Traveling Blog: Airbnb's 5 Familiar Defenses + British Airways Covets Disruptor + Universal Parks as Land Baron

April 13, 2018

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Editor's Note

Airbnb is no stranger to being sued, challenged and questioned. In fact, it's become so commonplace for cities to come after the homesharing service that the corporate response seems like a script now. Paris is the latest city to sue, and Hospitality Editor Deanna Ting recounts the reasons, familiar reasons, why Airbnb says the City of Light is dead wrong.

As cities get smarter about how to regulate short-term rentals, sooner or later Airbnb and all its competitors will have to offer some fresh thinking and not the same old, same old pushback.

— Tom Lowry, Managing Editor

Airlines Are Finally on the Cusp of Getting Personalized Retailing Right

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Airbnb's Response to Paris Lawsuit Is the Same Old Story

Airbnb has crafted an ideal template for telling the same old story when it comes to dealing with short-term rental regulations around the world, and more cities just don't seem to want to hear it anymore.

British Airways Parent Looking at Buying Norwegian

Wow. Not many people will have seen this coming. IAG CEO Willie Walsh hasn't always been complimentary about Norwegian in the past, but clearly senses an opportunity. How will Norwegian respond?

Universal Orlando Has More Land Now to Build the Theme Park Fans Want

We've been wondering for years what Universal will do with the land it was buying up in central Florida — and we continue to wonder with this latest purchase. Given what is already known about the theme park operator's plans and recent growth, we expect the Orlando theme park wars to never end.

Delta's Basic Economy Push Is Paying Off

Delta Air Lines is making bank on basic economy fares and other divisions like cargo and loyalty while costs are slowly rising. The airline remains in good position to continue growth despite some trouble in the first quarter.

SeaWorld Expects SEC Sanction in Blackfish Disclosure Case

One investigatory shoe is dropping on SeaWorld. Now eyes turn to the U.S. Department of Justice.

66 National Parks in the U.S. Will See Fee Hikes This Summer

The slight fee uptick probably won't matter much to travelers who could already afford a visit to national parks. But to other travelers, a few extra dollars adds up quickly. The National Park Service is trying to balance both sides out of necessity.

A More Focused Deem Has Gone Back to Basics

Somehow, Deem keeps chugging along, immune to the gravity that tends to fell travel services companies that reach too far and fall short. It's likely too big to fail even as it simplifies its product offerings. But, hey, if clients keep coming back, clearly they're doing something right. Forget it Jake, it's Deem.

TravelPerk Raises $21 Million for Business Travel Bookings: Travel Startup Funding This Week

TravelPerk's and TravelTriangle's fundings are yet a further sign that Skift called it right in our 2018 megatrend predictions. We said companies are investing heavily in treating business travelers as respectable consumers rather than as animals that need prodding like goats.

As hotel chains have shifted their business models over the last decade, keeping owners happy has become the priority. Slashing group booking commissions for intermediaries saves owners money, so it's easy to see how the largest U.S. chains will follow the example of Marriott and Hilton in the near future.

Why Southwest Has So Many Flights That Leave Before 6 a.m.

Southwest added a bunch of flights earlier this year departing before 6 a.m., and passengers didn't seem to like them. But fear not. It's a short-term thing.

ComScore Study Claims TripAdvisor Is Top-Visited Travel Site Before Booking

Mirror mirror on the wall, which is the most-influential travel company of all? TripAdvisor still has a strong grip on travelers from a trip-planning standpoint, and that's its most-appealing asset. But the landscape is fragmented and there are lots of sites, including search engines, for travel advertisers to consider when establishing their favorite clients.

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