Traveling Blog: Expedia's Asia Hedge + JetBlue Bets on Short-Haul + Generator's Hostel-less Rebrand

August 20, 2018

Editor's Note

Richard Schirrmann was really a man ahead of his time. The founder of hostels (the first opened in 1912 in Germany's Altena Castle) understood the concept of community in hospitality that is the growing buzz in hotel spaces today. What we're not sure about is how Schirrmann would feel about contemporary hospitality jargon like boutiques and hybrids — terms bandied about in our interview today with Generator CEO Alastair Thomann.

Generator Hostels is about to shed "hostels" from its name as it moves toward a cooler, more modern model. Hostels are still a vibrant business, but the Generator team sees wider opportunities, from franchising to creating co-working spaces alongside co-living spaces. The first property under a revamped Generator opens in Miami this month. The hospitality model never sits still, as local innkeepers discovered when Schirrmann opened that first hostel more than 100 years ago.

— Tom Lowry, Managing Editor

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Top Stories

Expedia Hedges Its Asia Bets

After a slew of acquisitions in 2014 and 2015, Expedia is focused on investing and executing. A sustained and rationally exuberant approach may work better in various markets in Asia Pacific this time around than previous efforts.

Generator Doesn't Want to Be Known as a Hostel Brand Anymore

Does it really matter whether you call a place to stay a hostel or a hotel anymore?

Video: JetBlue Banks on a Revolution in Short-Haul Travel

JetBlue isn't the largest or strongest of the U.S. airlines. But it is betting its Silicon Valley venture firm will help catapult it past its stronger rivals. It's not a bad strategy.

Luxury Hotelier Oberoi Group Stays the Course by Focusing on One Brand

There is something to be said for the will to survive through hardship. Other hospitality groups should take note of the Oberoi Group story. India's luxury hotel group is one of the subjects in Skift's recent sixth anniversary book, For the Long Haul, Lessons on Business Longevity, whose chapters we are excerpting for you here in the coming weeks.

Battle for Air Supremacy on Key Australian Route Heats Up

As the Air New Zealand-Virgin Australia alliance on services across the Tasman Sea comes to an end, Virgin will not take the snub from its Kiwi counterpart lying down. It is already flagging improved services and better frequent flyer rewards and trying to block rival Qantas from working with its former ally.

What better way to discover how luxury travel has evolved than to chat with veterans of the five-star hospitality space?

Why Everyone Is Starting to Play Nice in Corporate Travel

After years of inaction, the big travel management companies are finally figuring out how to create a better booking experience for travelers. The dream of the personalized and automated future of corporate travel, though, may never come to pass.

Six Flags Is Taking Theme Park Loyalty to the Next Level

The new rewards program at Six Flags is designed to keep its already-loyal members engaged and satisfied enough to stay enrolled in a monthly membership. Will the theme park loyalty idea catch on with other operators?

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