2017 › August

Consider this your CliffsNotes on all things Airbnb as the company continues to mature.

It's not that the travel industry doesn't understand that overtourism is a problem. It's an issue that at times might conflict with their bottom lines, and there is a lack of thoughtful and effective plans on how to deal with it. Guevara is already working on the topic — and we'll be watching to see how creative she and the WTTC can be.

Now that Hostelworld has largely finished integrating Hostelbookers, it can turn its attention to developing features that would make it more relevant to users during their travels. None of the initiatives are exactly game-changing, but what the company is hoping is that it will make travelers more likely to click on its app rather than that of a competitor.

We'll provide the venue, you bring the fun. Today, we are pleased to announce our Skift Global Forum Pre-Evening Opening Event venue.

We know it takes a long time to retrofit airplanes. And we know airlines hate to remove planes from service. But we wish Alaska could work faster to add speedy Wi-Fi. Three years is a long time to wait.

Yes, Americans do make video calls in their everyday lives. But they make them using machines they own. Do airline passengers want to resolve issues by using one of five kiosks in an airport terminal? Perhaps some do, but we're betting many will find the phone just as useful. This seems like it would have a been a novel announcement in 2009.

Leisure travel has seen increased technology capabilities in recent years, but managed travel still lags far behind. Using an integrated tool that incorporates mobile experiences found in the leisure space can help close the gap to improve traveler satisfaction, drive adoption, and increase savings.

A new Virtuoso survey focusing on coveted luxury destinations for fall and the holidays doesn't cover new territory, but some trends are revealed by reading between the lines.

The rapidly evolving conference and events sector is facing increasing competition. While competition brings better technology solutions, organizers need to maintain value in their conferences to remain viable in the long-term.

Should luxury companies introduce lower-priced offerings, or do they risk diluting their brand and/or cannibalizing business from the main brand? We look at how several high-end travel companies are approaching the challenge.