Priceline Group’s Hotel Booking and 5 Other Digital Trends This Week

Every week we post hundreds of stories across various sectors in travel, connecting the dots across various global trends, and in these weekend posts we highlight the stories that tackle these trends. This one looks at top digital trends.

For all of our trends roundups, go here.

>>Will the deflation in overall tech startup sector affect travel startups old and new? Listen in: Skift Podcast: The State of Travel Startups and Venture Capital in 2016

>>Expedia’s acquisitions versus the Priceline Group’s “competitive moat:” Priceline Group CEO: We Have Double the Hotel Bookings of Expedia

>>The argument of Priceline Group CEO Darren Huston is that chains are shooting themselves in the foot: Priceline Group CEO ‘Doesn’t Appreciate’ Hotel Chains’ Direct-Booking Moves

>>Nearly 40 percent of all global travelers shop for travel on mobile devices: 5 Charts Showing Rise of Mobile Browsing and Online Travel Transactions

>>Advertising such as bidding programs can be a higher margin business than transactions for online travel agencies: Expedia’s Hotel-Bidding Program Misleads Consumers Says Hotel Group

>>The era of enormous point bonuses on credit cards may be drawing to a close: Banks Clamp Down on Award Credit Cards as Points Community Contracts