Traveling Blog: Marriott's Sobering Quarter + Accor's Asia Balancing Act + American Squeezes Gogo

November 7, 2018

Editor's Note

So often you read about hospitality companies adding new brands to their portfolios. Nobody has been more aggressive in acquiring new companies in recent years than AccorHotels. What you often don't read is what happens after the deals close, what some hotel executives might describe as the real work.

For her first story for Skift, Asia Editor Raini Hamdi offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse from Asia about how Accor is managing two brands there, hotels that were once fierce competitors, Swissotel and Movenpick. It's a snapshot into a highly competitive hotels market and a look at what executives need to do to manage scale while not cannibalizing their brands. It sure makes buying the company look like the easy part.

— Tom Lowry, Managing Editor

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5 Trends That Will Shape Experiential Travel in 2019

Sponsored by Expedia Group Media Solutions

It might not be surprising to hear that rich experiences will continue to be high on the lists of travelers in 2019. But there are a few trends that will shape the types of experiences they'll be looking for.

Marriott may have had a relatively challenging third quarter, but it's not stopping the company from continuing to work on its Starwood integration — or scope out other companies to buy, even if the global economy seems uncertain.

Wi-Fi Provider Gogo Is Hurt by American Airlines' Tough Tactics

Will Gogo make it as a stand-alone company? It still does not look promising. It's odd because customers want in-flight Wi-Fi. But so far Gogo hasn't figured out how to do it and make a profit.

Why Accor Won't Let Movenpick Swallow Its New Little Sister Swissotel in Asia

A new history is being charted for Movenpick and Swissotel, two Swiss hotel brands that are now under AccorHotels, and much of that action is happening in the Asia-Pacific region. Asian owners and Accor competitors are watching closely.

Why Airlines Are Finally Seeing Lower Distribution Costs: New Skift Research

The battle over airline distribution costs has been fought from boardrooms to courtrooms to the press. Though each airline is in a unique position, we examine the industrywide data to take a cold look at the facts.

Carnival Will Launch Its Next Phase of China Growth in 2019

While some cruise lines are pulling back on their presence in China, Carnival Corp. is moving forward with its long-planned joint venture with local partners. Will domestic travelers flock to a homegrown brand?

Ethiopia's Nascent Luxury Tourism Market Starts to Take Hold

The question is not whether hoteliers and operators should invest in Ethiopia, but what is best for Ethiopia in balancing these new demands while protecting its people and its profound history and cultures.

Travel Advisor News

We've launched our latest speciality newsletter and it's devoted to giving the world's travel advisors the news and trends they need to know to do their jobs better. You can sign up here for the weekly Travel Advisor Innovation Report and read below for the type of stories you'll find.

Travel Advisor Innovation Report Issue One: When a Job Feels Like Rock and Roll

The survivors of skirmishes past, from commission cuts to the perceived threats of the internet, have reinvented their businesses and thrive in a new landscape where personal touch still matters.

Tzell Travel Advisor Turned Eric Clapton and Pink Floyd Into Fans of Her Tour Planning

As a travel advisor focusing on the entertainment industry, Amy Keeling has been practicing personalization for years, although not in the way the tech world thinks about it. Keeling has become an expert in ensuring comfort for her roster of rock bands as she learned their unique preferences over the last 25 years.

Independents Day: ASTA and Subsidiary Forge Closer Relationship

The closer relationship between the American Society of Travel Advisors and its subsidiary, the renamed ASTA Small Business Network, promises greater visibility for independents with consumers. However, the real winner may be the parent organization, given the growing importance of the independent sector.

Hyatt retooled its "cash + points" award booking calculations last week and it illustrated the perils of building out a loyalty program without expecting members to abuse it.

Booking Holdings Makes Major Pivot Toward Prepaid Hotel Bookings

It's back to the future for Booking Holdings, which is pivoting to emphasize the prepaid hotel model that its Booking.com unit basically spurned for most of its history. This means better cash flow because consumers pay when they book, and higher commissions.

Airlines Hope Algorithms Can Finally Fix Their Drink Carts

Passengers sitting in the back of the airplane hate it when an airline runs out of food for sale. But airlines also hate waste, and they usually must throw out uneaten fresh food the same day. How do airlines decide how much food and drink to board? It's a delicate dance.

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