Traveling Blog: Marriott Goes Dark in China + Vacation Rental Clash + Delta's New Revenue Source

January 12, 2018

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Note From the Editor

One of our stories today looks at the startups building consumer search engines for booking vacation rentals. Investors are pressuring these companies to change their approaches and become more appealing to the few global giants that might buy them. But we question whether the investor drive to earn "a big exit" is encouraging true innovation.

To find the next big innovation in consumer tech, we turn elsewhere. Smart robots and speakers have the potential to help hotels, according to Business Travel Editor Andrew Sheivachman, who reported from CES in Las Vegas.

— Sean O'Neill, Travel Tech Editor

New Skift Infographic: State of Travel Startups 2018

Tripping, a leader among vacation rental price-comparison startups, is facing fierce competition from rivals like HomeToGo, Holidu, and Hundredrooms thanks to a flurry of fundings in the past year.

China Shuts Down Marriott's Website and Mobile App Over Tibet Gaffe

This incident is a tough reminder for Marriott and many other global companies that when it comes to China, especially, everything is politics.

Smart Robots at CES Have a Lot to Learn Before Hotels End Up Using Them

Despite some progress, it doesn't seem like robotics will disrupt travel and hospitality any time soon. The human element is too important for hotels, and travelers don't need unnecessary equipment to make their trips even more complicated.

Delta Finds Passengers Paying for Upgrades With Their Own Money Is Big Business

You don't expect corporate travelers to dip into their own pockets on business trips. But certain travelers love to fly in premium cabins, and that's good news for Delta's revenues, which were already strong.

Carnival Draws on Shaq's Star Power for New Fun-Centric Brand Campaign

Carnival's high-profile new spokesman should earn the brand some fresh interest, but will it be enough to bring new cruisers on board?

Virgin America Is No Longer an Airline in the Government's Eyes

Slowly, Virgin America is disappearing. That's bad news for its loyal customers in San Francisco, Los Angeles and other parts of the country. But it's necessary. Virgin America was too small as a stand-alone carrier to compete with the nation's four largest carriers.

CES 2018 Dispatch: Transition to 5G Mobile Will Be Transformative for Hotels

5G mobile technology isn't here yet. But once it does emerge, smart hotels will be wise to provide access to the data network at their properties.

Ski Resort Operator Compagnie des Alpes Buys Travelfactory

The world's biggest operator of ski resorts, Compagnie des Alpes, wants to fend off the threat of third-party distribution by offering consumers a one-stop shop for booking all parts of a trip. Leave it to the French to lead the resistance.

Why Consumer Technology Matters — Corporate Travel Innovation Report

As corporate travel becomes more consumer-oriented, leaders should consider the ways travelers will behave following the next wave of transformative technological change.

We all wish British Airways hadn't decided to shrink seat pitch. But once it did so, it was smart to go with so-called pre-reclined seats. When there's so little space between seats, passengers don't need another passenger reclining into them.

Bag Fees Were the Most Successful Airline Business Model Change of the Past Decade

In the past decade, airlines have successfully convinced flyers to pay for everything from seat assignments to checking bags. But some of their most loyal customers are fuming.

Exclusive: TripAdvisor Reorganizes Business Units in Attempt to Revive Its Prospects

It is widely acknowledged that TripAdvisor needed to reinvigorate its business and product lines after a difficult transition to hotel metasearch and instant booking. The company believes the new internal structure will give its units that enhanced focus.

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