Marriott Talks Las Vegas + Trivago's Big Speed Bump + Amazon Wants to Takeout Grubhub

A fascinating thing about the news business and the travel industry is that they are full of surprises...

Weekly Newsletter

October 26, 2017 View in browser

Note From the Editor A fascinating thing about the news business and the travel industry is that they are full of surprises — some jaw-dropping and others that actually should have been foreseen. Travel tech editor Sean O'Neill writes about both varieties in two stories. In one, we find out the Trivago Guy and Trivago Woman, who have saturated TV advertising in recent years while the company has been on a growth tear, may be taking a commercial break, so to speak, because its two largest advertisers are suddenly getting stingy. And then there's Alaska Airlines, which is having all kinds of problems integrating Virgin America after their merger. News flash: Mergers are complicated. P.S. Next week we are launching the Airline Innovation Report, our latest weekly newsletter. In the inaugural Airline Innovation Report on Wednesday, subscribers will get a first look at our one-on-one interview with the CEO of one of the world's largest airlines. Click here to subscribe now. — Dennis Schaal, Executive Editor Subscribe to the Skift Airline Innovation Report Newsletter Next week we are launching the Skift Airline Innovation Report, a new weekly newsletter focusing on the business of airline innovation. We will look closely at the technological, financial, and design trends at airlines and airports that are driving the next-gen aviation industry. Subscribe now to get our first issue! Subscribe Now Top Stories Marriott CEO Believes There Are Limits to What Hotels Can Do About Security After Las Vegas Sorenson didn't mince words talking about the negative impact the Trump administration's rhetoric and multiple travel bans are having on international visitation to the U.S. His comments about corporate tax reform may also not please proponents of raising the minimum wage for hospitality workers. Growth Juggernaut Trivago Sees Revenue Slump Coming as Biggest Customers Pull Back Expedia's fast-growing hotel search site Trivago may see its pace of growth stall as both Expedia and rival The Priceline Group have pulled back on spending. This is an extraordinary development given the fact that Trivago was one of Expedia's growth engines and there was seemingly no end in site. You Can Now Order and Pay for Delivery With Amazon's App Amazon's restaurant business is just getting started, but by aligning its technology with existing companies in the space, it is poised to go (very) big. Analysts Take Alaska Airlines to Task for Mishandling a Broad Array of Issues Many have dreamt of finding easy fortune in California. But Alaska Airlines is discovering -- via its merger with Virgin America -- that the airport tarmacs aren't paved with gold. Building Trust Across Borders Through a Global Content Strategy [SPONSORED] Sponsored by Smartling In our current era of global anxiety, the brands that will have an advantage with today's travelers are those that will be able to help ease traveler friction, build trust, and alleviate stress through easily accessible, relevant content. Read More Airfare App Hopper Enters HotelTonight Turf With Hotel Expansion Hopper said it is on track to process about $500 million in gross bookings — a number much larger than actual revenue — this year. Its expansion into hotel bookings would bring fatter commissions and hopefully more engagement. But the company will go up against better-funded players. All bets are off. Wyndham Took $13 Million Hit From Hurricanes in Third Quarter There's no doubt that the damage from recent hurricanes will affect the travel industry for months and years to come. But analysts don't seem too worried about any impact on Wyndham Worldwide's financials as it plots its upcoming spinoff. Uber Enters the Loyalty Game With New Credit Card It makes sense for Uber to enter the credit card and loyalty arena. This card could be a solid alternative for frequent travelers who don't want to shell out a large annual fee. Six Flags Wants to Be a Bigger Theme Park Player in California It makes sense to keep a theme park open year-round in a tourist-rich place where winter weather doesn't keep people away. The only question is: What took Six Flags so long to make this decision? Grubhub's Earnings Provide Insight Into the Future of Its Eat24 Business Grubhub is taking a measured approach to integrating Eat24 into its system. Given the scale and scope of both companies, slow and steady is probably the best approach. Visit Seattle Enlists Its Big Tech Companies to Reposition City to Meeting Planners Visit Seattle is positioning itself as a broker of innovation, versus a sales conduit for meeting space, by introducing meeting planners nationwide to some of the world's most advanced companies. Tours and Activities Site Klook Secures $60 Million Round as Goldman Sachs Invests Klook's rapid growth suggests that a growing number of Chinese and other Asian outbound travelers want to travel independently, instead of in groups, and thus book their activities a la carte. That portends a sea change in the travel industry. Popular Now Expedia Axes Its Price-Matching Guarantee in a Sharp Break From the Past Expedia's move seems odd, as hotel chains ramp up their direct-booking campaigns that include best-price guarantees. Our guess is that the company tested and found that most consumers are no longer swayed by price-matching offers. Or perhaps there was pressure from ongoing probes in Europe. Marriott and Choice Take Varied Approaches to Reviving Classic Midscale Brands This makes a lot of sense, but can Marriott and Choice make their established midscale brands stand out among all of the more design-driven newcomers that others are unleashing? Or do consumers and developers not really care as long as they save or make money? Is the Visitor Center Dead? Scotland and LA Have Opposing Answers in the Mobile Era Destinations with visitor centers are adjusting their strategies to ensure their locations are being effectively utilized. The concept of a mobile or pop-up visitor center is also becoming more common, and is certainly a trend to watch in 2018. For Gmail users: If you are using the tabbed inbox, Skift emails may be pushed to the 'Promotions' tab. To get updates from Skift direct to your primary inbox, drag and drop this email to that tab. You received this email because you are subscribed to Skift Daily Newsletter from Skift.

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