Pop megastars have become global financial giants, and everyone wants a piece of that shine.
Thrillist | Design by Maitane Romagosa Getty Images
There’s really no place on the internet right now where you can avoid Taylor Swift. Perhaps to her detriment, with the Oceania, Asia and Europe leg of her globe-spanning world tour scheduled through mid-August, there will soon be few such stops. There are places on earth where her presence is not felt.
Do you doubt it? The economic impact of Swift’s fans during the U.S. leg of the Eras tour was so large that the Mastercard Economic Research Institute dubbed it the “Swift Lift.” Swift’s fans are willing to spend tons of money and commitment to capture the attention of all relevant industries and make that sparkle available to everyone.
A recent report from the institute found that Swift’s fans increased restaurant sales by more than $100 million at 20 concert venues during the Ellas tour alone. Tour participants spent an average of $1,300 on travel, hotels, meals and merchandise, according to the U.S. Travel Association. Even the NFL has benefited, with Swift’s relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce gaining new viewers and more jersey sales.
The cultural investment in Swift runs so deep that it has spawned a cottage industry offering entirely new trips and experiences. Fans can now take multiple (unofficial) Taylor Swift-themed cruises and exclusive Taylor Swift walking tours of New York City. From airlines to hotels to tourism boards, companies everywhere are trying to impress their fans by showing off publicly. American Airlines named one of its flights to the Super Bowl after Taylor (AA1989, after her album 1989). On Airbnb, you can find exclusive Taylor Swift-themed rentals in cities like Nashville and Phoenix.
For the European leg of Eras Tours, group travel company Contiki is going one step further. Specializing in group travel aimed at people between the ages of 18 and 35 (i.e. Swift’s core fan base), knowing that fans are willing to travel long distances to see their favorite artists in concert. The company is offering a new package that is specially fixed. 5 upcoming Swift tour dates.
This package offers an additional 9-14 days of travel around Eras tour stops with your Swift companions. These Contiki tours offer many of the same attractions and destinations as traditional itineraries, but the entire experience was planned with Taylor Swift’s fans in mind.
“We have decided on a specific time. [these tours] Lottie Norman, Kon-Tiki’s chief marketing officer, told Thrillist: “The idea is to either start following the night of the show, in conjunction with Taylor’s Elas Tour, or end before Taylor takes the stage.” Ta.
European Magic, the first of five Swift Kon-Tiki itineraries, will tour seven countries in nine days from May 12th to May 21st, immediately following Swift’s Paris concert. The tour is currently on sale on Kontiki’s website for $1,636 and includes eight nights of accommodation, eight breakfasts and three dinners. Additional itineraries coincide with Elas’s tour stops in Stockholm, London and Dublin.
“The idea is that if people travel to Europe for gigs, they can go on these specific tours and meet like-minded people,” Norman said. “This means you’ll be traveling with other Swifties, so you’ll get even more out of your travel experience while sharing your own.”
Norman says these tours include a Taylor Swift-inspired rendition of a Taylor Swift-inspired day song, where tour leaders start the day’s activities in the morning, and with friendships. He explained that it will include elements unique to Taylor, such as singing while making bracelets.
“I’d actually say it’s kind of tipped off to Taylor throughout the tour,” Norman said. “It’s really about the travel experience and bonding with like-minded people.”
The urge to find like-minded people and share the experience of enjoying the things you love isn’t limited to Taylor Swift fans. Many fans are already considering taking on debt or spending their entire tax return on the possibility that Beyoncé will embark on her second tour in as many years with the just-announced second act. There is. The phenomenon has spread beyond music fans, with the percentage of Americans planning a pop culture trip doubling from 22% last year to 40%, according to a recent TripIt survey.
When a major pop star like Swift makes an appearance, the experience becomes even more intense, making it a moment fans won’t want to miss. As a result, people end up spending in ways they probably wouldn’t spend otherwise. “If you want to go see Taylor Swift, you have to find a way to make it happen,” Michelle Meyer, chief economist at the Mastercard Economic Institute, told Thrillist in an interview.
Don’t expect this craze to end in the foreseeable future, even after Kontiki’s tour in conjunction with Swift wraps up at the end of August and the megastar finishes another leg of his massive Elas tour. The question is, are you ready for it?
“Taylor Swift still has a lot left to do in terms of her influence, not just in terms of her upcoming tour this year, but also in terms of the release of her new album that she just announced,” Mayer explained. did. “There’s still a lot of momentum in terms of getting this done for the next year or two, if not longer.”
Looking for more travel information?
Even if you’re ready for an adventure but don’t know where you want to go or what to do, we invite you to join us. The best new hotels opening around the world. The most exciting places you can travel without a passport. The world’s best beaches ranked by travel influencers. All the travel news you need to stay informed and inspired.
Want more thrills? Follow us on Instagram and TikTok. twitterFacebook, Pinterest, YouTube.
Opheli Garcia Lawler is a staff writer on the Thrillist news team. She holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in journalism from New York University’s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute. She has been working in digital media for eight years, and before working at Thrillist, she wrote for publications such as Mic, The Cut, The Fader, and Vice. Follow her on Twitter @opheligarcia and Instagram @opheligarcia.
Source link
