Marriott CEO Video Interview and 6 Other Hospitality 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 hospitality trends.

For all of our trends roundups, go here.

>>Despite the large amount of funding Wimdu received in 2011, it was never able to scale its operation on a global basis like Airbnb: Airbnb’s Most Well-Funded European Rival Wimdu Is Acquired by 9flats

>>Alas, this promotion was proof that even the best-laid plans may not always work–and it pays to pay more attention to how you set it all up: Wyndham Fails to Make a Play for Starwood Loyalty Members

>>We’re totally onboard with hotel companies that are taking this kind of all-in approach to reinventing their brands, especially ones that have been around for so long, like Marriott: Marriott’s M Beta Hotel Is a Working Laboratory on the Future of Its Brand

>>This report seems to suggest hoteliers don’t have much to worry about when it comes to Airbnb but we’re dealing more with apples and oranges here than apples and apples: New Data Suggests Airbnb’s Impact on Hotels Is Less Than Perceived

>>Marriott’s CEO was just coming off one of the bigger wins in his career. The future holds some of the bigger challenges: Video: Marriott CEO on the Virtues of Scale and Loving All 30 Brands

>>If you want to know what Marriott has in store for all 30 brands, as well as some other still-under-wraps initiatives it plans to launch, read on: Interview: How Marriott Will Position Its 30 Hotel Brands

>>Even though Wyndham’s attempted “coup” of Starwood members had to be called off, it’s a reminder the hospitality industry needs to take a fresh look at the hotel loyalty experience: Moving Hotel Loyalty Beyond Points — Digital Marketing News This Week