Traveling Blog: Frontier Pilots Prep for Strike + See Skift Forum Europe Magazine + Luxe Lobby Allure

May 1, 2018

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Editor's Note

Here's what you won't hear very often these days. Sometimes a print publication is worth a second look. For many of you, however, this will be your first chance to see the beautiful magazine put together by the Skift team for our Europe Forum in Berlin last week.

Just as stunning is the digital replication created by Developer Mike Linden. How Europe Came Back From the Brink is essential reading — from the old guard adapting, to overtourism and innovation, to tourism growth moving east, to top execs weighing in on Europe. And don't miss all the cool charts and map. The Continent remains an important indicator for the travel industry globally, making this report a critical read.

— Tom Lowry, Managing Editor

Travel Management Companies Try to Keep Pace with Today's Changing Business Traveler

Last week, we met in Berlin for an incredible time at Skift Forum Europe, where we dove into the landmark year Europe had in travel in 2017.

Frontier Airlines Pilots Ask Feds for OK to Pursue a Strike

U.S. airline strikes are extremely rare because of government regulations designed to prevent them. For that reason, there's no guarantee Frontier's pilots will receive the permission they seek. But remember the last major U.S. pilot strike? It was in 2010, at Spirit Airlines, when it was controlled by Indigo Partners. The same private equity firm now owns Frontier.

Why the Hotel Lobby Is the Perfect Antidote to Airbnb

The power of a great lobby is a huge differentiator in hospitality. Hotels shouldn't forget its power. In fact, they should double down.

First Unified Tourism Voice for Africa Faces Challenges

Is the formation of a pan-African tourism body the solution to boosting the continent's tourism numbers? With industry players slow to sign up, the new African Tourism Board initiative from the International Coalition of Tourism Partners has its work cut out for it.

Corporate Travel's Fear of Failure Dims Innovation

It blows my mind that corporate travel executives say the same exact thing at this conference every year. It's like Groundhog Day with more suits and fewer laughs. Everyone wants to be one step ahead, but where is the incentive to actually take that step?

Marriott, Accor, Southwest and Virgin Australia Voted In as Top Loyalty Programs

Marriott Rewards and Southwest Rapid Rewards are still dominating the Freddie awards in North America, as they did last year. In Europe, though, it was Aeroflot and Accor, while Virgin Australia took top honors in Asia/Oceania.

DoorDash Will Power Delivery at 1,500 Chipotle Locations

Chipotle promised more consumer options last week, and it's already delivering with a DoorDash partnership at 1,500 of its restaurants. Point of sale integration continues to be the most interesting part of these partnerships.

AccorHotels wants to evolve from a hospitality company to a services and experience platform for travelers and locals alike. CEO Bazin is willing to take risks to achieve this goal, even if some of the company's investments don't ever pay off.

Google Plans to String Its Travel Assets Together

We come in peace, a top Google executive essentially said while addressing the travel industry on Thursday at Skift Forum Europe in Berlin. One possible industry response might be: "Trust, but verify."

Booking.com CMO: FareHarbor Was a Smarter Buy Than GetYourGuide

Whether the price tag on GetYourGuide was too much for Booking to admit, the tours and activities platform is likely still viewed as a viable buy for someone but that notion won't do much to calm GetYourGuide's nerves in the meantime.

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