2017 › August

In some ways, perhaps … but one big difference between hotels and airlines is that hotels want their consumers to actually like (maybe even love) them. While with airlines, that might be a different story as some recent events would demonstrate (we're looking at you, United).

TUI's chief executive is nailing his colors to the mast when it comes to blockchain and its benefits for the travel industry. In theory the technology is great — and TUI has already identified an effective way to use it — but will the hype be justified?

Khosrowshahi has been reflective and honest as CEO of Expedia, taking ownership of his failures along the way. At Uber, the company will have a leader who has overseen both explosive growth and clever repositioning.

So much for taking a summer vacation. This year, the hotel industry was busy making major moves and investments, as well as launching new brands, properties, and policies.

Over the past five years of running Skift, I’ve seen clearly that the largest consumer and tech changes converge in travel, and what’s happening here has lessons for the world beyond the industry.

There are five tons of heavy lifting to be done to reenergize and transform Uber — and it all has to be done in one of the brightest business spotlights that there is. Uber has made its selection — let's see how Khosrowshahi begins to handle it.

This pick came out of left field, but totally makes sense considering the path that Khosrowshahi has led Expedia along over the past decade and more.

Responsible travel brands are taking steps to ban bookings of tourist attractions involving direct human interactions with animals. Given all the SeaWorld controversies that the film "Blackfish" uncovered, coupled with ongoing federal probes, couldn't ASTA have picked an alternative venue for its opening reception?

This week's aviation news went global. KLM started accepting WeChat Pay, a staple for Chinese consumers; Air Berlin's bankruptcy dented the European market, and Qantas suggested a 20-hour nonstop.

Historic hotels should do a better job in playing up what has occurred behind their walls. The hard-earned patina can be unique in a world that emphasizes the sparkling and new.