Traveling Blog: Weekend Review: Ryanair's War Against Expedia + Airbnb Pivots to Hotels

March 3, 2018

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Editor's Note

So much in loyalty these days is let's do what our competitor is doing. Airlines, for example, have tripped over themselves hurrying to implement spend-based programs to replace mileage-triggered rewards. It is therefore great to see Mandarin Oriental trying something fresh with its new program. There are no elite tiers or free nights, but guests can select from a bunch of perks, ranging from upgrades to late checkout, when they arrive at the property. Kick back this weekend and ponder that while you muse about your next stay at a Mandarin Oriental.

— Dennis Schaal, Executive Editor

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Just In

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 major 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The digital revolution has finally come for tours and activities. Our latest research report dives into challenges for this fragmented sector as it shifts increasingly online and to mobile, but highlights the potential market opportunity for a very diverse, experiential space.

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.

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.

Here Are the Travel Companies That Have Cut Ties With the NRA

We're having a moment. In the wake of the Florida school shooting, travel companies are abandoning the National Rifle Association and its assault rifle advocacy. History would tell us that no substantial reforms will come out of this. But perhaps student and corporate pressure will make things different this time.

CEO Interview: The Future of Boutique Hotels Is to Go Big

Can such a thing as a boutique or lifestyle casino resort with nearly 3,000 rooms actually work? We'll find out soon.

Booking CEO: Here's Our Edge Over Expedia and Airbnb

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.

The Big Deals Hotel CEOs Are Chasing in 2018

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

Business of Loyalty

Airbnb Is Finally Taking Business Travelers Seriously

A new loyalty program coming from Airbnb may be the final straw that gets business travelers to switch to the service.

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?

Hospitality

Airbnb Struggles to Balance Its Past and Future

In which we try to make some sense out of what we know Airbnb is doing now — and what it hopes to be doing over the next 10 years.

Wyndham CEO Believes Hotels Should Learn From Airbnb

The Wyndham Hotel Group CEO recognizes that Airbnb captures the attention of travelers in unique ways — and he wants to do what he can to create a similar experience.

IHG Wants a Better High-End Offering

Growing the luxury side of the business is clearly a priority for newish CEO Keith Barr, and IHG does need another high-end offering to truly compete with the likes of Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons. We're wondering which brands IHG is looking at buying.

Flying

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?

Ryanair Files U.S. Lawsuit Against Expedia Over Screen-Scraping

Ryanair says it gets 99 percent of its bookings from its website in a distribution model that has some parallels to how Southwest Airlines does business. Expedia doesn't offer Southwest's flights to consumers, but apparently thinks it can get away with scraping the website of a foreign airline, Ryanair.com.

British Airways Wants to Get Smarter About Selling Airline Tickets

Airlines have long hoped for a technological development that would enable them to take back control from travel's middlemen. The New Distribution Capability was supposed to be that solution, but change of this magnitude takes time. At the moment, the British Airways parent seems more than happy to eat up the cost.

Digital

9 Big Challenges Facing Amadeus This Year

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.

Flight Centre Is Killing Off Some of Its Leisure Brands

Australia's largest travel agent, Flight Centre, is not resting on its laurels after posting record revenues and strong profits. To ensure it stays on track, the group is shedding underperforming businesses, and dumping some of its leisure brands. It is also chasing growth in emerging business lines ranging from destination management to foreign exchange services.

Tourism

SeaWorld CEO Joel Manby Resigns After Turnaround Effort Flops

This was probably inevitable. Joel Manby tried to turn the company around, but his efforts failed to do the trick. Executives say they plan to continue his strategies, but we wonder how much will change once a permanent new CEO is named.

Interview: Argentina Tourism Minister Dreams of Visa Free Travel Across the Region

Argentina is breaking from the past and hopes that its diversity of offerings attracts new types of travelers. The tourism minister comes from the private sector and he's bringing new energy into tourism promotion efforts.

SeaWorld Executive Exodus Accelerates as Chief Creative Officer Leaves

SeaWorld brought in a lot of fresh new leaders when the company was looking for ways to recover from the Blackfish effect. After years of flailing, the operator is turning to the old guard for ideas — at least for now.

Corporate Travel

Interview: Corporate Travel Management Wants to Crack the U.S. Market

Now that Hogg Robinson Group is out of the picture because of a merger, Australia's Corporate Travel Management is one of the largest public corporate travel management companies in the world. It's setting its sights on expansion in the U.S., but entering the market has its challenges.

Meetings

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.

Skift Table

Our colleagues at Skift Table looked closely this week at a huge investment in delivery tech, the changes happening to fine dining, as well as Chipotle's burger stumble. Don't miss out on news about the business of dining out. Subscribe now to the Skift Table Daily newsletter here.

DoorDash Joins Unicorn Club With Softbank-Led Half-Billion Dollar Series D

Grubhub may be the industry stalwart, but Uber Eats and DoorDash are close on its heels, growing exponentially and doubling down on technology, which could prove to be the major differentiator in the delivery market.

Chipotle Is Ending Its Burger Business Experiment

If Chipotle is trying to signal to Wall Street that it is stripping away distractions, it is also in danger of saying it can't walk and chew gum at the same time.

'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.

Outside the U.S., the Fine Dining Business Is Just as Challenging

At home or abroad, the fine dining experience is driven by excellent food quality and impeccable service — which makes operating this type of restaurant a delicate balancing act.

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