A curated collection of can't-miss news from this week, including 2022 travel trends and more. Sign up to get the TURNER Weekly Download in your inbox.
Toronto's Heather Greenwood Davis is an award-winning freelance writer, an on-air personality, and keynote speaker. Above all, she's a storyteller and explorer who is committed to the idea that travel can be an agent of change. With bylines in such esteemed publications as National Geographic and the Globe and Mail, a role as the resident travel expert on The Social on CTV, the Globetrotting Mama blog, plus many other activities, Heather has a packed schedule. She took a little time to chat with TURNER about what's been on her mind lately.
The past few years have changed the way we think about, well, virtually everything. But especially travel. According to Expedia, travelers want their next vacation to be their Greatest of All Trips (GOAT) and are in pursuit of transformative and meaningful travel experiences. "Travel is no longer just about ‘going somewhere’" says Christie Hudson, Senior PR Manager for brand Expedia. "Coming out of such a long period of constraints and limitations, 2022 will be the year we wring every bit of richness and meaning out of our experiences. Whether it's going somewhere new, being more spontaneous or treating yourself, it's clear that a new wave of excitement is bubbling as travelers chase travel greatness to get their GOAT."
The holiday travel scene is going to be filled with long lines. But new technology may be shortening those lines in the future, the New York Times reports. "Biometrics are unique individual traits, such as fingerprints, that can be used to automate and verify identity," writes Elaine Glusac. "They promise both more security and efficiency in moving travelers through an airport where, at steps from check-in to boarding, passengers are normally required to show government-issued photo identification."
While loosened restrictions and vaccines have given the industry cause for optimism, travel isn't all the way back. "The United Nations World Tourism Organization estimates that the contribution of tourism to the world economy this year will be $1.9 trillion—a slight improvement over last year's $1.6 trillion but still far lower than the $3.5 trillion the industry earned in 2019," reports NPR's Joe Hernandez. "Among the reasons for the slow recovery is the continuing pandemic, and the recent emergence of the highly transmissible omicron variant presents another potential hurdle as the industry prepares for the upcoming winter holiday season."