Spring: Celebrations That Reflect Humanity's Search for Meaning

Travel Industry News & Trends

Formula One: The New VIP Playground

Formula One is no longer just about roaring engines — it’s now a magnet for high-end travelers. With a 50% surge in bookings over three years (thank you, Netflix’s Drive to Survive), brands like Marriott Bonvoy are offering exclusive trackside experiences. Even Regent Seven Seas is launching cruises with tailored F1 access. The 2025 season spans 21 countries, with Monaco still reigning supreme for those who want their racing with a side of Riviera charm. CNTraveler

Costa Rica's Surf Scene Meets High Fashion

Tamarindo’s waves have drawn surfers for years, but now they’re luring high fashion, too. With brands like Miu Miu, Dior, and Louis Vuitton embracing surf-inspired collections, Tamarindo’s beaches are starting to feel like a runway. Think Chanel Bermuda shorts paired with sleek swimsuits — because apparently, your beach look now deserves its own stylist. CNTraveler

So now we have the 'haute couture-ization' of surfing, where catching waves and catching trends seem to have officially become the same sport.

Sir Richard Branson’s Mountain Retreat: Swiss Alps, But Make It Zen

Sir Richard Branson’s The Lodge in Verbier is hosting its first-ever Mountain Wellness Retreat this July — a perfect mix of yoga, mindful breathing, and probably a lot of people in expensive athleisure. For clients who think “relaxing” means detox smoothies and meditation with mountain views, this is your pitch. Bonus: It’s hosted at one of Switzerland’s most stunning chalets, so the luxury box is firmly checked. Luxury Travel Magazine

Because enlightenment is more attainable when your yoga mat has a five-star view of the Alps.

Andaz Peninsula Papagayo: Your Boardroom, But With Ocean Views

If your corporate clients are tired of conference rooms that feel like interrogation cells, Andaz Peninsula Papagayo is here to fix that. This Costa Rican paradise turns meetings into something far less miserable — think sea breezes, jungle views, and that distinct feeling of I could actually get used to this. It’s just 35 minutes from Guanacaste International Airport, making it easy to swap suits for sandals post-presentation. Luxury Travel Magazine

Andaz will revolutionize the corporate retreat by proving that quarterly projections look 73% more achievable when presented against a backdrop of breaking waves.

Riyadh Air: Saudi Arabia’s Bold Play for Luxury Travelers

Riyadh Air is gearing up to take flight in late 2025, and they’re not just aiming for takeoff — they’re gunning for the crown in luxury aviation. Designed to showcase Saudi Arabia’s rich culture while positioning Riyadh as a global travel hub, this airline is set to redefine high-end air travel. With premium service, sleek branding, and ambitious plans to connect the world, Riyadh Air is one to watch — especially for clients seeking new horizons in luxury. Jing Daily

I suppose sometimes the journey to becoming a global hub starts with velvet seats and ambitious wings.

Spring Vibes: Renewal Meets Celebration

The Equinox is basically nature's way of saying "cheer up, sunshine's on its way."

For travelers, these celebrations aren't just for gawking—they're for joining in. Some even let you pelt strangers with colored powder (looking at you, Holi, you brilliant mess-maker).

From ancient rituals to proper knees-ups, here's my quick take on spring celebrations worth the airfare—and why your clients (and even you) should get their bums on a plane pronto.

Stonehenge Sunrise Ceremony

Where: England
When: March 20, 2025

Let's be honest—Stonehenge knows how to throw a proper party, and the Spring Equinox sunrise is its VIP event. The sun lines up perfectly with those massive old stones, and suddenly you've got druids, pagans and the spiritually curious all gathering for a bit of a mysterious knees-up.

Mayan Sun Serpent Ritual: Ancient Magic Without the Special Effects

Where: Chichen Itza, Mexico
When: March 20, 2025

If you're after a bit of ancient wisdom with your holiday snaps, this one's proper impressive. At El Castillo pyramid, the clever positioning of sunlight creates what looks like a massive serpent slithering down the steps—no CGI required, just some brilliant Mayan engineering from centuries ago. It's supposedly the return of the feathered serpent god, Kukulcán.

Shunbun no Hi

Where: Japan
When: March 20, 2025

Forget fireworks and festivals—Japan’s Shunbun no Hi is all about quiet reflection. Families visit ancestral graves, leaving flowers and incense as an act of remembrance. This powerful reminder that spring isn’t just about what's new—it’s also about honoring what’s past.

Holi: Where Getting Covered in Rainbow Dust is Actually Fun

Where: India
When: March 14, 2025

If your clients fancy a holiday where they can legitimately throw things at strangers, Holi is absolutely brilliant. The streets turn into a proper technicolor madness as everyone—locals and bewildered tourists alike—chuck brightly colored powders at each other while dancing about and celebrating good triumphing over evil (though I suspect most people are just enjoying the excuse for a colorful dust-up).

Nowruz (Persian New Year)

Where: Iran, Turkey, and Central Asia
When: March 20–21, 2025

Nowruz isn't simply your average New Year celebration—it's a proper cultural reset button. Families gather around their Haft-Seen table, artfully arranged with seven symbolic items representing renewal and prosperity. There are candles for light, sprouted wheat for growth, and even goldfish swimming about, presumably representing good fortune (though I imagine the fish might have different opinions about their symbolic role).

National Cherry Blossom Festival

Where: Washington, D.C.
When: March 20, 2025

The National Cherry Blossom Festival transforms the capital into a delicate pink wonderland that feels almost dreamlike in its beauty. These blossoms, originally a gift from Japan in 1912, create a rather spectacular display that captures both the ephemeral nature of spring and the enduring friendship between nations.

Teotihuacan Sun Ritual

Where: Teotihuacan, Mexico
When: March 20, 2025

This rather remarkable ritual brings hundreds of white-clad pilgrims to the magnificent Pyramid of the Sun, where they stand with arms outstretched to welcome the sun's energy—rather like ancient solar panels of humanity, if you will.

The sight of hundreds of people in pristine white against the earthy tones of these ancient structures creates both a visual and emotional experience that tends to stay with visitors long after they've returned home.

The atmosphere, I must say, is quite extraordinary.

Drowning of Marzanna

Where: Poland
When: March 21, 2025

The Drowning of Marzanna represents one of Poland's most fascinating seasonal traditions, where communities craft straw effigies of Marzanna—a Slavic goddess embodying winter and its hardships—before ceremoniously consigning her to a watery grave (or, in some particularly spirited villages, setting her ablaze).

The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.

St. Augustine