16 Digital Travel Trends We're Tracking at Skift This Week

Every week we post hundreds of stories across various sectors in travel, connecting the dots across various global trends. We’re now highlighting the posts that tackle these global trends pointing towards the future of travel. This one looks at top digital travel trends. For all of our trends roundups, go here.
- Startup investment trends: Why Are Celebrities Drawn to Investing in Travel Startups?
- New Travel startups: 5 Travel Startups Take Users From Social Events to Private Rooms
- Peer-to-peer travel guide startups are dead: Sharing Economy Can’t Save Tour Guides, says Tour Startup CEO
- Online hotel booking taxes controversy refuses to die: The Battle Over Online Hotel Booking Taxes Moves to Wyoming
- Local Transit and wi-fi: All 227 NYC Subway Stations To Get Wireless Coverage, From Sprint
- Wi-fi in-market trends: Starbucks Gets Super-Fast Wi-Fi Via Google Partnership
- Transit and wi-fi: New Delhi Station Becomes First Transit Hub to Offer Free Wi-Fi in India
- Social media at hotels: The Gimmick of the World’s First Twitter Hotel
- Continued decline of print guidebooks: Zagat Shrinks Print Operations, Launches Free, Stripped-Down Website
- Continued decline of print guidebooks: Opinion: Travel Guidebook World Is Shrinking, But Don’t Give Up Books Yet
- Google Glass in travel: Getting Acquainted With Google Glass for Travel: First Impressions
- Google Glass while driving: Google Glass Driving Ban Eyed by UK Authorities
- Google Glass while driving: Google Glass Restrictions for Drivers Could Come in New U.S. Rules
- New booking players trying hard: Google Wants to Take the Agony Out of Flight Search, Just Like Hipmunk
- New booking players trying hard: Hipmunk Tries to Improve Hotel Bookings with Trip Types
- Last minute mobile booking continues to build up: Hipmunk New Tonight-Only Deals for Mobile Devices Goes Big
- Old players in booking trying to stay ahead: Priceline Redesign: Shatner Returns and It’s All About Express Deals
Up Next
Experiences
How Travel Brands Can Seize the ‘Q5’ Opportunity on TikTok
Driven by increased spending on experiences and the digital habits of younger audiences, TikTok has emerged as a key platform for inspiring and shaping travel decisions. Leveraging the platform’s reach early in the year presents a unique opportunity for travel brands to connect with eager travelers.
Sponsored Short-Term Rentals
Short-Term Rentals: Airbnb's Dominance and Booking's Gains in 1 Chart
The big three online travel agencies are generating almost three-quarters of the short-term rental revenue on the planet. The rest of the crowd is seeing their previous foothold diminishing.
Startups
In-Flight Messaging and Indian Budget Hotels: Travel Startups Raise $86 Million
A growing number of startups focused on Indian travelers have been raising money in the past couple of years.
Hotels
Australia's Gold Coast Devastated by Cyclone, Officials Race to Restore Tourism
The Gold Coast’s swift recovery efforts highlight the region’s resilience but the long-term threat of climate change means these disasters may only become more frequent and costly.
Business Travel
Extended Stay America CEO Sees 'Softness' – How He'd Handle a Mild Recession
Extended Stay America's CEO Greg Juceam believes the company's focus on long-term accommodations provides resilience against economic uncertainty, with its diverse customer base of housing transitioners and extended business travelers acting as a buffer.