent within the solar and sand? The survey revealed 52% of respondents would quite keep at a budget-friendly seashore lodging, 25% would quite take a shorter keep at a luxurious resort and 23% are skipping seashore journeys altogether.
If People’ fears of a recession do certainly change into actuality, virtually three out of 5 say they are going to modify their journey habits accordingly.
Robots Verify In: Marriott and LG Faucet RobotLAB to Remodel Hospitality
Marriott Worldwide is getting into the way forward for hospitality with the assistance of RobotLAB and LG. In a brand new unique partnership, RobotLAB has been named the one authorized system integrator of LG robots throughout Marriott properties, bringing next-level automation to resort operations nationwide.
Visitors can count on to see cleansing, supply and room service robots—many built-in with elevators—rolled out throughout Marriott resorts. These improvements are already in place in places throughout the East Coast and are headed to Arizona, New Mexico and California subsequent.
Learn Extra: Automation in F&B Inches Nearer to Domination
A standout debut contains the primary LG room service robotic within the U.S., now working 24/7 on the Renaissance Dallas Resort. The robotic travels between flooring delivering meals, toiletries and different facilities, making a easy, contactless visitor expertise.
“We’re honored to be the trusted System Integrator for LG robots in Marriott properties,” mentioned Elad Inbar, founder and CEO of RobotLAB. “By means of this partnership, we’re not simply deploying robots; we’re redefining the hospitality expertise by combining effectivity, reliability and a contact of innovation that enhances each visitor satisfaction and resort operations.”
As labor shortages proceed to problem the hospitality business, Marriott’s transfer to combine good robotics goals to ease the burden on employees whereas elevating service requirements for vacationers throughout the nation.
Oceania’s Riviera to Make Grand Debut in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific
Oceania Cruises is bringing its celebrated culinary- and destination-focused expertise to new shores with the debut of Riviera in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific for the 2025–2026 season. This marks the primary time the 1,250-guest ship will sail within the area, providing unique itineraries that mix gourmand discovery with immersive exploration.
From November 2025 via March 2026, Riviera will provide voyages starting from 14 to 35 days, visiting hidden gems like Thriller Island in Vanuatu and Kangaroo Island in South Australia alongside iconic ports equivalent to Sydney and Auckland. Visitors can stay up for chef-led Culinary Discovery Excursions, immersive excursions with native farmers and fishermen, and a brand-new hands-on cooking class, “Down Underneath Abundance,” showcasing regional elements and flavors.
“We’re extremely excited to deliver Riviera to Australia and New Zealand for the primary time,” mentioned Jason Montague, chief luxurious officer at Oceania Cruises. “This new chapter displays our dedication to providing distinctive, immersive experiences that commemorate the area’s various cultures and breathtaking landscapes.”
Onboard, Riviera options the state-of-the-art Culinary Middle, world-class eating venues together with Toscana, Jacques and Pink Ginger, in addition to the luxurious Aquamar Spa + Vitality Middle and a number of enrichment applications. Visitors even have the choice to increase their journey with curated pre- and post-cruise land applications, like stargazing on Nice Barrier Island or climbing with a Nationwide Park Ranger in Australia’s Blue Mountains.
Aeroluxe Brings Boutique Personal Jet Journeys to U.S. Vacationers
Luxurious journey takes flight as Aeroluxe Expeditions proclaims its entry into the U.S. market with its inaugural personal jet journey, Colours of the World, set to depart in March 2026. Designed for discerning vacationers looking for exclusivity and immersive experiences, this 22-day itinerary provides a worldwide journey aboard a VIP-configured Boeing 737-700—with out the sky-high price ticket sometimes related to personal jet excursions.
The corporate limits every journey to simply 52 visitors, specializing in curated cultural encounters, privileged entry to iconic websites, and seamless journey logistics that permit for extra significant exploration at each cease.
“We’re excited to introduce American vacationers to Piet Visser’s famend experience in designing immersive, luxurious personal jet journeys,” mentioned Neeta Raja, CEO of Aeroluxe Expeditions U.S. “Our boutique method permits us to ship an expertise corresponding to the perfect within the business—at a considerably extra interesting worth.”
By eliminating layers of company overhead and expensive promoting, Aeroluxe guarantees shoppers distinctive worth whereas sustaining the standard and a spotlight to element of bigger, extra industrial operators.
Delta Targets Southwest Loyalists with Elevated Standing Match Supply
Delta Air Strains is stepping up its loyalty recreation, aiming to draw frequent Southwest Airways flyers who could also be reconsidering their allegiance. Throughout its Spring Showcase this week, Delta unveiled an enhanced standing match provide that upgrades eligible Southwest Speedy Rewards members to increased SkyMiles Medallion tiers than beforehand provided.
Now via September 30, Southwest A-Checklist members can obtain Gold Medallion standing in Delta’s SkyMiles program, whereas A-Checklist Most well-liked members shall be matched to Platinum Medallion—Delta’s second- and third-highest tiers. It is a bump from the airline’s common coverage, which might sometimes grant Silver and Gold standing, respectively.
Learn Extra: Southwest Commits to Teams with Simplified Reserving, Funding in Routes and Individuals
“When you have vacationers which can be contemplating switching from Southwest, now could be completely the time,” mentioned Dana Pattern, Delta’s director of business-to-business advertising technique and enablement.
The provide comes at a strategic second, as Southwest prepares to finish its long-standing “two baggage fly free” coverage on Might 28, a change that has pissed off lots of its frequent flyers. Delta is positioning itself as a extra premium different, providing advantages like free seat upgrades, precedence boarding and complimentary checked baggage to match-tier SkyMiles members.
Additionally on the Spring Showcase, Delta shared updates on its industrial innovation plans. Sara Reid, managing director of gross sales and distribution innovation, mentioned the airline will start testing small-scale integrations of its NDC (New Distribution Functionality) utility with GDS companions in 2025. “You gained’t see a large-scale launch of our NDC resolution this 12 months,” Reid mentioned, “however we’ll be doing small-scale testing with our GDS companions to optimize our know-how.”
Delta additionally introduced that by the tip of March, free Wi-Fi shall be obtainable for SkyMiles members on all flights to Europe and Israel, increasing on its transatlantic rollout that started final summer season.
