Traveling Blog: Google's Metasearch Advantage + Best 2017 Stories + Building Neighborhood Hotels

December 27, 2017

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Note From the Editor

Metasearch, or the price-comparison business, is all about price, and big hotel chains are putting some of their loyalty rates in Google Hotel Ads. That means that Google may at times offer lower hotel rates than Kayak or TripAdvisor. Skift Research analyzes how Google can take advantage of these and other trends in a new research report, "A Deep Dive Into the Google Travel Ecosystem 2018."

In another article today, Skift's reporters share their favorite news stories of 2017, and why they are most proud of them. At Skift headquarters, we're all proud of them too.

— Dennis Schaal, Executive Editor

The big chains now offer special book-direct deals through Google Hotel Ads. This helps with click-through and conversions, but also with new loyalty member acquisition — everything a growing hotel chain needs in an ad partner.

Best Travel News Stories of 2017

Our favorites of the year were stories that you could find nowhere else. Each featured hours — or months — of phone calls or in-person interviews, and provided insights about an important development or trend. Each of these talented journalists, you could find nowhere else, either.

CEO Interview: Paligroup's Avi Brosh on Growing Boutique Hotels in the Shadows of Big Brands

In some ways, building a boutique hotel brand isn't much different from when the first pioneers did it in the early 1980s. The only distinction is that today, the competition is certainly tougher and increasingly more abundant.

La Quinta Is Making a Big Play for Business Travelers

The chief marketing officer of La Quinta Inns & Suites offers a glimpse of how the hotel company is thinking about business traveler needs. It's not a segment anyone can take for granted.

Given the rise of homesharing and shared workspaces, there are plenty of more external forces at work that will impact the extended stay market in the coming years. The key to success for Extended Stay America's new CEO will be taking these all into account.

Expedia CEO Doesn't Worry About Airbnb Because There's Always Room for Two

Expedia CEO Mark Okerstrom believes there's room for both its HomeAway unit, as well as Airbnb, in the growing alternative accommodations market. It sounds as though he expects big things from vacation rental booking site HomeAway in 2018.

Virgin Atlantic Builds an Igloo on a Deck at Heathrow — Airline Innovation Report

Most high-value customers choose airlines based on two factors — price and schedule. But on the margins, airlines like to use marketing strategies to attract customers. Maybe Virgin Atlantic's outdoor igloo at London Heathrow will help it win some new fans.

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