Traveling Blog: Skift Turns 6 + Lessons for the Long Haul + Amadeus Hospitality a Tough Sell

July 30, 2018

Editor's Note

Skift turned six today, and it's been quite a ride — so far. And, we ain't done yet. Over the past half-dozen years, we've written countless stories on why travel startups fail. Today, we turn the proverbial tables and offer you a digital book, two years in the making, that traces the history of six iconic brands and delves into the reasons that enabled them to survive and flourish.

The book, "For the Long Haul: Lessons on Business Longevity," takes a look at JR East, the Oberoi Group, Southwest Airlines, Expedia Group, Autogrill, and South by Southwest. It is very fitting to publish it on our b-day because it is signature Skift — enterprise journalism that you won't find anywhere else.

— Dennis Schaal, Executive Editor

Register Now For Skift Restaurants Forum

New Research: Business and Leisure Travel Are Becoming Increasingly Blurred

Sponsored by Expedia Group Media Solutions

It's not particularly shocking to learn that travelers combine their business and leisure travels, but it may be somewhat surprising to hear that this is still a rapidly growing phenomenon. Brands should take notice.

Imagine, because of some catastrophe, the media company you know suddenly shuts down tomorrow. Will anyone miss it, and will the disappearance of said company harm the ecosystem at large in various ways? The key is to move toward making yourself indispensable, by adding enough value.

Skift Marks 6 Years With This Digital Book Celebrating Business Longevity

In a world obsessed with startups and the latest valuation, creating a lasting business may not be sexy, but Southwest Airlines, JR East, The Oberoi Group, Autogrill, and others featured in our digital book did it with flying colors.

Amadeus Hospitality Is a Tough Sell Despite Progress With InterContinental Hotels Group

Amadeus hopes to clear some of the underbrush that's grown up in hotel technology. If it succeeds, it will likely reshape the costs and systems used for selling rooms industrywide.

Meet the Complete List of Speakers for Skift Global Forum 2018

Over 30 all-star CEOs and executives from every sector of the travel industry will be onstage at Skift Global Forum. With less than two months until the event, you should secure your spot today!

Behind the Campaign to Save Coral Reef Tourism

Coral reefs are hurting, but they're not entirely washed up and defeated. They have a movement behind them that seems stronger than any save-the-oceans push in recent memory, and more travelers are aware of reefs because more are visiting them.

Meeting Planners Turn to Mobile Tools for Event Sourcing

Corporate confidence is high, so more meetings are taking place offsite. This is putting pressure on planners to source and plan events more efficiently, so many are turning to mobile tools to help.

There's no doubt U.S. airlines are spooked by higher oil prices. By historical levels, they're not that bad. But perhaps they're catching carriers by surprise.

Southwest CEO Says Assigned Seats Still Don't Make Sense

You have to give Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly credit. Analysts are constantly prodding him to embrace tried-and-true approaches for generating ancillary revenue. For the most part, he resists. He doesn't want to mess with the airline's secret sauce.

Expedia Marketing Spend Levels May Reflect a Changing Advertising Environment

Has the worm turned? Have Expedia and Booking.com found a way to trim the growth of their bloated advertising spend? That would not be great news for some advertising platforms, and would be a significant change in the way the largest players conduct their marketing operations.

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