How the EU Invented Modern Travel and 11 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.

>>The big question on our minds: Can Airbnb’s Trips venture prove to be a moneymaker for both hosts and the company in the long term? This Is What Airbnb Trips Hosts Really Think of Airbnb’s Newest Product

>>Nobody would argue that the European Union is a perfect institution, but not only has it helped foster a degree of unity between former enemies, but it has also ushered in an era of unparalleled freedom for its citizens. Brexit has put all that under threat: New Series Launch: How the European Union Invented Modern Travel and Tourism

>>Better late than never. Sales teams for meetings and events are finally starting to use software to forecast demand and extract the most money possible: Meetings Industry Is Getting Savvier About Setting Prices

>>The timing of this announcement – in the same week that the UK formally starts the Brexit process – shows that the Mayor of London is keen to show the city is still very much willing to work with Europe: London Signs Tourism Agreement With Paris While the UK Prepares for Brexit

>>Carnival Corp. is seeing strong demand and a willingness to pay more in its key markets. That’s good news for the company and the industry in general, but China will warrant close attention if the dispute with Korea is not resolved quickly: Carnival Expects a Strong Year Despite Tensions in Asia

>>Much of the travel industry remains in denial about the risks of Brexit. As the countdown starts to the UK’s divorce from the EU in April 2019, here’s a recap of the best coverage on Skift: Brexit Briefing: What the Travel Industry Needs to Know

>>Better personalizing booking and travel tools for business travelers is something of a holy grail in corporate travel: CEO Interview: CWT’s Kurt Ekert on Making Life Better for Business Travelers

>>After years in the tourism wilderness, the tide has turned and business is booming in the northern reaches of Zimbabwe: Tourism Flow to Victoria Falls Draws Flights and Lodging Investments

>>After a frank conversation with Carlson Wagonlit Travel CEO Kurt Ekert about the company’s past shortcomings and goals for the future, we’re more interested than ever before to see the new innovations developed to empower business travelers: Changing the Culture of Corporate Travel — Skift Corporate Travel Innovation Report

>>If young business travelers are making ride-sharing and home-sharing part of their routine, it’s only a matter of time before the alternative options become mainstream: Millennials Are the Biggest Adopters of Sharing Services in Business Travel

>>Data for the next few months will be more telling in how U.S. foreign policy is impacting travelers’ decisions: International Tourist Spending in the U.S. Set a New Record in January

>>The once lavishly funded tours startup Zozi says it is still healthy, though it had to lay off many employees. The restructuring will have Zozi de-emphasizing its consumer product to “double down” on its B2B reservation service unless another player swoops in for its assets: Tours Platform Zozi Parts Ways With Founder and CEO, Lays Off Some Staff