Traveling Blog: Airbnb's New Strategy + Airlines Get Contrarian + Norwegian Cruise Price Hikes

February 23, 2018

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Note From the Editor

Skift Hospitality Editor Deanna Ting was all over Airbnb's dog-and-pony show in San Francisco Thursday. Actually, Ting dispensed with the most important news last week, when she took the air out of Airbnb's most important announcement, and detailed the basics of its new Airbnb Plus program. It is an important development, and represents the further professionalization and standardization of the company's core business.

Most of the other announcements, other than a pending loyalty program, were incremental in nature despite all the hype. But, make no mistake about it: After 10 years on the scene, Airbnb has forever changed the way we travel, and made the world a smaller, more intimate place. Initial public offering or not, this has been Airbnb's indelible mark.

— Dennis Schaal, Executive Editor

Video: Inside The Venetian—A City Within a City

To be honest, we weren't very surprised by Thursday's launches. In fact, we wondered why they haven't been launched sooner. But for the most part, all of them certainly seem in step with Airbnb's plans for being much more than just about any other travel brand or company out there.

Airlines May Want Higher Fuel Prices Despite How Contrarian That Seems

If fuel prices rise considerably, airfares will need to increase as well, so this would be bad for consumers. But investors might cheer.

Norwegian Cruise CEO Is Getting Bigger Spenders On Board

The cruise industry has long boasted of its value compared to land vacations. But Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings is notably not emphasizing low prices. It is instead working to get passengers to spend more on tickets, shore excursions, and onboard extras.

Personalization Is the Next Big Step in Corporate Travel

The foundational work is being done to help corporate travel catch up to online travel in terms of booking technology and service delivery, although no one is really sure when the foundational work will end.

RVShare Raises $50 Million: Travel Startup Funding This Week

Road trips remain incredibly popular in many parts of the world and are a great way to get off the beaten path. RVShare's new CEO, an ex-HomeAway executive, is likely looking to capture more than the sliver of the market it currently has.

Corporate Travel Agencies Build for a More Complex Future

Even big travel management companies, which usually resist change, are planning ahead to better anticipate traveler and travel manager needs. No one's quite sure when this more connected and insightful future will arrive, though.

The name change to Booking Holdings reflects the reality that Booking.com dominates the parent company's business. Although the parent company still calls Connecticut home, the balance of power shifted long ago to Amsterdam.

Meeting Planners Face a Daunting Challenge in Rising Food and Beverage Costs

Spending as a result of U.S. meetings and events has steadily increased since 2009, and it doesn't look to be slowing down anytime soon, according to new research. Spending on food and beverage likewise isn't easing up at all.

United Reboots Its Polaris Business Class With a Focus on Consistency

United Airlines overpromised with its Polaris business class. Instead of rethinking business class, it should have focused on providing a simple and consistent product.

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