2016 › November

China is already the world's largest business travel market and getting even larger, though most of that travel takes place within the country. We're interested to see how the global industry adapts when more of those business trips are international.

Small companies are leading the charge when it comes to using Airbnb for business travel. Lower prices when compared to hotels, and accommodations with better locations in pricy cities, have no doubt contributed to the trend.

The multi-year "Holland: The Original Cool" tourism campaign is a lesson in modern video storytelling, incorporating long- and short-form content pushing both national and local messaging. It also shows the value of taking risks to engage audiences with branded content.

Since 2009, Air Canada has reinvented itself, taking delivery of new Boeing 787s, improving passenger cabins, and adding international routes to Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The airline's management, including Benjamin Smith, deserves credit for making Air Canada relevant again.

Delta just went public with the design of its premium economy product, which isn't too dissimilar from competitors' features. Expect to see Delta's in service in late 2017 with the A350.

Between travelers' increasingly prioritizing local culinary experiences, and the emergence of F&B disruptors, hotels have a lot to combat in an already challenging environment. Hotels need better data on local customers’ tastes in order to succeed.

It's been a quieter year for mobile check-in and room key news as many hotels are on board and offer this technology to guests. But data show many guests aren't actually using mobile room keys and aren't satisfied with them, and it's important that new innovation from startups like OpenKey continue to help hotels get this right.

Restaurants and other in-destination experiences for locals and travelers will play an increasingly important role in TripAdvisor's future over the next few years. They enable TripAdvisor to diversify away from casual leisure travelers toward restaurant and tour patrons who might book way more frequently.

There's no doubt Airbnb is shaking up hospitality in a way that might make hotels nervous. But the homesharing company also has a lot to learn from — and teach — the hotel industry.

This will likely appeal to some cruisers who want to do more on land than take a tour or hang out at the beach. But we have to wonder how this will play out for Fathom's bookings. Will travelers who want to volunteer sidestep a full week on Fathom and just book a one-day excursion on another line?