Trend Taster: city jumping edition
In this week’s edition of the Trend Taster, we round up the snackable trends, stats and insights from around the world, including:
Screen-Free Reading Room
Emirates to become an 'Autism Certified Airline'
Top 10 Most Powerful Passports
Explainer: City Jumping
Cover your Energy Bills via Online Resale Platforms
Screen-Free Reading Room
A unique digital detox experiment is trending in London's LUCA restaurant, which has partnered with Monocle magazine to create 'The Reading Room', a screen-free morning sanctuary. They're offering complimentary coffee and Italian pastries three mornings a week, complete with curated reading materials including Monocle magazine, The Forecast, and the Alpino Newspaper. While the initiative started as a response to the rising "zombie-fied" phone behaviour in restaurants, they are not enforcing a strict ban. Instead they're creating an environment that naturally encourages digital disconnection through design, comfort, and free perks.
Emirates to become an 'Autism Certified Airline'
Emirates is training 30,000+ staff members to become the world's first Autism Certified Airline™. 78% of families affected by autism avoid travel altogether, while 94% say they would travel more if certified facilities were available. Backed by research from 14,000 people with disabilities, their rollout includes sensory guides and comfort items for neurodiverse passengers.
Top 10 Most Powerful Passports
Japan and Singapore continue to dominate the Henley Passport Index with visa-free access to 190+ countries, followed closely by South Korea, Germany, and Spain in the top tier. Powerful passports are becoming increasingly valuable as they offer spontaneous travel opportunities, easier business mobility, and reduced visa costs. As travel rebounds globally, we're seeing a trend toward visa-free agreements between more countries, suggesting even greater mobility ahead for strong passport holders.
Explainer: City Jumping
City jumping is emerging as a travel trend for 2025, with travellers increasingly combining multiple destinations into single trips for richer, more diverse adventures. Whether it's a Caribbean island chain or a Southeast Asian circuit enabled by visa reforms, this trend caters to those seeking flexibility and novelty. Airlines and tourism boards are adapting with regional flight routes and incentives to make intraregional travel more seamless, projected to double by 2030.
Cover your Energy Bills via Online Resale Platforms
In the UK, 24 million people are earning an average of £146 monthly through online resale platforms (that's £1,752 annually) matching the typical British energy bill. Depop and similar marketplaces are seeing particular momentum among Gen Z, with 54% selling items online in the past quarter. Clothing leads at 68%, followed by books and media at 33%. This surge in resale activity isn't just about decluttering, it's a response to financial pressures. What's supercharging this trend is AI technology, with platforms like Depop's AI listing tools making it easier than ever to turn pre-loved items into extra income while promoting sustainable consumption patterns.
