Airbnb Recruits CFO + Investigating Airline Distribution Contracts + Celebrity Cruises' Game-Changer

The Travel Industry's Daily Agenda-Setting Newsletter

November 27, 2018 View in browser

Editor's Note T​he longstanding triopoly in airline distribution among Sabre, Amadeus, and Travelport has seemed ripe for disruption for some time. But despite tense relations with airlines, which have largely been unsuccessful in their attempts to bypass these three, the distribution giants just carried on. So it was with much interest that on a long quiet holiday break here in the U.S., news arrived from Europe that regulators there launched a probe into Sabre and Amadeus for anti-competitive practices. Who knows where this will lead? But more than a few airline executives are watching closely. Travel Tech Editor Sean O'Neill offers some theories below on the implications of the EU probe. — Tom Lowry, Managing Editor Downtown 2.0: How One City Revamped Its Urban Core and Reshaped What Meetings There Can Be Sponsored by Visit Phoenix With a flood of smart development, downtown Phoenix is positioning itself as a top-flight meeting destination with the 'round-the-clock amenities, fresh infrastructure, and local flavor that today's attendees demand. Read More Top Stories Skift Foundation Teams With Foundation for Puerto Rico in Visitor Economy Recovery Initiatives The Skift Foundation is excited to start working with local businesses in tourism-heavy communities in Puerto Rico, and learn as much from it as we hope to help. European Regulators Will Focus on Distributors' Full-Content Pacts With Airlines It's anyone's guess whether travel distribution giants Amadeus and Sabre might have run afoul of the European Union's rules. But a look at the history of those companies' airline contracts provides clues as to what might be top of mind with investigators. Airbnb Hires Amazon Veteran as New Chief Financial Officer The Amazonification of Airbnb continues, as talk of an initial public offering heats up. 6 Ways Celebrity Edge Is Changing the Game for the Cruise Industry Celebrity Cruises wanted its newest ship to be transformational for the brand and for the cruise industry. With reimagined staterooms, technology, and even hot tubs, the cruise line is following through on that goal. Gobi Bets on Middle East Player Holidayme to Unlock Asia's Muslim Travel Market Holidayme has scooped up $16 million in new investment from Gobi. But can the UAE eagle soar in Asian skies where Tripfez, Gobi's first investment in the Muslim travel space, had barely tapped the potential of the market? New Orleans Tourism Agency Engages Minority Business Owners Who Demanded Inclusion When minority business owners spoke up in New Orleans, the city's tourism marketing corporation responded by admitting the oversight and hiring a diversity and inclusion consultant. Hopefully these measures will have a lasting impact. Skyteam Loses an Alliance Partner in China Delta frequent flyers are about to lose a SkyTeam partner in China, which means fewer miles and codeshare benefits. Those who fly American Airlines and other Oneworld partners, however, may soon gain one. Top Stories European Commission Is Probing Travel Distribution Systems for Anticompetitive Practices Over the years, the big global distribution systems have been a major barrier to innovation by airlines and travel startups, in particular. The European Commission now intends to take a serious look at this dynamic. How 2 U.S. Airports Are Unshackling Bureaucracy to Give New Businesses a Try U.S. airports can be slow to innovate. Most are run by local governments, and they're risk-averse. It's good to see some airports trying to take chances. Let's see if more follow. Hotels Play a Bigger Role as Matchmakers With the Help of Technology Hotels and dating apps: a match made for the digital age that shows how far hospitality is going to market experiences. 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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