Skift released its 2017 Megatrends report at the beginning of the year and it’s both an interesting read and a super useful resource. It’s filled with some great new buzzwords (Festivalization anyone?) and the unearthed trends are a fascinating insight into what’s to come as well as a fantastic source of evidence to support campaign ideas.

A series of short features covering wide ranging hot topics across the travel industry, some of the subjects include distribution wars, folks in their fifties at the new target demographic, low-cost airlines spreading their wings over the Atlantic and the rise of Artificial Intelligence in travel.

We were particularly engrossed in the feature about food being a major factor in travel planning… not just for the obvious reasons. Building on the trend for experiences as a bigger marker of status (and, more importantly, more Instagram worthy) than material belongings, it notes how restaurants have evolved into ‘destinations in their own right’. What’s vital to note is that the dining venues of choice are not necessarily haute cuisine, but heading to where the locals eat is where it’s at… as long as the aesthetic is on point. Remember, if we’re not Instagramming it, what’s the point of experiencing it?

The report really does share some thought-provoking insight, take a read and download here.