Traveling Blog: Accor Won't Match Marriott + Travel Leaders Gets Sued + Mandarin Oriental Goes Rogue

March 5, 2018

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Note From the Editor

Travel Leaders Group, one of the largest U.S.-based travel agencies, is the subject of a sexual harassment and wrongful termination lawsuit, as Skift Assistant Editor Sarah Enelow reports. We won't prejudge the merits of the case, which follows Steve Wynn's forced retirement from Wynn Resorts and the #Me Too movement's avalanche of revelations about sexual misconduct everywhere from Hollywood to renowned restaurants, and lots of other businesses in between.

What we do know is that the global travel industry has to do a lot better in getting women and minorities into the board room and its executive ranks. Diversity isn't a panacea, but it would do much to limit the proliferation of toxic workplaces and employment discrimination run amok.

— Dennis Schaal, Executive Editor

Skift Call March 13: The Airbnb Threat

When we asked then-Expedia CEO Dara Khosrowshahi in 2016 whether Airbnb was going to eat his lunch, he responded that he was very well-nourished. But it now appears as though Airbnb has an insatiable appetite. Join us on a Skift Call March 13 to assess the Airbnb threat to hotels and online travel agencies.

Learn More

We're kicking Skift Forum Europe off in style with drinks, hors d'oeuvres, plenty of mingling, and panoramic views of West Berlin. With just two months left until the event, tickets are selling out fast. Register today!

Accor Thinks Marriott May Lack Imitators in Meetings Commission Cuts

Accor has no plans to follow Marriott International's lead with commission cuts for meetings, but then again Accor's relatively weak presence in North America means it has to focus on drawing in clients instead of pushing them away.

Former Travel Leaders Exec Alleges Sexual Harassment and Wrongful Termination

Richard Branson might be a contender for the king of lechery, and Steve Wynn's sexual harassment scandal didn't come as a surprise to some, but the lawsuit against Travel Leaders Group, if the allegations turn out to be true, is a reminder that you don't have to be a household name to be held accountable.

Mandarin Oriental's New Loyalty Program Has Tons of Perks But No Free Nights

While Mandarin Oriental's loyalty program doesn't offer the same lucrative points that many competing programs have, it does have some valuable perks. Best of all, the program is free and accessible to everyone.

Notable Travel Industry Veterans Help Fund Tour Tech Startup Redeam

Redeam doesn't recommend places to visit, call itself "a Facebook for travel," or indulge in other startup pitch clichés. It strives instead to build a solution to a pain point companies will pay to fix — namely, automating paper voucher redemptions for attractions. How refreshingly uncool.

Royal Caribbean Is Convinced It Has the Smarts to Woo Millennials

The CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises knows millennials are in the market to create memories — and with the largest cruise ships in the world, he is well-positioned to deliver what those passengers want.

U.S. National Parks Still Aren't Sure How to Deal With Overtourism

The park service has dramatically changed its tune during the past year and acknowledged that overtourism is something it must address – all while its leadership has stirred trouble. But the parks have a long road to travel before they can command a reasonable balance of visitors who won't cause a conservation nightmare.

NH Hotels Fears a Rival May Buy Chinese Investor HNA's Stake

NH Hotels has been on a corporate rollercoaster ride over the past couple of years with HNA Group's minority shareholding being the principle catalyst. Things have quieted down recently but harmony likely depends on the identity of the new investor.

Tours and Activities Companies Raise Over $15 Million This Week

Some investors think that patience is not only a virtue, but can also be worth a windfall. But waiting for big returns from tours and activities sector companies KKDay, Bookingkit, and TickX — which have received fresh investment rounds — may test their virtue.

Amadeus' track record of profitable growth has been music to the ears of investors. But some airline and hotel executives claim to hear discordant notes in the giant technology vendor's forecasts.

Hyatt Extends Loyalty Program to Include Its Luxury Oasis Rentals

When will the other big hotel companies like Marriott and Hilton begin to take the sharing economy more seriously?

Interview: HotelPlanner CEO Defends His Company's NRA Ties

Stopping people under 21 years old from being able to effortlessly buy assault rifles is a societal decision. But it remains open for debate on how travel companies should treat a gun lobby that opposes such a move.

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