JANUARY 2024 - TOURISM NEWS & NOTES | |
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Private group travel may be one of the biggest travel trends of 2024. A recent survey by luxury travel advisors at Embark Beyond found that 61% of Americans are interested in traveling with extended families or a small group of friends next year.
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Culinary tourism has boomed in recent years, topping $805.9 billion globally in 2022 — and it’s expected to keep growing. Travelers are eager to explore a destination through its restaurants, farms, and traditional ingredients and dishes in an ever-growing list of ways. Gearing up for next year’s adventures, we tapped travel and hospitality pros to learn what they expect to see in 2024.
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Now that leisure travel demand is back — with business travel expected to catch up in 2024 — travel brands are looking carefully at traveler preferences and searching for clues that can shed light on the factors motivating traveler decisions.
The new “2024 Travel Trends” report from Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), a collection of 40 independent hotel brands with more than 800 hotels in 100 countries, provides an inside look at the travel plans and priorities of today’s travelers across 10 key markets globally.
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If you were to take all the food trend prediction reports and stories that pop up around this time of year at face value, you might be gob-smacked that we hadn't spent 2023 awash in kiddie pools full of kelp, CBD, and hōjicha leaves. Maybe you did, and that's your business, but this is all to say that trend prediction is an inexact but fascinating art. For every correct prediction of a nostalgia, Spritz, and nonalcoholic spirits ascension, an executive at a strategic firm feels salty that we haven't all been clucking over chicken sandwiches, plant-based pasta, and space-inspired cuisine.
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HOSPITALITY & ACCOMMODATIONS | |
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In the Hotel Industry
The hotel industry, a crucial segment of the hospitality sector, is rife with opportunities and challenges intrinsic to the global economy. It’s an industry that requires a keen understanding of customer service, a knack for problem-solving, and a profound appreciation for diversity. This document aims to provide an in-depth look into the hotel industry, offering valuable insights and practical steps to help you navigate and succeed in this dynamic landscape.
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Elevating Guest Experiences: the Role of Software in Hospitality Asset Management
Ensuring good guest experiences is vital for long-term success in the hospitality industry. From when guests arrive to when they leave, their satisfaction depends on operations and personalized services. To achieve this, hotels and resorts are increasingly relying on software solutions to streamline their asset management processes. This article explores how software enhances guest experiences and optimizes operations within the hospitality sector.
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Younger Travelers More Preferential to
Traditional Travel Advisors
Location, cleanliness, and overall hospitality are among the top factors travelers consider when choosing which hotels to book their stay at. Boomers are primarily drawn to the location of their hotels, as 60 percent stated it was an important factor when booking. Reviews and recommendations from friends and family ranked 39 percent and 35 percent, respectively, followed by 35 percent attributing their choices to brand loyalty. Hotel amenities are also a deciding factor for travelers, with 41 percent of respondents reporting so.
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Marietta House Museum will be open for tours to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, January 15. Tours are 11 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm. Tours are FREE, but registration is required. For more information, call 301-464-5291 or email mariettahouse@pgparks.com. The snow date is January 20.
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In the culminating forum of the Freedom Stories Initiative, historians, writers, and university professors dive deep into the historical ramifications of slavery, freedom, and American history. The general public is now being exposed to the tool of freedom suits and the tactic of using the same law which enslaved families to ‘uno reverse' and sue that same institution to gain their freedom. What were some of the tools of resistance that the enslaved used to topple, subvert, rebel, and gain their freedom?
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Riding Giants
Riding Giants is a semiserious, often rollicking, multigenerational insider look at the origins of surfing, the colorful and subversive birth of surf culture, and the mythology and the lure of the big wave. This passionate and fluid film is without question the first authentic history of surfing, from its humble Hawaiian beginnings to the big business it became to the still-rebellious universe it inhabits today. Riding Giants studies individuality and freedom, the pursuit and techniques of pure kinetic pleasure, and the risk-taking and attitudes that characterize its leading figures.
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Shakespeare in Park Auditions
Join us this summer for an exciting outdoor theatrical experience. We’re searching for gifted actors to bring Shakespeare’s masterpieces to life. Whether you’re an experienced thespian or an emerging talent, we welcome you to audition for the opportunity to showcase your skills in an immersive setting. Your moment to shine awaits!
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Joe Clair and Friends present the Bangin’ in Bowie Comedy Series this month, featuring special guests Brooklyn Mike, Timmy Hall, and Cool Bubba Ice! Plus, there will be live music by Sound of the City featuring Precious Joubert and DJ Two Tone Jones and delicious food from Ruby’s Southern Comfort Kitchen!
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Singer/songwriter, actor, and activist Keith Snipes returns to Southern Area Aquatics & Recreation Complex (SAARC) with his new band performing covers and original music celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Fooduary: National Harbor Restaurant Week
We're kicking off 2024 with a celebration of food and entertainment! Enjoy curated prix fixe menus, classes and demonstrations from chefs and bartenders, elevated entertainment options, and more. Experience it all during Fooduary, National Harbor's Restaurant Week!
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Bread + Butter Officially Opens in MGM National Harbor's Food Court
Bread + Butter opened its all-day cafe at MGM National Harbor's National Market last week, making it the second such eatery on the East Coast. The fast-casual cafe stays open for breakfast and lunch, dinner, and late-night hours. Bread + Butter features favorites from chicken and waffles and patty melts to sweet treats like coconut cream pie and chocolate cake, as well as various pastries and milkshakes. Guests can enjoy breakfast from early morning to late night with French toast, steak and eggs, the three-egg breakfast, and more.
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Discover archaeology and history during a trail walk in Patuxent River Park led by Park Archaeologists. More than 75 archaeological sites are recorded in this area, including Indigenous villages, an international colonial port, shipwrecks, large plantations worked by hundreds of enslaved laborers, tenant farms, and one of the first African American-owned airports in the country. The tour will cover about 3 miles on a natural trail path and stairs. Ages 12 and up with accompanying adult.
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Whether you’re looking for a new sport or a fun alternative for date night, you can try axe-throwing not far from the Route 1 corridor. Located at 2419 Evarts St. NE, just over the border from Mount Rainier, Bad Axe Throwing is a Canadian company that bills itself as “the world’s biggest urban axe throwing club. ”The venue hosts axe-throwing leagues, private parties and couples for an activity that it argues is comparable to going bowling — or a heavier version of darts.
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Traveling for sports isn’t as popular as gastronomic and wellness tourism. However, it is on the rise. According to a Grand View Research report, the global sports tourism industry was valued at $587.87 billion in 2022. Between 2023 and 2030, sports tourism is expected to grow nearly 18 percent each year. The numbers aren’t surprising. Thrill and adventure-seeking millennial and Gen Z travelers often travel solely to have new experiences. Sporting events are exciting and full of life.
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Maryland Officials Release New Video of Purple Line Railcars
The Maryland Department of Transportation published a video last week showing Purple Line train cars en route to the area. The east-west line has 21 stations and covers a distance of 16.2 miles, connecting the New Carrollton Metro Station in Prince George’s County to the Bethesda Metro Station in Montgomery County and providing links to Metro, MARC, Amtrak, and local bus lines.
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Sip & Develop to Open at National Harbor on February 2
Downtown Silver Spring-based social photography studio Sip & Develop will open its new location at National Harbor on Friday, February 2. Sip & Develop in Silver Spring prides itself on being the only company in the United States that combines a social environment with easy-to-understand film developing instructions. NO film developing experience is required! We’ll entertain you and your friends, co-workers, or family by showing you step-by-step how to develop photos!
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DC's cloud & AI tech sensation Cloudforce continues to re-invest locally in the DMV
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md., Dec. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On the tail end of another meteoric growth year for National Harbor-based Cloudforce, in less than one month the iconic firm was recognized back-to-back with prestigious local-impact awards for "Career Educator of the Year" by the Prince George's Chamber of Commerce (PGCOC) and "Small Business of the Year" by the Prince George's Economic Development Corporation (PGEDC).
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The Entrepreneurs and Experts in Residence Program is the latest Grow Prince George's campaign by the Prince George's County Economic Development Corporation (PGCEDC). It is designed to provide Innovation Station Business Incubator (ISBI) member companies and local business owners with diverse coaching and subject matter expertise to foster growth, expansion, and success.
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