JetBlue Founder Details New Venture + Chinese Travelers Ditch Tours + Airbnb's Pro Host Pitch

The Travel Industry's Daily Agenda-Setting Newsletter

October 29, 2018

Editor's Note The airline industry got a glimpse of the future on Friday with a throwback to the past. JetBlue founder David Neeleman spoke to a group of marketers in New York City, a talk that was refreshingly candid. It reminded us of how much fun it can be to hear the bravado of an airline founder unafraid to take jabs at the competition. Neeleman's new airline is supposed to get off the ground in 2021 and he shared new details about the operation Friday that Executive Editor Dennis Schaal writes about below. Aviation is a different business now than when Neeleman launched JetBlue in 1999. So who knows if he can make this new venture work? At the very least, he'll make it interesting. — Tom Lowry, Managing Editor Meeting Planners Should Rethink Fort Worth as a Network of Creative Neighborhoods Sponsored by Visit Fort Worth Everyone wants to have a "local" experience, and meeting and event attendees are no exception. Planners should look no further than Fort Worth for a destination that goes beyond the convention center. Read More Top Stories JetBlue Founder Reveals Details on His New Tech-Focused International Airline David Neeleman argues that the competition won't be able to touch his new airline, which likely won't be named Moxy, because it will be so different. Plenty of other airlines will have something to say about that. Independent Chinese Travelers Close Gap With Tour Groups A chunk of the Chinese market has reached maturity in just a few years when it took some Western markets decades to do the same thing. Now watch how destinations respond to more independent Chinese travelers. How Digital Advertising Is Creating New Pressures for Travel Marketers: Skift Research Along with marketers' heavy investment in digital, the quality of digital advertising continues to improve with more advanced targeting and measurement capabilities. Optimized marketing success requires the right media mix and the right types of technology. Why Low-Cost Airline Spirit Sees Little Impact From Competitors' Basic Economy Fares It was not clear three years ago whether Spirit could make it long term. It ran a shoddy operation, and it had alienated many of its customers. But Spirit is back, and it's making good returns for shareholders. Airbnb Offers New Tech Support to Entice More Professional Hosts This move makes plenty of sense but we — presumably like those very people who want to use Airbnb to list their properties — wish Airbnb was a bit more forthcoming about actual new tools. Kenya Airways' New Direct Route Could Boost Tourism to East Africa A new direct flight from JFK to Nairobi will open up East Africa to business and tourism in positive ways. Travelers no longer need to waste time connecting in London or the Middle East, and both Kenya and surrounding countries will benefit from increased activity. British Airways Owner Hasn't Quite Given Up Hope on Landing Norwegian Willie Walsh loves a deal and it sounds like he is still keen. If Norwegian can sort out a cash injection, then a potential acquisition is even more attractive. Popular Now Expedia CEO Insists That Online Travel Agencies Aren't Over The biggest knock on the online travel agencies these days is that the competition is intense and that their golden years are done. Expedia's Mark Okerstrom counters that his company has a single-digit share of a $1.6 trillion market, and he's going wide and deep to pick up more. The jury is still out. Expedia Buys Two Startups to Help Landlords Turn Apartments Into Short-Term Rentals When it comes to the acquisition game, Expedia Group CEO Mark Okerstrom is one of the travel industry's savviest players. It's fun to see him back at it, after a mostly quiet period of him settling into the company's top job. Royal Caribbean Hopes New Tech Will Turn Into New Revenue Royal Caribbean is investing left and right in technology, new ships, new features on land, and even an entirely new brand. That means costs are up, but the company expects to see those investments pay off. For Gmail users: If you are using the tabbed inbox, Skift emails may be pushed to the 'Promotions' tab. To get updates from Skift direct to your primary inbox, drag and drop this email to that tab. You received this email because you are subscribed to Skift Daily Newsletter from Skift.

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