Traveling Blog: Airbnb Goes Pro + Cities Tackle Summer Overtourism + Hilton Ups Loyalty Perks

April 2, 2018

View in browser

Note From the Editor

For a company that thrived for so long as "alternative" and that disrupted a legacy industry to its core, adopting a more professionalized approach to business must come with plenty of trepidation. That's why Hospitality Editor Deanna Ting's examination of the risks Airbnb Plus poses to the homesharing service is essential reading for any company looking to better serve its customers. As Ting points out, to make Airbnb Plus work, it may require the company - the irony noted here - to take lessons from all those traditional industries it had disrupted.

— Tom Lowry, Managing Editor

Skift Forum Europe Year Two: Still Not A Freakin' Trade Conference

There are only three weeks until Skift Forum Europe. We've lined up the most innovative CEOs and founders in the industry, 20+ insightful speakers, and an insanely targeted editorial program, but only 43 tickets remain — Secure your spot today!

Learn More

If Airbnb is successful with Airbnb Plus, it will ensure that alternative accommodations are no longer seen as an alternative. But making it a success will be easier said than done.

Cities Take Baby Steps to Address Overtourism This Summer

It took years for overtourism to happen in some destinations and the problem won't be solved overnight or this year. But to start, destinations could begin paying tourism workers more fairly and give locals more access to programs and services that tourism revenue supposedly helps to fund.

Skift Forum Europe Preview: Hotelbeds CEO on Becoming No. 1 in Bedbanks Sector

Business-to-business platforms are largely invisible to the traveling public but they have a big role to play behind the scenes. Hotelbeds Group sees an opportunity to consolidate within the sector.

3 Big Challenges Cruise Lines Still Have to Overcome in China

China has been full of ups and downs as the cruise industry has grown its presence in the market. Identifying the cause of the downs — and taking steps to manage the factors that can be controlled — should help operators find stability.

Hilton Boosts Its Loyalty Program With Elite Bonuses

Updates to Hilton's loyalty program will soon make Hilton Honors more lucrative for elite travelers. Between those tweaks and last year's cash and points upgrades, Hilton is bringing a strong loyalty program to the table for 2018.

Fast Casual Ideas Are Still Driving Growth Across the Restaurant Industry

The most interesting thing about the projected industry growth over the next five years is the way that fast casual restaurants continue to influence the future of all businesses.

Sabre Searches for Deal as the Air France-KLM Distribution Surcharge Looms

Wasn't the whole point of these surcharges to prevent the global distribution systems from taking a cut of that juicy ancillary money that is now flowing in? One has to wonder what the terms of Air France-KLM's deal with Amadeus and Travelport really are. For now, it looks like the global distribution systems that took the new distribution capability seriously are reaping the rewards.

Great Lakes Airlines is essentially going out of business. The Regional Airline Association is using this as a chance to lobby politicians to relax requirements on pilot training. But that's probably not necessary. There's reason to believe the Great Lakes situation was unique.

DOT Slaps Qantas for Violating Obscure U.S. Law

The fine here is miniscule. But the issues are interesting. Qantas has the right to fly between New York and Los Angeles, and it does so every day. But it can only carry a small subset of passengers.

TripAdvisor and Expedia Pull TV Ads in Boycott of Laura Ingraham's Fox Show

Kudos to TripAdvisor and Expedia for doing the right thing in helping encourage civil discourse. Whatever one thinks about the gun policy debate, picking on a teenager's personal musings about college applications unrelated to the topic at hand is out of bounds.

For Gmail users: If you are using the tabbed inbox, Skift emails may be pushed to the 'Promotions' tab. To get updates from Skift direct to your primary inbox, drag and drop this email to that tab.

You received this email because you are subscribed to Skift Daily Newsletter from Skift.