2013 Archives

Beyond the ping pong and well-designed interiors is a clear-eyed hotelier who knows both his clientele and where the hotel industry is heading.

If anyone could predict what's in the pipeline for the hospitality industry, it'd be Lee Pillsbury. But the pace of innovation today means that his venture fund is also in search mode to find what the next Hilton or Expedia will be.

While the instinct to help Qantas may be strong, Australia's leaders need to make sure it knows the difference between a carrier that needs a bit of temporary help and an Alitalia.

We love these because it is based on actual traveler behavior, not just dreaming and intent, but these listings would be greatly enhanced with more real-time data on trends, rather than a static once-a-year list.

Biggest lesson to be learned: Give travelers the experience they are looking for: value, service, a great user interface, personal global connections, and social sharing. Mix these together, and you have a success story called Airbnb.