Global Scans · Leisure · Weekly Summary

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WHAT'S NEXT?: Online retailing will be one of the fastest growing channels between 2015 and 2019 as individuals do not have much time for leisure and seek convenience. Entertainment will continue to shift away from traditional broadcast media and print to reality augmented and deeply personalised content. The occupations with the largest new employment growth will be managers, professional and technical jobs, and caring and leisure occupations. Many middle-class professionals will be outsourced to machines within the next few decades leaving workers with more leisure time than they have ever experienced.

• [New] As Netflix grows as an entertainment giant, with the potential deal to acquire Warner Bros. announced last week, the Netflix House locations could become even more compelling by adding additional brands. Digiday
• [New] AI-driven retail is projected to account for 21% of all global holiday orders in 2025, translating to a $263 billion opportunity. Ainvest
• [New] AI-driven e-commerce is projected to generate $263 B in 2025 holiday sales, with 21% of global orders powered by AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini. Ainvest
• [New] In a report published last month, Salesforce said it expects AI to drive a staggering $263 billion in global online holiday sales in 2025, representing 21% of all holiday orders. CNBC
• [New] American consumers are expected to spend 10% less on their holiday shopping than last year. The Global Legal Post
• [New] Cities like Orlando, Miami, Anaheim, and Honolulu are all expected to be hotspots, thanks to their warm weather, family-friendly attractions, and vibrant holiday events. Travel And Tour World
• [New] Swipe fees on credit card transactions are expected to cost U.S. consumers $20 billion or more in higher prices during the November-December holiday season. CPG Daily Brief
• [New] ESPN Flagship Potential: The upcoming ESPN DTC launch is expected to be a significant growth driver, potentially attracting 5-7 million subscribers in its first year and transforming sports into a high-margin digital business. Valley City Times-Record
• [New] Holidays will be used to restore a sense of calm, with 43% of travelers wanting to feel closer to nature and one in four turning to quieter hobbies while on holiday. TravelPulse
• [New] Another trend driving travel choices in 2026 is the influence of children on a family's holiday decisions. TravelPulse
• [New] In 2025, 89% of holiday travelers will take road trips. WNEG
• [New] Low gas prices and cruise demand are expected to fuel a 2025 holiday travel surge. Skift
• [New] The FBI's 2025 holiday alert warns of surging sophisticated scams using multichannel tactics, AI, and deepfakes to exploit shoppers and charities, including phishing, account takeovers, and fake donations. WebProNews
• [New] Mobile is expected to generate more than 56% of all online holiday revenue in 2025, a shift that will only intensify in 2026. ALGO Online Retail
• [New] Online spend from November through December is projected to reach a record-breaking $253.4 billion, officially making 2025 the first-ever quarter-trillion-dollar holiday shopping season. ALGO Online Retail
• [New] In the social sphere, concerts, sports events, and live performances in VR will become more common and socially interactive, offering front-row experiences to a global audience. INAIRSPACE
• [New] The National Retail Federation is projecting that holiday retail sales will top $1 trillion in 2025 for the first time. MyRGV.com
• [New] Disney planned to increase its FY 2026 content budget by $1 billion to $24 billion due to rising costs of premium sports rights such as the NBA. SportsTechX Weekly
• Sports tourism is projected to reach $2.1 trillion globally by 2030 and already accounts for 10% of total global tourism spending. Skift
• Among the most dominant themed entertainment trends in 2025 and 2026 is the integration of cutting-edge technology from design and engineering to every stage of the park experience. ICM Project
• All ESPN sports content will be available to YouTube TV base plan subscribers for no additional cost by the end of 2026. Business Insider

Last updated: 17 December 2025