Traveling Blog: Weekend Review: Luxury Advisors Get Personal + Hyatt Bans Hate Groups

September 29, 2018

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Editor's Note

Travel executives gathered in New York this week at Skift Global Forum, and it was clear that many couldn't separate geopolitics and trends from the trajectory of their businesses. On the same day that Washington was consumed with a Supreme Court nominee accused of sexual assault, the female leaders of Carnival, Princess and Celebrity said it's imperative to hire more women everywhere from the bridge to the boardroom.

Meanwhile, Hyatt CEO Mark Hoplamazian said his company would ban hate groups; TripAdvisor CEO Steve Kaufer said it would be ridiculous to think, as does President Trump, that Google might be guilty of political bias, and Booking Holdings CEO Glenn Fogel, whose grandparents fled oppression in Europe and emigrated to the United States, made an impassioned plea for open borders and people-to-people exchanges, which are the promises of travel.

There was plenty more of interest going on at Skift Global Forum, of course. For more Skift Forum coverage click here.

— Dennis Schaal, Executive Editor

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Loyalty Beyond Points and Miles: Creating Rewarding Experiences for the Experiential and Millennial Traveler

Sponsored by Switchfly

Today's consumer no longer thinks about loyalty solely in terms of points and miles. That's created a growing opportunity for travel brands to rethink the strategies they use to build loyalty with travelers.

Skift Forum Coverage

Luxury Travel Advisors Aim to Put the Person Back in Personalization

Luxury travel advisors can thrive with the help of tech, rather than fear it, according to Matthew Upchurch, CEO of Virtuoso, and Jack Ezon, founder of Embark. Their claim makes intuitive sense.

Hyatt CEO Says Hotels Will Ban Hate Groups: 'We Need to Draw the Line'

Hyatt and other hotels are increasingly in the business of opening their doors to all who need a place to sleep, as long as they pack a peaceful and inclusive attitude with them.

Behind TripAdvisor's Renewed Push to Inspire Travelers Beyond Just Making Sales

TripAdvisor is notable for having a large audience of consumers looking for ideas about where to go and stay and what to do once they're there. It's sensible that the company is adding features to bolster that edge over its transaction-focused rivals — as long as the company doesn't neglect transactions.

Google's Conflicted Travel Strategy Pushes Forward

Google has developed solid travel booking and itinerary management tools, but won't push fully into the online travel booking business because of its lucrative role in online advertising. It looks like Google's bifurcated travel strategy will continue for some time.

Ian Schrager on How Hotels Get Technology Wrong

The hospitality industry shouldn't forget its humanity, while continuing to innovate - just in a sensible and appropriate way. Strong message.

Puerto Rico's Governor Pushes Back on Trump With Calls for Statehood

Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló is not shy about advocating for the island's potential future as a U.S. state. At Skift Global Forum, he reminded us that the travel industry has a duty to fight injustice and build connections despite political drama.

Why American Airlines Brought Big Bags Back to Basic Economy

American Airlines hopes that newer, nicer planes will resonate with its customers. After success with increased fare segmentation, though, it will be interesting to see how the airline drives revenue on its new fleet.

Airbnb Is Not Launching Its Much-Anticipated Loyalty Program Anytime Soon

Frequent Airbnb customers have been waiting for some kind of program to reward them for their loyalty. They'll have to be patient.

Creating New Twists on Travel Through Stories of Place

The world is a brighter place because of travelers and millions of them increasingly want to spend their vacations doing good rather than showing off their new bathing suits or selfie sticks.

Editor's Picks

Disney World's Latest Pricing Changes Take Aim at Crowd Control

Disney shifted to seasonal pricing a couple of years ago, and the entertainment giant is drilling down even more with the latest changes. Visitors will likely grumble at the more complicated new system, but we don't expect Disney's business to suffer.

The New York Times Adds Day Tours to Grab Piece of Booming Tours and Activities Sector

The newspaper business continues to go through an evolution in the digital era, all while the travel industry is thriving and demand grows for tours and activities. City Tours probably won't be the biggest revenue generator for the Times anytime soon, but it could do a lot to make the publisher cooler and more relevant.

Thomas Cook Looks to Expedia for Vacation Rental Access

Offering vacation rentals to customers might be some way off, but it shows Thomas Cook is at least thinking creatively about its place in the travel industry. If it is something people want — and they clearly do — then the company needs to at least consider it.

Florida Extends Tourism Boost to Gulf Coast Locales Hurt by Red Tide

Much of Florida's beaches remain pristine and algae-free and other parts of the state are seeing a boost as tourists relocate their vacations. This year's red tide is the latest wake-up call to climate change that the state's tourism industry has had to grapple with.

Discount Airlines Take Frequent Flyer Programs More Seriously After Initial Snub

Not long ago, all discount airlines needed to compete was cheap fares. But times change, and with legacy airlines poaching some of their customers, more ultra-low-cost carriers are taking loyalty seriously.

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