Traveling Blog: The Airbnb Threat + American and United Dispute Agreement + Hotel Deal Agenda

March 1, 2018

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Note From the Editor

Tourism reporter Daniel Peltier has a story today about the Visit U.S. Coalition's strategy to work with the Trump administration and Congress to reverse the decline in U.S. visitor numbers, and make travel a national priority. We wish the coalition well, but also must say, good luck with that. In the coalition's policy announcement, it makes no mention of President Trump's contribution to the U.S. visitor decline in the form of his travel bans, as well as his racist, anti-immigrant, and sexist rhetoric and track record.

The U.S. and, in fact, the global travel industry need a much stronger strategy than one that relies on cozying up to a recalcitrant administration whose travel policies are anathema to many of the things the coalition should stand for.

Skift Webinar: Examining the Hotel of the Future

Top Stories

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.

U.S. Tourism Coalition Calls for a Designated Advocate in the Trump Administration

The Visit U.S. Coalition wants to get everyone at the table – the White House, Congress, and the travel industry – to get all sides on the same page about tourism. But can you partner with an administration that has been doing everything it can to thwart the travel industry's goals?

Hotel CEOs Expect to Make More Deals in 2018

For the hotel industry, shopping for new brands and other companies to buy up is always in season.

American Air Is Battling Chicago Over a 'Secret' Deal With United

Isn't corporate posturing fun? American won't sign its Chicago lease because it fears United is getting a better deal. Since we're pretty sure American won't close its Chicago hub, we're betting this gets resolved. But how?

How Meetings and Events Can Bridge the Digital Divide

While augmented reality and holograms are the sexy new technologies in the event space, the overall integration of digital tools with physical events is still undergoing a period of transformation.

'Fine Casual' May Be Buzzy, but in the U.S., Tradition Still Holds Strong

Lest we get caught up in a world of labels, let's recognize success where we see it: neighborhood, sit-down restaurants featuring high-quality food and top-notch service continue to operate thanks to a creative focus on what's working and what diners want.

Airlines Are Counting on Trump to Reduce Regulations

IATA, a global airline industry trade group, would prefer politicians and regulators not meddle too much with the commericial decisions of airlines. That's a fine position, but perhaps a certain amount of regulation is OK. Consumers should be protected.

Executives at Booking Holdings, formerly the Priceline Group, feel aggrieved that the company isn't getting the credit it deserves in alternative accommodations. In a lot of ways, its battle with Airbnb is over business models. As Airbnb ramps up hotels, we'll have to see who blinks.

Thought Leadership Conferences Target High-End Travelers

Nowadays, luxury travel is all about discovering new frontiers. It's not just about expanding physical and geographic boundaries. The travel cognoscenti are "brain dating" around the world in order to stretch their minds.

This Is How Airbnb Plans to Win Over Hotels

Oh, how times have changed. Instead of feeling threatened by Airbnb, some hotels are being wooed by the company. Online travel agencies, on the other hand, are about to get a taste of what it feels like to be disrupted by the likes of Airbnb.

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