2013 › October

These Brand USA campaigns will be under great scrutiny from budget hawks in Congress, who would love to eliminate the countrywide promotional arm for U.S. tourism. The map/trip-planning idea sounds promising, but it all depends on its execution.

The true tests for the CBP kiosks at JFK and other airports will be during holiday travels, but so far, so good.

Expedia's focus will remain with hotels for the forseeable future, but this pilot partnership with HomeAway on vacation rentals is the very beginning of what could be a dramatic change.

The intersection of local doesn't just effect the hospitality industry, but also has implications for the local entertainment and arts scene, as well as creates the need for deeper tourism experiences. This is about remaining relevant for and attracting the next generation traveler.

Even where credit card machines are present, there is no guarantee that they'll work. The seemingly antiquated method of travel payments is one of the more evident examples of how unprepared Myanmar is groping to deal with an influx of visitors.

An improving U.S. economy is giving individual consumers the confidence to splurge on a vacation and businesses the ability to put their employees back on the road. The increase in travel intentions won't match transactions, but it's an optimistic sign for the coming year.

TSA Precheck may end up being more of a hindrance than a solution to overcrowded security lines, especially at peak times at major gateway airports.

As competition increases for a growing number of travelers, airlines and hubs are looking to differentiate themselves with superior food, local culture, and family-friendly services. Those that build the reputation now will be guaranteed a larger share of future family travel.

Well, at least O'Leary didn't have a problem maintaining his "voice" on Twitter. He probably didn't do much to appease Ryanair's detractors, but at least he was out there on social media getting involved a bit.