St. Louis Tourism Post-Ferguson and 10 Other Tourism 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 tourism trends.

For all of our trends roundups, go here.

The CEOs of Carnival, Expedia, Peek, and More Are Speaking at Skift Global Forum 2016. Join Us.

>>In other words: Summer is over. But it had some bright spots: Winners and Losers of Summer Travel 2016

>>As Carnival’s experience shows, doing business in Cuba as an American company is complicated — especially in these early days while relations are normalizing but the embargo remains in place: Skift Global Forum Preview: Carnival CEO on Bringing American Business to Cuba

>>Low gas prices are bolstering domestic travel, even if its growth rate is creeping downward. The high value of the U.S. dollar and other factors like the upcoming presidential election, however, are suppressing international inbound travel: U.S. Domestic Leisure Travel Sees Lowest Growth Rate Since 2012

>>Including the order announced Tuesday, the cruise company is adding seven 5,200-passenger megaships that are powered by liquefied natural gas across four brands: Carnival Corp. Is Adding Three More Ships, All of Them Huge

>>Brands from Hilton Worldwide to Google are injecting more value into their events at every touch point: How Brands Are Adding Value for Event Planners — Meetings Innovation Report

>>We think there’s plenty of opportunity for hotels to get more creative with the services they offer on their mobile apps, but they should also prioritize the basics: Business Travelers Want Free Hotel Wi-Fi and Smart Power Outlets More Than Anything Else

>>Creative audiences today want a mashup of tech, arts, and educational experiences: Skift Global Forum Preview: How Bonnaroo and SXSW Have Reinvented Live Events

>>Is there a way to combine American productivity with European vacation skills? Half of Americans Took Little to No Vacation This Summer

>>Virgin Holidays’ growth plans cannot be met by going after the same old customers: Virgin Holidays Pivots Strategy as It Moves Into Middle Age

>>Why adhere to corporate travel policy when the person in charge doesn’t have your best interest in mind? What Travel Buyers Really Care About — Skift Corporate Travel Innovation Report

>>The Ferguson violence in 2014 rightly highlighted St. Louis’ deep problems with systematic racism. While this is certainly no cure for that, the city’s new coalition of tourism and business interests should inspire other cities to develop stronger public-private partnerships that benefit both visitors and their local communities: St. Louis Rethinks Tourism Marketing in Response to Ferguson Violence