Traveling Blog: Weekend Review: Scott Pruitt and Business Travel Agony + Southwest's Early Bird Flights

April 14, 2018

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Note From the Editor

There are at least three stories below (and more) that typify why you may be a regular reader of this newsletter because of their reporting depth and analysis. Tourism reporter Dan Peltier went beyond the initial headlines and investigated why the U.S. government's international arrivals statistics have been problematic for years.

There's a ventured-backed corporate travel company, Deem, which has been around for 15 years in several incarnations, and Business Travel Editor Andrew Sheivachman analyzed its meanderings in a way that's original and insightful. Meanwhile, Hospitality Editor Deanna Ting took apart Airbnb's defense against a regulatory challenge in Paris, its largest market, and decided Airbnb's playbook was very familiar and tired. Stories like these are the reasons we keep at it at Skift, doing what we love to do, while hopefully you keep reading.

— Dennis Schaal, Executive Editor

Just 12 Days Left Until Skift Forum Europe

Are you ready to meet 200 companies from across the travel industry at Skift Forum Europe? Over 20 speakers and 400 attendees are coming to share in the fun, insights, and incredible networking. It's not too late to secure a seat in Berlin!

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.

What the Scott Pruitt Scandal Tells Us About the Misery of Business Travel

Corporate travel policies are restrictive, and perhaps no organization is as restrictive as the U.S. government. The Scott Pruitt scandal is a good reminder that business travel is an important part of life wherever you happen to work. Everyone wants to live the good life, but few really can.

Marriott and Hilton's Group Commission Cuts Put Pressure on Industry

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.

Booking Claims It Beats Airbnb With 5 Million Alternative Accommodations Listings

Booking.com may be marginally ahead of Airbnb in the listings race, but for practical purposes you can call it a draw. It's game on, though, pitting Booking.com's renowned demand aggregation and marketing resources versus Airbnb's brand advantages, and the resources it would gain by doing an IPO and becoming more comprehensive.

U.S. Tourism Office Has Put Out Inaccurate International Visitor Data For Years

International visitor data reporting began to run amok before President Donald Trump took office and destinations are left wondering what data they can trust. The Trump Administration has worked to spread disinformation, but this is a new level of concern for the travel industry.

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.

World's Largest Car-Seat Manufacturer Wants to Disrupt the Airline Business

More companies are producing airline seats. That's good news for carriers, which have long complained about production delays from existing suppliers. It's not clear how much it matters for consumers. Airlines don't allot much space to each economy seat so there's not a lot of room for innovation.

Digital

Sabre Doubles Down on Hotel Management Software

Your move, Oracle.

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.

Hostelworld's Business Model Tweaks Move It Into the Mainstream

It's probably a tiny blip on the radar of Priceline and Expedia but Hostelworld is quietly building up a nice niche business. How long can it be before one of the bigger players shows an interest?

Flying

Air Canada Follows Delta With Segmented Economy Cabins

Air Canada's new spectrum of fare classes released may rub some casual and frequent flyers the wrong way. Everyone else may appreciate the precise targeting that the airline has built up for every type of traveler.

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?

Qatar Airways Takes a Stake in a Small California-Based Airline

Did Qatar Airways CEO Akbar al-Baker finally win himself a slice of a U.S. airline? You could say that. But remember JetSuiteX, for now, has only five airplanes. We'll see how much it grows with the new money.

Hospitality

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.

Technology Finally Convinced Mandarin Oriental to Launch a Loyalty Program

Can luxury brands like Mandarin Oriental, Four Seasons, and others convince consumers that you don't need the lure of points or free nights to be loyal?

This Lodging Sector Needs Airbnb and Booking to Grow Its Business

If you don't know what a serviced apartment is, you're likely not alone. And that's probably one of the biggest problems this lodging sector faces as it tries to grow beyond catering solely to corporate travelers.

Skift Forum Europe

Ryanair CMO On Being More Customer-Friendly

There's no doubt Ryanair is a more customer-friendly airline than a few years ago. But its pilot shortage problem last year was a major problem, and it undoubtedly hurt its reputation.

How Club Med Is Reimagining the All-Inclusive Resort

Since 2004, Club Med has tried to change the perception of all-inclusive resorts. Part of this is a move upmarket but it has also meant targeting new nationalities and destinations.

Tourism

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.

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.

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.

New Luxury

Urban Sports Resorts Are Closing the Gap Between Fitness and Hospitality

Some of the country's highest-end fitness clubs are taking a gander at the hospitality space. But one athletic club in Chicago has already laid claim to opening the country's first "urban sports resort."

Inside the Boardroom

What New UK Statistics Tell Us About the Gender Pay Gap in Travel

Sadly, that women get paid less than men doesn't come as a surprise but it is still shocking to see such a huge disparity. With the figures now out in the open in the UK, companies have a responsibility to see that the gap is closed as quickly as possible. We'd also like to see more diversity among the leadership teams.

Meetings

What Europe's New Data Protection Law Means for Meetings and Events

U.S. meeting planners expect the EU's General Data Protection Regulation to have a major effect on how they manage data. While the giant meetings firms are prepared to comply with it, smaller companies and related meetings vendors may lag behind.

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