Trend check: Best of our 2017 predictions

Our annual The Future 100 report dives into the trends, innovation, and cultural changes that will drive the next year. How did last year’s predictions fare? Below, we look back at our most accurate predictions in culture, technology, and travel.

Diverse Hollywood (#10)

In 2016, we predicted that Hollywood would finally have to reckon with demands for more diversity. Indeed, 2017 proved an explosive year for representation on screen, driven as much by public backlash as by ticket sales. As Hollywood shows, representation is a winning formula for success.

Moonlight won Best Picture at the Academy Awards, a first for a LGBTQ-centered storyline.
Wonder Woman, directed by Patty Jenkins and starring Gal Godot as the title character, is officially the highest-grossing superhero origin film of all time. Released in June, the movie about an Amazon warrior racked up $821.74 million at the box office by November.

In August, actor Ed Skrein turned down a role in Hellboy amid backlashing about “whitewashing.” Disney recently cast Chinese actress Liu Yifei in the upcoming live-action version of Mulan after an online petition with more than 100,000 signatures demanded an Asian actress play the part.
Following the box-office success of Ghostbusters, Hollywood’s latest trend is remaking movies with female leads. A remake of the 1988 comedy Dirty Rotten Scoundrel is in the pipeline with Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson taking over the original roles of Steve Martin and Michael Caine. The all-female Ocean’s Eight is due out next year. There’s even speculation of an all-female version of Lord of the Flies.

Baby tech (#11)

Starting with CES in 2017, technology for babies made a splash in the technology industry last year. While still niche, products within this sector continue to expand in 2017. As even more digital-native millennials become parents, look for even more tech-infused parenting aids to emerge.

WEB Sonata Aerial smartphone 2100x1500 — Sonata breast pump

WEB Lifestyle Mom and baby Owlet Smart Sock 2 — Owlet smart sock

2017 was the year of the smart breast pump with multiple companies entering this space including the Naya Smart Breast Pump, Lansinoh Smartpump, Willow, Sonata, and Babyation.
In April 2017, Ford launched the Max Motor Dreams, a smart cot that gently rocks newborn babies to sleep while simulating the soothing motion of a car journey.
The Owlet Smart Sock baby monitor has improved its tech capabilities and can now track a baby’s heart rate and oxygen levels.

Halal tourism (#21)

In last year’s Future 100, we highlighted the growing spending power of the Muslim traveler—and the growing willingness of travel marketers to pay attention. The tourism industry has continued to develop travel catered specifically for the Muslim market, which continues to exert new influence on marketers.

WEB prw PI12fl 444 Vt Lw B — Muslim-Friendly Tohoku

In November, the Hong Kong Tourism Board launched a Muslim-friendly guidebook called Warna-Warni Destination Hong Kong. It features must-see attractions and festivals, as well as halal-certified restaurants, Muslim-friendly facilities, and prayer spaces.
In the same month, Japan strengthened its travel ties with the Muslim market with the Muslim-Friendly Tohoku campaign.
A Washington DC-based Airbnb-esque startup called Muzbnb officially launched this summer, offering Muslim-friendly homestays around the world. Locations include USA, Maldives, France, Singapore, and New Zealand.
Indonesia’s Tourism Ministry a ims to attract around three million Muslim tourists this year and five million by 2019, by developing halal tourism in the country.

For our top trends of next year, don’t miss The Future 100: 2018.

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Trend check: Best of our 2017 predictions

Dec 21, 2017

How did our predictions from last year fare? Highlights from culture, technology and travel.

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