Traveling Blog: Tourism Boards Get Techy + When Airlines Disappoint + Virtual Meetings Under Pressure

January 4, 2018

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Note From the Editor

Tourism boards are creating apps, leveraging Big Data, and creating Instagram stories, as tourism reporter Dan Peltier points out in a story today. They have some built-in handicaps, but the pivot to new technologies still seems to be relatively underwhelming.

In some ways, the meetings industry, when hosting virtual, hybrid or traditional gatherings, faces similar challenges in adopting new technologies, as contributor Jaimie Seaton details in another story today. Whether it's tourism boards or meeting planners, being an early adopter of new tech platforms can be a major differentiator.

— Dennis Schaal, Executive Editor

Colombia's New Tourism Campaign Is a Soundtrack For Travelers' Inner Journeys

Tourism boards have their critics who say destinations don't drive as much innovation as other travel sectors. But destination marketers are increasingly proving their naysayers wrong, and in some cases they are changing the tech landscape in their communities.

According to Skift: The New Lingo In Travel

"According to Skift" has become the new lingo in travel. That is a really big deal. It's about reputation. Perception. Image. Skift has become an authority. As the "go-to source." As the expert. We are very proud.

CEO Interview: Avianca Brasil Plots Global Expansion

Despite its well-known name, Avianca Brasil is a lot smaller than most travelers might think. But it's growing and recently started flying to Miami and New York. Expect to see more new long-haul routes soon.

Google May Finally Be Giving Up on Its $151 Million Bet on Zagat

You can only lean on a decades-long history for so long. In the new frontier of restaurant reviews, recommendations from social circles are winning the day.

Virtual Meetings Need More Than a Flawless Livestream To Be Successful

When attendees can leave your meeting with a click of the mouse, you'd better keep them engaged.

When Carriers Don't Deliver the Experience They Promise — Airline Innovation Report

Why is there often a lag between the service airlines promise and what they deliver? And how can it be fixed?

In Case You Missed It

These 10 Skift stories got the most clicks in 2017, and none were clickbait. The list shows Skift readers love hotel and online travel stories, original reporting, analysis and breaking news.

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.

Brexit Uncertainties in Aviation and Tourism Loom Large in 2018

With the situation still far from clear, the biggest Brexit-related problem is the uncertainty it has unleashed on the UK. Consumers are worried and businesses can't plan for the future. Both of which point to a pretty bleak 2018.

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.

CEO Interview: Veteran Hotelier Stephen Brandman on Reinventing Lifestyle Hotel Management

Journal Hotels is out to prove that you don't necessarily need to be a brand to succeed in the increasingly crowded lifestyle hotel space.

We'd like to see more airports not worry about budgets and focus on reinventing the airport experience, but that's probably not feasible in most places. Architects like HKS' Pat Askew do what they can to make travel more pleasurable with the resources they're given.

American and Southwest Airlines Giving Employees Tax Reform Bonuses

There's never been any doubt U.S. businesses would benefit from tax reforms. But will consumers and workers? Time will tell.

Hoteliers Are Taking Different Approaches to Luxury Travel Innovation

Everyone has different ideas and approaches for the next big thing in luxury hospitality, from digital innovation and more personalization to smarter, more intuitive service, and better dining experiences.

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