Traveling Blog: Weekend Review: Big Paydays for Hotel CEOs + United Flight Attendants Told to Neaten Up

May 19, 2018

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Note From the Editor

Steve Wynn is allegedly a serial sexual harasser, and when thinking about the $34.5 million compensation package the now-former CEO took home last year, you have to keep in mind that his subservient board of directors probably shined his shoes before each board meeting. But when you look at Wynn's total compensation, which was the highest among CEOs at publicly held hotel chains last year, it did make a certain amount of sense relative to his peers when looking at it purely from a financial perspective. (Of course, we're not factoring in the brand hit that followed.)

After all, Wynn Resorts' earnings per share grew 61 percent in 2017, more than twice as fast as the growth bump at Hilton Worldwide, which paid CEO Christopher Nassetta $18.8 million, a little more than half the treasure that Wynn took home. For more on the tallies and for those keeping score, you should read Senior Hospitality Editor Deanna Ting's piece on The Most Highly Compensated Hotel CEOs of 2017. By the way, you don't need to feel sorry for any of them.

— Dennis Schaal, Executive Editor

How to Solve the Hotel Content Conundrum

Chinese outbound travelers have the highest tourism expenditures in the world. Use our comprehensive consumer analysis and case studies to attract this critical segment.

The Most Highly Compensated Hotel CEOs of 2017

We can only hope that a large portion of Steve Wynn's $34 million compensation from last year will go to his multiple alleged victims.

Hawaiian Airlines Promises It's Ready for Whatever Southwest Plans

Hawaiian Airlines executives are talking a big game about how they're ready for competition from Southwest Airlines. Is it true? Or are Hawaiian's executives nervous behind the scenes as they prepare for Southwest's Hawaii expansion?

Straighten Up and Fly Right, United to Flight Attendants on Sloppy Grooming

United Airlines is never going to control how its flight attendants look in the same way as airlines in other countries. That's OK. There's no reason flight attendants all must look the same. But it's probably a good thing United is asking some outliers to clean up their approach.

Thomas Cook's Personalization Ploy Is Paying Off

Thomas Cook is desperate to shake off the impression that it's old fashioned and the 176-year-old travel company is trying different ways to make itself relevant to young travelers. Not every one will work but at least it is trying.

Hostelworld Raids Expedia for New CEO

Although this looks like a smooth change at the top, we'll have to keep an eye on whether the new CEO deviates from the path the company has set itself on in recent years.

Editor's Picks

Another Top United Executive Departs as CFO Abruptly Resigns

Andrew Levy came into United with so much promise, but it doesn't sound like it worked out. That's too bad, but we expect Levy will land somewhere else.

Supreme Court Decision on Sports Betting Will Hurt Vegas, Right? You'll Be Surprised

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas — except now sports betting, as other states look to swoop in and take their share of the multibillion market. But guess what? Vegas will survive.

TripAdvisor CEO Doubles Estimate of Attractions Business to $2 Billion

The tours and activities sector is not hotels 2.0. It's a massive business opportunity, though. TripAdvisor CEO Stephen Kaufer estimated it will be about half the size of the hotel sector, with similar take rates. That's indeed very substantial.

Disney and Universal See Big Gains in Orlando After Major Expansions

Orlando remains a battleground for the world's largest theme park operators, but attendance is growing around the world — and the biggest companies are trying to win audiences all over.

Augmented Reality Is Silly Right Now But Won't Be Forever

For augmented reality to catch on, apps need to use the technology for useful tools instead of gimmicks. We're starting to see the beginning of this shift and events should pay attention to ways augmented reality can enrich experiences instead of replacing them.

Skift Table

Inside Wendy's Forward-Looking Design Strategy

Wendy's has got a lot of great ideas about how restaurant design can display the company's values. Will everybody make the connection between the new communal sinks and Wendy's fresh-never-frozen motto? Probably not, but it's a nice touch to have access to a sink without having to walk into the bathroom.

Skift Restaurants Forum is a one-day event devoted to the key trends and disruptions shaping the business of dining out. Don't miss out on your chance to participate in the next great restaurant event.

OpenTable Adds Business Insights to Restaurant-Facing Guest Center

Analytics have become an indispensable feature of table management software programs, and OpenTable's latest update is on par with what we're seeing across the board.

Here's a Tabletop Tablet That May Finally Matter

It's not necessarily the technology that matters, but the restaurant where it's located. In this case, the big player in the tabletop technology market, Ziosk, is headed to small chains and independent restaurants, which could change the way everyday diners pay for dinner anywhere.

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