2017 Archives

Online Travel

Latin America Travel Unicorn Despegar Is Hunting but Could Be Hunted Too

The biggest online travel story in Latin America in 2017 was Despegar's IPO. The Expedia-backed booking site raised $332 million to fund its expansion. The company has hinted that it is likely to use some of the cash to make an acquisition in 2018.

Latin America Travel Unicorn Despegar Is Hunting but Could Be Hunted Too

Hotels

Vacasa CEO on Why a Recession Could Be Good for His Business

Vacasa CEO Eric Breon doesn't see Airbnb or big hotel companies as competition for his company, which specializes in managing traditional vacation home rentals. But he could use more homes to manage.

Vacasa CEO on Why a Recession Could Be Good for His Business

Overtourism

Tourism Board Engagement With Airbnb Is Not One-Size Fits All

Tourism boards are stuck between a rock and a hard place on a lot of issues and particularly with Airbnb. Destination marketers understand that many travelers prefer Airbnb while their hotel partners definitely do not. We'll be watching to see how both sides attempt to bridge the gap in 2018.

Tourism Board Engagement With Airbnb Is Not One-Size Fits All

Online Travel

Google Travel Feeling Intensified Antitrust Pressure

Might 2018 be the year U.S. regulators take a hard look anew at Google's travel-business practices after declining to take action in 2012? We hope so, in the interests of fair play, although the Trump Administration has been keen to reduce government regulation of businesses, not increase it.

Google Travel Feeling Intensified Antitrust Pressure

Media and PR

Top 10 Most Popular Skift Stories of 2017

These 10 Skift stories got the most clicks in 2017, and none were clickbait. The list shows Skift readers love hotel and online travel stories, original reporting, analysis and breaking news.

Top 10 Most Popular Skift Stories of 2017

Hotels

CEO Interview: Veteran Hotelier Stephen Brandman on Reinventing Lifestyle Hotel Management

Journal Hotels is out to prove that you don't necessarily need to be a brand to succeed in the increasingly crowded lifestyle hotel space.

CEO Interview: Veteran Hotelier Stephen Brandman on Reinventing Lifestyle Hotel Management

Tourism

The Detroit Travel Story Is Starting to Get Rewritten by the Black Travel Movement

The mainstream media currently has control of the Detroit travel story, but the Black Travel Movement is about to redefine what it means to visit the blackest city in America.

The Detroit Travel Story Is Starting to Get Rewritten by the Black Travel Movement

Airlines

Teague Works on a Design Fix to Cramped Middle Seats

Teague is trying to take creative approaches to solving some of the most annoying parts of travel.

Teague Works on a Design Fix to Cramped Middle Seats

Tourism

Brexit Uncertainties in Aviation and Tourism Loom Large in 2018

With the situation still far from clear, the biggest Brexit-related problem is the uncertainty it has unleashed on the UK. Consumers are worried and businesses can't plan for the future. Both of which point to a pretty bleak 2018.

Brexit Uncertainties in Aviation and Tourism Loom Large in 2018

Media and PR

Best Travel News Stories of 2017

Our favorites of the year were stories that you could find nowhere else. Each featured hours — or months — of phone calls or in-person interviews, and provided insights about an important development or trend. Each of these talented journalists, you could find nowhere else, either.

Best Travel News Stories of 2017