Traveling Blog: EU Distribution Probe + Airport Innovation Unleashed + Thomas Cook's Asia Pivot

November 26, 2018

Editor's Note

In recent years, airports have made cosmetic changes, or added a handful of better restaurants, that give them a more modern feel. But in reality, many U.S. airports are still stuck in a time warp. Innovation and any chance to disrupt the status quo have been stifled by arcane policies overseen by quasi-governmental entities stacked with political appointees. But Senior Aviation Business Editor Brian Sumers offers today what may be a glimmer of hope for change up and down airport terminals. He focuses on what San Diego and Dallas/Fort Worth International airports are doing to encourage new business models — approaches showing a nimbleness that may shock you. Airlines are paying more to airports in rents these days, concessionaire fees are up, Uber and Lyft pay fees, and all that extra money offers new opportunities. Now if the bureaucrats could just get out of the way.

— Tom Lowry, Managing Editor

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Over the years, the big global distribution systems have been a major barrier to innovation by airlines and travel startups, in particular. The European Commission now intends to take a serious look at this dynamic.

How 2 U.S. Airports Are Unshackling Bureaucracy to Give New Businesses a Try

U.S. airports can be slow to innovate. Most are run by local governments, and they're risk-averse. It's good to see some airports trying to take chances. Let's see if more follow.

Hotels Play a Bigger Role as Matchmakers With the Help of Technology

Hotels and dating apps: a match made for the digital age that shows how far hospitality is going to market experiences.

Booking Holdings Is Taking Its Time to Deliver On a Steep Promise

Booking.com is taking its sweet time to implement a flights-to-attractions travel offering. Some would say the pace is Google-like in its slowness. But behind the scenes, data reigns supreme, and dictates whether a product is scrapped, implemented with a twist, or then reshaped anew. Refill the popcorn. This will take a while.

Tribal Tourism Growth in U.S. and Canada Prompts Destinations to Dig Deeper Into the Past

Travelers want to experience the stories and traditions of indigenous communities, but these communities also need greater economic support to become more involved in the travel industry.

Thomas Cook China Launches New Strategy Amid Huge Chinese Tourist Declines in Thailand

Japan has turned out to be the lifeboat for Thomas Cook China when Thailand turned disastrous, just as the tour operator appears to be sailing away blithely with four new initiatives to scale up its China market.

What the Travel Media Gets So Horribly Wrong About Africa

For being one of the most important business, political, and tourism stories, a lot of Africa coverage tends to only hit a few notes. Here are some ideas on how travel reporting can evolve, and incorporate more voices and add deeper perspectives.

What European Rail Companies Need to Do to Boost Growth From Tourism

Rail travel is a complex beast and something the tourism industry has yet to fully embrace, but things are starting to change.

Event Planners Look Outside Major Cities for Savings and Variety

Traditional conference cities are still the default choice for events organizers, but rising costs and strained capacity are making secondary cities more appealing. And some are working hard to show their unique benefits.

With the sale of a majority stake in the company's owned and leased hotel business, AccorHotels is a more stable, nimble company, with the ability to pursue additional acquisitions and other strategic initiatives. In our latest research report, we break down what going asset-light means for the company and tackle ways of measuring the success of its M&A strategy.

How's Marriott's Massive Loyalty Merger Going? We Asked 5 Starwood Members to Weigh In

Most Marriott Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest members enjoyed a seamless integration earlier this year when the two programs merged. For some, however, latent issues are still hampering the experience. We asked five Starwood members about their journeys.

Instagrammer Turned Her Following Into a Luxury Travel Advisor Business

Justyna Smith built up a modest Instagram following, and she's used that, plus word of mouth, to run a four-woman luxury travel agency that's making money. Many businesses decide to market wherever the customers are; in Smith's case, the customers came to her and the business followed.

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