Traveling Blog: The Palms' Clueless Campaign + U.S.-Russia Airspace Games + Vacationers Can't Unplug

May 25, 2018

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Editor's Note

In the increasingly crowded world of advertising, it is getting so much harder for brands to distinguish themselves from the pack. That often results in pushing the envelope more often when it comes to TV ad campaigns, something once reserved for Super Bowl Sunday.

But the new ad campaign from The Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas is a reminder of balancing the creative with the reality of the world in which we live. Mass shootings are sadly part of our norm now, requiring extra sensitivities to the horror of these incidents. Senior Hospitality Editor Deanna Ting looks at how The Palms' new spot is filled with violence and terror-stricken people in a city still mourning the mass shooting at Mandalay Bay in October. There's a lesson here for every marketing executive looking to make its brand the edgiest. Stop, take a deep breath, and re-think what message you might really be sending.

— Tom Lowry, Managing Editor

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There's a fine line between what some might deem edgy and what some might find insensitive.

U.S. Issues New Requirements for Russian Planes in Airspace Spat

The State Department just closed the books on the last long-running airline-related diplomatic saga in Washington — Open Skies agreements with the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Now, apparently, the government is turning its attention to a feud with Russia about so-called overflight rights.

Americans Won't Ditch Phones on Vacation Despite Travel Industry's Digital Detox Push

Travel is more accessible today than ever before because of mobile devices and the travel industry knows this. We don't see anything wrong with nudging travelers to look up from their devices every now and then, but promoting a device-free vacation reads a little tone-deaf in 2018.

Skift Podcast: How European Tourism Came Back From the Brink

Tune in to hear experts on European tourism discuss the recent growth in visitors — and how to best manage it.

Corporate Travel Demand Remains Strong: Industry CEOs

Corporate travel continues to grow as the global economy hums along immune to the geopolitical issues cropping up around the world. How long can it last? And will increasing hotel rates eat away at the increased spending made by corporations?

Hyatt's New Corporate Travel Program Aims for Small Businesses

Hyatt seems to realize not only that small businesses are the most untapped portion of corporate travel, but that a solid business travel experience can lead to dividends on the leisure side as well. Whether this program catches on is another story, though.

Rizort Raises $2.9 Million for VR-Infused Travel Advice: Travel Startup Funding This Week

Can virtual reality content play a role in helping to persuade travelers to book luxury destinations in Southeast Asia? That's the bet made by Rizort, an online travel agency startup that received funding this week.

Sun Country wants it both ways. It wants to add fees and reduce legroom for some passengers. But it also wants to keep the brand equity it earned when it was a full-service airline. Can this strategy work?

Why It Takes So Long for Some Airlines to Pay Compensation Required by European Law

We'd love to see major airlines be more proactive when they owe compensation to customers required by European law. When they make a mistake, they should fess up.

Yelp Targets Google Employees in New Antitrust Drive

Yelp's efforts to see tighter regulation of Google's business practices could have more success this time around than several years ago, when the U.S. Federal Trade Commission dropped the ball. European Union regulators have really cast the previous U.S. effort in a shameful light, and the Trump team may be more sympathetic than the Obama administration.

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