Allergy-friendliness is the next trend in travel

While only a scant 1.3-percent of the general population is said to be allergic to peanuts, many airlines have done away with the popular snack to please a small but vocal group of people who are allergic to them. Fact is, the number of people suffering from allergies in general has been rising in the world over the last decade. While no one is sure why, it is now estimated that more than 30 percent of people in the USA and Europe suffer from allergies of some kind. In response, airlines and hotels are implementing hypo-allergenic programs that seek to alleviate these problems. The European carrier Swiss International is at the leading edge of this charge, announcing that it is the world’s first "allergy-friendly" airline, offering gluten-free and lactose-free meals and making cabin modifications that include pillows stuffed with anti-allergenic synthetic materials. Hotels are responding in kind as many properties, including many under the Hilton and Hyatt brands, outfit rooms with microfiber pillow cases and other white goods, and install special in-room filtration systems. As this trend continues, more travel suppliers will be catering to guests with special needs.