Traveling Blog: Booking's Deal Grab + Destinations Need Managers + Voice Elevates Vacation Rentals

October 30, 2018

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Editor's Note

It would have been hard to believe, even five years ago, that travel and food services would become two of the most interesting and closely watched sectors this year. Booking Holdings' announcement Monday that it is investing $200 million in ridehailing service Grab is the latest example of the money pouring into these businesses, especially in Asia for Booking. The bets are being hedged across ridehailing, food delivery, and online travel. Who jumps into the mix next in a big way? The entrepreneur Marc Andreessen famously once said, "Software is eating the world." His words couldn't be more true today than when he first penned them seven years ago.

— Tom Lowry, Managing Editor

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Hospitality in 2018: Travelers Still Want Unique Accommodations and New Experiences

It's becoming increasingly clear that online travel players will try to leverage the heck out of connections between food delivery, ridehailing, and booking hotels. Uber and Lyft will undoubtedly become a bigger part of the action, as well.

The Bigger Promise of Voice in Hospitality Could Be With Vacation Rentals

Voice has tremendous potential to transform the vacation rental or private accommodation experience as we know it — but are we there yet? And if not, how do we get there?

Destination Marketers Look Beyond Selling to Tourism Management

Having skilled managers on board gives another purpose to destination marketing organizations that face questions from communities about whether tourism marketing is worth it in 2018.

U.S. Travelers Among Those Permitted to Skip Lines at Heathrow in Preparation for Brexit

It's pretty clear who the U.K. wants to business with after it leaves the European Union. Travel headaches were eased for Americans, Japanese, Canadians, Aussies and New Zealanders on Monday. Wait for those calls of outrage from the rest of the world stuck in horrendously long lines at Heathrow.

A Lesson in Hotel Loyalty That Isn't About Just Points

The personal touch never loses its appeal. Hector Ruiz, a 27-year veteran of The Carlyle, shares lessons learned from a career at the hotel and how sometimes analog approaches yield the best results.

British Airways Is Filling In Where South African Airways Is Fading

To the delight of local tourism authorities, British Airways has been only too happy to fill the gap left by an ever-shrinking South African Airways. This week, Durban was the latest African city to welcome a direct route to the United Kingdom.

American Changes Elite Status Pathway for Co-Branded Credit Card Holders

A partner benefit that allowed many of American's frequent flyers to earn status through co-branded credit card spending is vanishing next year.

It was not clear three years ago whether Spirit could make it long term. It ran a shoddy operation, and it had alienated many of its customers. But Spirit is back, and it's making good returns for shareholders.

JetBlue Founder Reveals Details on His New Tech-Focused International Airline

David Neeleman argues that the competition won't be able to touch his new airline, which likely won't be named Moxy, because it will be so different. Plenty of other airlines will have something to say about that.

Independent Chinese Travelers Close Gap With Tour Groups

A chunk of the Chinese market has reached maturity in just a few years when it took some Western markets decades to do the same thing. Now watch how destinations respond to more independent Chinese travelers.

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