Traveling Blog: Allegiant Looks Past 60 Minutes + Universal Parks Loves Its IP + Travelzoo's Renaissance

April 26, 2018

Editor's Note

The increasingly competitive landscape for theme parks was in full view on Wednesday as Six Flags and Universal parent Comcast spoke to Wall Street analysts about earnings. The strategies outlined on the calls were quite different, but the goal the same — keeping people in parks and lined up for rides.

As Skift News Editor Hannah Sampson, whose duties include covering theme parks, points out in the two pieces below, something is working right. It may be a function of an economy that continues to chug along, or that theme park owners have gotten really smart about convincing families of the value of a day, or days, at the park. Read both stories closely, and remind yourself theme parks might not get the headlines other sectors receive in travel, but lately they've been a consistently welcome bright spot.

— Tom Lowry, Managing Editor

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What? You thought investment analysts would grill Allegiant Air executives on safety lapses detailed last week on U.S. television news? Clearly you don't know analysts well. Allegiant is solidly profitable, and given its unique model, it should stay that way. That's important to investors.

Six Flags Is Still Shopping for Small Theme Park Players

Six Flags is expanding overseas and looking to grow in its own back yard while selling visitors on higher-priced passes, a strategy that shows the regional theme park operator is trying to cover all its bases.

Universal Wants Its Own Characters to Shine at Theme Parks

Universal parent company Comcast may want to get more theme park bang out of the bucks it has spent on intellectual property, just like Disney is milking its Marvel and Star Wars acquisitions. But that doesn't mean Universal will turn its back on the cash cow that Harry Potter has become.

Trivago Suffers Another Loss and Lowers Its Forecast for Next Quarter

Everyone blames Booking.com for Trivago's woes. But we're reserving judgment on the hotel search company's worse-than-expected second-quarter forecasts until we can hear from its other largest advertiser, Expedia Group, which holds its own first-quarter earnings call soon.

Travelzoo Surprises With a Rebound in Revenue Growth and Profitability

European travel booking volumes are not the only thing staging a comeback. Deals marketer Travelzoo is enjoying a renaissance, too. But, as with Europe, the verdict is still on whether the company has worked through the problems that have beset it since the financial crisis.

Hilton Will Let You Control TV, Lights, Temp in Your Room From Smartphone

Germaphobes will be relieved not to have to touch a hotel room remote control again.

JetBlue Tweaks its West Coast Route Map as it Focuses on Profit Margins

For a small, all-coach, low-cost startup based in New York, a Long Beach, California, focus city made sense. But times change, and Long Beach hasn't worked out as well as expected. It's no surprise JetBlue is ready to shrink there.

Choice Hotels Expands Its Vacation Rental Portfolio with Listings from RedAwning

Just like everyone wants a piece of the tours and activities industry right now, everyone in hospitality wants a cut of the vacation rental business, too.

Airlines Would Prefer Passengers Stop Stealing Their Bedding

On the one hand, airlines are improving the flying experience — at least for business class — so much that passengers want to take a piece home with them. On the other, blanket theft is bad for the bottom line. We're pretty sure carriers don't have this problem in coach.

Professional Retreats Finally Evolve

Meetings and events can have a positive, transformative effect on the lives of attendees. It's good to see organizations working to provide valuable experiences for groups that have perhaps been underserved by the wider events industry.

Future of Dining Out

Amass Chef Explains How to Hit the Money Spot With a Zero-Waste Restaurant

Zero-waste is the food world's latest favorite catchphrase, but only a few restaurateurs are turning the trend into sustainable profits.

Is Instagram's Reservations Feature Good Business for Restaurants? Jury's Still Out

Instagram's booking functionality produced a whole lot of hype when the launch was announced last year, but who's actually using it?

Popular Now

Marriott Experiments With Homesharing

Leave it to Marriott to figure out a way to make homesharing work for the hotel industry. But as we've noted before, this space has its challenges, and figuring out the logistics and differences between managing homes and hotels will be crucial.

Southwest Flight Social Feeds Remind Airlines Tragedies Are Public in Real Time Now

The Southwest accident shows how bold passengers have become in using social media. For now, the FAA isn't taking steps to curb their activities.

JetBlue to Help Sell a Private Jet-Style Experience to the Masses

JetBlue's move to sell seats on a tiny airline with scheduled service to smaller airports is a really smart idea that may help popularize private aviation.

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