SUMMER 2018 | VOL. 43 NO. 2
THE 2018 INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL GOODS SHOW WRAP-UP AND REVIEW
Trends Spotting at The 2018 International Travel Goods Show #ITGS18
What’s trending, what’s hip, and what people are buzzing about from The 2018 International Travel Goods Show. These are the new directions in travel gear. From left to right (top row) Modobag, Group III International, Americas Travel Merchandise; (middle row) Triforce Luggage, United By Blue; (bottom row) Pacsafe, G-RO, Grand Fusion Housewares.
Credits
Photographer: Kerry Pittenger
Model: Kelly Nicole Pittenger
Photographed at the Cira Center in Philadelphia, PA, the Terrace Lofts Apartments (terraceloftsapartments.com) in Manayunk, PA, with special thanks to Andrew Langsam, and Smithville Park in Eastampton, NJ.
FEATURES
The BIG Trends [DOWNLOAD PDF FILE]
Bigger wheels, more mobility (of luggage and people), microtextured hardsides, metallics, on-the-go shelving, cause-centric product stories and other trends to emerge from The 2018 Show. BY GARRETT LAI
New and Noteworthy [DOWNLOAD PDF FILE]
The sights, the items, the moments that resonated with retailers walking the floor at The International Travel Goods Show. BY SARA ECCLESINE
Seen at The Show
The Products – Star items, bold new travel gear; from packing organizers, smarter luggage, better everyday bags, accessories and dedicated travel clothing to clever problem solvers. [DOWNLOAD PDF FILE]
BY KATHY WITT | PHOTOGRAPHY BY KERRY PITTENGER
The People – Moments of connection, discovery, revelation and laughter from the halls of The Show. [DOWNLOAD PDF FILE]
BY SARA ECCLESINE | PHOTOGRAPHS BY CAMILLA SJODIN
Recognized and Inspired [DOWNLOAD PDF FILE]
Award Winners from This Year’s International Travel Goods Show
Community Service – United By Blue: Saving the Earth, one piece of trash at a time; YaY Novelty: Going home and giving back; an immigrant’s success – and giveback – story.
Product Innovation Awards – Giving the nod to our robotic future, restful comfort anywhere, and an imaginative aluminum carry-on.
Buzz Award – Flat-packing toiletry containers from Matador take the people’s choice honors.
Best Booth Awards – A tip of the hat to GoPlug, Popticals and BAGSMART for inspiring booth creativity and superior showmanship. BY GARRETT LAI
State of the U.S. Travel Goods Market 2003-2017 [GO TO STORY]
What’s up, what’s down – a look at where the travel goods market has been, and forecasting where it’s headed, including which product segments are on the move. BY NATE HERMAN
COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS
EDITOR’S NOTE
“Getting Ahead in the Info Age” BY MICHELE MARINI PITTENGER
TRAVEL BITS [DOWNLOAD PDF FILE]
An energy-positive hotel; most- and least-affordable ballparks for America’s past-time; yurts for rent (and not in Mongolia); virtual landmark gazing from the air; locating eco-friendly hotels and attractions, and more fun travel nuggets.
NEWS & NOTES [DOWNLOAD PDF FILE]
Lost: $22 billion in free travel; ID theft via hotel Wi-Fi; a low Earth orbit space hotel; the world’s top airlines; annual travel insurance and more travel dispatches.
TGA NEWS BRIEFS [DOWNLOAD PDF FILE]
New members, contest winners from The International Travel Goods Show, rumblings (and grumblings) from Capitol Hill, and company profiles of some new TGA names and their visionary items.
INDUSTRY BUZZ [DOWNLOAD PDF FILE]
People and product news, and milestones.
CLASSIFIEDS
BUYER’S GUIDE
AD INDEX