Humanity Returns to Travel and 15 Other Tourism Trends This Week

Throughout the week we post dozens of original stories, connecting the dots across the travel industry, and every weekend we sum it all up. This weekend roundup examines tourism.

For all of our weekend roundups, go here.

>>Skift is getting even more local and global in our reporting with our new Gateway series, which includes news stories, insights, and analysis from our correspondents embedded around the world: Skift Launches Gateway Series: Stories From Correspondents Embedded Around the World

>>Despite concern over tension between China and the U.S., Chinese business travelers see more potential investment opportunities under the new U.S. administration: Bombastic Rhetoric Won’t Crimp Travel Between China and U.S.

>>Chinese travelers see Europe — and the UK in particular — as a big sale sign: Europe Bounces Back as Top Destination for Chinese Travelers After Volatile Year

>>Boat rentals have become even more serious business and are more accessible to travelers: 5 New Travel Startups Knocking Out Winter Blues With Boat Rentals

>>Startup Triip is now doing the reverse of unicorn Airbnb: Triip is adding lodging to experiences, powered by Booking.com: Asia Tours Startup Triip Adds Accommodations to Cope With Last-Minute Bookings

>>Disney is a case study for travel and hospitality companies on how to think and look outside of travel, when building globally successful businesses and brands: New Skift Research Report: A Deep Dive Into Disney’s Competitive Position in Travel

>>2016 U.S. travel jobs growth wasn’t as robust as the previous year because of global events and a litany of other factors: U.S. Travel Industry Jobs Ended 2016 With Modest Gains and Smaller Growth

>>Unexpected business travel growth in the U.S. is good news for the travel industry — but will it last? Did U.S. Business Travel Benefit From a Trump Bump?

>>There is no CEO at Virgin Holidays, perhaps because of its very close relationship with airline Virgin Atlantic; instead it is led by a Managing Director: Virgin Holidays Top Exec Leaves for Sister Company Virgin Atlantic

>>Meeting planners have a lot of opportunities to grow as professionals by becoming more involved in business strategy, but meetings industry organizations can do more to support that evolution: Redefining Meeting Planners as Business Event Strategists — Meetings Innovation Report

>>While Brexit shouldn’t take all the blame for the demise of All Leisure Group, it seems to have played a part: All Leisure Group’s Failure Hints at Brexit Upheaval to Come

>>Supertravelers weigh in on what travel companies get right — and wrong — when it comes to practices and customer service: Skift Podcast: How Travel Companies Can Win the Hearts of Supertravelers

>>From overtourism to power-hungry digital platforms to big hospitality and beyond: These are the trends we’re watching closely in 2017: The Megatrends Defining Travel in 2017

>>Travel management companies and providers of travel would do well to pay attention to the needs of supertravelers. Some aren’t that difficult: Meeting the Needs of Supertravelers — Skift Corporate Travel Innovation Report

>>If the government itself supports the use of transportation networking companies for its workers, what are the possible chances of them regulating the industry in the future? Congress Is Close to Letting Government Biz Travelers Expense Uber and Lyft

>>Hospitality is all about the very human trait of empathy. And businesses need to remember that humans should remain front and center to create incredible experiences, helped — but in no way supplanted — by modern technology: Travel Megatrends 2017: Humanity Returns to Travel