In a recent post we discussed “Experiences,” a 2019 Travel Trend, but now we’d like to dig a bit deeper.

One of the most significant shifts in travel trends come with travelers getting sick of common and easy-to-arrange vacations that they probably repeat every year by taking the same week off of work and heading to the same hotel where they have been loyal to for the past couple of years. Instead, Millennials and Gen Z, who make up a big chunk of the modern travelers, seek experiences that are less heard of and more unique than a trip to a typical beach resort.

One of the biggest moves in seeking a unique experience is choosing a destination that is rather less-traveled, such as small and remote islands somewhere in the world. According to Pinterest, there has been an increase in searches for these rare locations by 179%. Some of the travel agencies are responding to this trend promptly by offering “off-the-beaten-track itineraries” such as a culture and academics based trip to Cuba, or a customized trip to the African diaspora.

On the other hand, our adventurous travelers are expanding their vacations towards the developing European and Middle Eastern countries such as Azerbaijan and Armenia, seeking to soak in the rich culture and history of these unique destinations.

All these considered, it seems like the modern travelers have had enough of hit vacation spots where they are just one tourist among millions. Instead, they want to feel special and experience something that not everybody around them has experienced before. We get it though; nobody wants to be boring anymore.

Sources: Smart Travel, Forbes, Yahoo

It’s certain to say that a trip to the United Arab Emirates is not complete without a little hotel hopping. A regional treasure, guests can expect the luxury hotels of the UAE to offer a superior level of hospitality and facilities. With celebrities like Usher visiting The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert for a getaway and performers like Alicia Keys and Rita Ora arriving to Dubai for RedfestDXB, it’s clear the UAE knows how to do things like no other.

From Dubai to other surrounding cities, there is no shortage of travel consumers who are willing and able to spend significant amounts on luxury. With over 14 million tourists visiting Dubai each year, luxury hotels feature an international main dining restaurant. So, no matter which part of the world their guests are from or which part of the world they’d like to taste – it’s all made available to them. Dubai is a foodie’s paradise, with brunch being a favorite for both tourists and guests.

In other parts of the world, brunch is known as a meal between breakfast and lunch. However, brunch in Dubai doesn’t come close to fitting this definition. Simply put, it’s a dining indulgence taken to new heights and definitely not a breakfast or lunch. Each hotel has a different style and vibe, from family oriented to mid-day party, fine-dining experience to a day of entertainment, but what’s consistent is an all-inclusive feast of food and drinks, including luxurious champagnes and wines. Brunches kick off the weekend and usually run from 1- 4pm on a Friday – the first day of the weekend is Friday in the Gulf and this is the day where the drinks are really flowing.

Dubai is full of iconic experiences and a lot different than the touristy camel riding and desert safaris people expect to see. Dubai’s culture has adapted to the influences from around the world. With over 200 nationalities in Dubai alone, it’s truly a melting-pot of culture and experiences. Locals, residents and tourists are encouraged to share their experiences to create a digital story of the city by using #MyDubai.

If your brand is looking to reach the UAE market on social, we have extensive experience in the region and are here to help. Reach out and let’s chat.

Sources: Government.ae, Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), 2012 and Dubai Statistics Authority, 2012

Here at Pandemic Labs, 2019 travel trends are extremely important. In an age where trends set and change rapidly in almost every industry, the hospitality industry is worth taking a look at. Travelers are continually evolving, and their priorities are shifting fast. If you are in the business for travel or just curious about new trends, here is a tip: customers are seeking more than activities to busy themselves and just a room to sleep in.

Two consumer groups that will heavily influence the hospitality industry by 2020 are Millennials and Gen Z. Now, let’s take a deep dive into what these groups expect from their travel adventures:

1. Experience – Turns out these groups will pay extra for services that will buy them local experiences at the destination. Another curious trend emerging is “Dark Tourism,” which is something as dark as it sounds. These groups like visiting places with unfortunate histories, such as the towns near Fukushima or Tuol Sleng in Cambodia.
2. Conscious Travel – They’re about eco-friendly travels and maximizing their positive impact on the environment! So, if you are a business that still serves iced coffee with plastic straws, you might want to reconsider that decision.
3. Wellness – Spas, massages, therapeutic anything! The trend is to take care of one’s self, especially on vacation.Not only do they want to pamper themselves, they’re interested in learning techniques and ways to further integrate wellness into their daily lives back at home. Experiences that pull through teaching wellness will be a big hit with these groups.
4. B-leisure – Remember the times your parents went on a business trip and came back without even sightseeing? Those times are over. Nowadays, people like to mix up business and leisure – B-leisure! Business comes first, then travel.B-leisure is something Pandemic Labs employees participate in. Have a property site visit to Atlanta Buckhead that finishes on a Friday? Stay over the weekend to explore the area and take in the sights!
5. Instagrammability – If you think we’re joking, you are wrong! People are literally planning and picking their next vacation with Instagramable locations and experiences in mind. They would instead go to an authentic spot which they can proudly Instagram over a perfect-but-cliché one.Think about how many pictures you’ve seen on Instagram of friends at the Ice Cream Museum or posing in front of the Angel Wings in LA? Case in point.

All of this is can be seen as extra hard work for businesses to make sure they stay relevant and trendy, OR as we like to think of it, as an opportunity to tap into creativity and push the limits. We’re all about setting and breaking new trends on Instagram, so if you’re looking to break the mold – reach out!

In case you have been looking for the little magnifying glass on your Twitter’s Explore tab and you were wondering who let it loose, the answer is Twitter. What’s the reason? It was confusing for many people to see the magnifying glass both on the Explore and the Search tabs. To make it easier to distinguish between those two tools, Twitter decided to replace the magnifying glass on the Explore tab with a hashtag! What’s more Twitter than a hashtag, #amIright?

Because details matter pic.twitter.com/42UK2BL6Wu

— Matt Navarra (@MattNavarra) February 13, 2019

Now, that’s not all the news. They also developed an improved way of checking out user’s profiles or following them without having to leave your timeline, but only on iOS. All you have to do is tap the Twitter handle and boom! A profile pops up on the bottom of your screen and allows you to take a sneak peek at the user’s account and to follow them if that’s the move you are going for – it’s okay if you’re just stalking. Once you are done, just swipe down on the little window, and you are back on your timeline!

We’re testing an easier way to check out profiles on iOS without leaving your timeline! Simply tap any @ handle in a Tweet, take a peek, follow, and get right back to it. Let us know what you think! pic.twitter.com/dIUFxI2r4C

— Twitter (@Twitter) February 13, 2019

Additionally, in celebration of Valentine’s Day, Twitter has created a very cute animation to go with your affectionate – or not – Valentine’s Day tweets.

Roses are red,
Twitter is blue,
Like this Tweet
For a #Valentines treat,
(You know you want to) pic.twitter.com/sIAJAgrHvQ

— Twitter (@Twitter) February 13, 2019

“If I could turn back time

If I could find a way

I’d take back those words that hurt you…”

Cher may have said it best, but it’s been the cry of our Internet-obsessed generation for ages.

You’ve heard it before – “what happens on the Internet, stays on the internet…forever.” Once that message is sent, there’s no going back. Until now.

Facebook announced this month that users are now able to retract previously sent messages in Messenger within a 10-minute window. Email service providers like Gmail and Outlook have had this feature for a while, as well as social platforms like Instagram and Snapchat, but it looks like Facebook has finally gotten on board. Thank you, Mark Z.

The process is fairly straightforward. After sending a message – and as the regret starts to set in – simply press and hold the text you’d like to delete (or for desktop, click the 3 dots to the left of the message). Click “Remove” and you’ll be presented with an option to “Remove for Everyone” or “Remove for You”. Choosing the first will delete the message for everyone in the group, the second will only remove the message from your feed, but everyone else will still see it.

Before you go deleting all those drunk mistakes from last night, there’s a few things you should know:

1. Act fast! You’ve only got 10 minutes to delete the message. After that, you’ll only be able to choose the “Remove for You” option.
2. The evidence remains. Everyone in the conversation will be alerted if you delete a message, so you won’t be able to delete all evidence of your mistake.
3. Not for Business Manager. Unfortunately, at this time it doesn’t look like this feature is available for Business Pages users. Once you’ve sent that private message to a customer, there’s no going back. But you’re already proofreading that message before you send it…right?!

So, go forth, giveth and taketh away your messages! Delete mistakes with no limited evidence and stop blaming autocorrect for your errors.

For more information on the new Facebook Messenger feature: https://bit.ly/2MQnkye