PPB February 2018

Getting Off The Beaten Path According to Homeaway’s 2018 Trend Report, tourists are seeking out-of-the- ordinary destinations that combine adventure with amenities. They report that the demand for alternative accommodations has grown exponentially since the previous year’s report, with vacation demand for barns up 55 percent, houseboats up 40 percent and treehouses up 30 percent. The bottom line is vacationers want an experience slightly outside of their comfort zones and exotic enough to be Pinterest-worthy. Wellness Mind and body wellness is a macro trend that is extending to all lifestyle segments. Wellness tourists seek spa treatments, exercise facilities, yoga classes, healthy meals and often, a community of fellow wellness-seekers. Going It Alone According to Drift magazine, solo travel, and especially female solo travel, is becoming more common. Women are becoming more comfortable traveling alone and pursuing their dream vacations, and more women are taking advantage of these trips to pursue learning opportunities such as getting scuba certified. Eco Tourism Consumers who are serious about going green are pushing the boundaries of sustainable tourism. Rather than throwing their environmental cares to the wind, sustainable tourists take their values with them when they travel. This means choosing transit and lodging options with eco-friendly practices, researching exactly where tourism money goes and how it is spent, supporting local businesses and embracing the local culture. Oh,The Places You’ll Go As consumers cozy up to the fire and fantasize about warmer climates, beachwear will soon be top of mind. The following vacation trends hint at what travelers may plan to take along. Voluntourism Spurred by a desire to give back, some travelers are trading in their sandals for work boots. The 2017 hurricane season and last summer’s earthquake in Mexico have generated countless opportunities for volunteering while also enjoying time away. Extreme Vacations If swimming with the sharks is your thing, there’s a vacation package out there just for you. You can also cliff dive, explore underwater caves, kite surf and a host of other activities to get your adrenaline going. Cruisin’ Thanks to plentiful options in entertainment and amenities for all ages, cruises are a popular choice for multi-generational families traveling together. Taking a cruise can also be an efficient way to visit multiple destinations while still allowing plenty of down time. Reminiscent of the Blues Brothers, these flex sunglasses have a flexible plastic frame and temples. The smoke-colored lenses offer 100-percent UV protection. Shown in green, they are also available in blue, orange, pink and yellow. Fields Manufacturing PPAI 111951 www.fieldsmfg.com Everyone will look cool in these eco-fashion, Wayfarer-style shades. Featuring real bamboo temples with a soft-touch plastic frame, these bamboo sunglasses have shatter-resistant lenses with UV400 protection against UVA and UVB rays. They are ideal for everyday use and make for a fun outdoor promotion with a renewable message for universities, entertainment, breweries and construction. Fields Manufacturing / PPAI 111951 www.fieldsmfg.com | FEBRUARY 2018 | 17 INNOVATE