Traveling Blog: Cathay Pacific's Steep Turnaround + Ritz-Carlton Takes on Cruising + Airbnb's Online Travel Battle

June 11, 2018

Editor's Note

There's nothing quite like a good turnaround story. Cathay Pacific's doesn't have an ending yet, but Skift Aviation Business Editor Brian Sumers checked in recently with CEO Rupert Hogg and offers a progress report in today's Q&A. Hong Kong-based Cathay earned a stellar reputation over the years focusing on service and comfort for its passengers. Along the way, it lost sight of the changing aviation market around it.

Hogg is in the midst of engineering a three-year turnaround, and the airline's $160 million loss last year shows it has a ways to go. But its shareholders are optimistic, with Cathay's stock price up 24 percent since the fall of 2016. Reviving companies is messy business — as Hogg says there's "no silver bullet." His board seems patient enough, but as low-cost carriers proliferate, the question is whether customers will show as much patience.

— Tom Lowry, Managing Editor

CEO Interview: Reimagining the Hotel Suite in the Battle Against Airbnb

Are your bags packed? Tomorrow at Skift Tech Forum we'll dive into the travel tech landscape with attendees from 200-plus companies across every sector of the travel industry. Only three seats remain! Save your spot before it's gone.

Why Cathay Pacific Wants to Take On Low-Cost Carriers Without Creating Its Own

Like many airlines, Cathay Pacific underestimated the digital revolution and the threat of low-cost competition. It is playing catch up, and its recent financial results have not been pretty. But Cathay Pacific has an excellent brand, and it serves a lucrative home market. It should be OK.

How the Ritz-Carlton at Sea Will Avoid the Bus-Route Nature of Cruising

Luxury cruisers have some well-known options, but the new Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection believes it can win over both fans of cruising and non-cruisers alike. Will newcomers abandon land to check out how Ritz-Carlton translates to sea?

Skift Table: Chipotle Is Trying to Win Back Consumers With a Digital-Centric Approach

New Chipotle CEO Brian Niccol's aggressive push to lead on innovation is injecting some welcome momentum into a company that's been lagging behind in recent years.

Airlink Flexes Its Muscles in Africa Focusing on Regional Routes

On a continent still very much in love with the notion of a flag carrier, money-losing or not, privately owned airlines offering scheduled services remain something of a rarity. But carriers like South Africa's Airlink are showing lumbering state-owned airlines how it's done.

Video: Airbnb's European Boss on the Clash With Online Travel Giants

We wonder whether Airbnb's community spirit will survive its growth plans and impending IPO.

EasyJet's Packaged Vacation Push Won't Be a Sure Thing

How seriously is EasyJet going to take the packaged vacations market? More seriously than it did before for sure, but enough to compete with the plethora of tour operators and online travel agencies out there? At this stage it's hard to tell.

Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson, along with his fellow hotel CEOs are right: It's not the "disruptors" like Airbnb that are the biggest threat, but the already established tech giants like Amazon, Google, Facebook, Tencent, Alibaba, and others that are the real competition for the hotel industry.

The Best Luxury Experiences for Summer Travel

There's a lot of discerning experiences vying for a customer's money. Here are some worth your time as you set out on the road this summer.

Skift's Top Travel Startups to Watch 2018

Better, faster, stronger. We pinpointed 20 venture-backed companies — mostly young — that promise breakaway potential. These startups prove that innovation is happening everywhere, from Atlanta to Ramallah to Queensland.

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