European Destinations Target Chinese Travelers and 10 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 J-1 visa program is an invaluable resource for many travel industry businesses. It’s clear that any cuts to the program would be detrimental to the travel industry and the broader U.S. economy: Potential Visa-Program Cuts Have Travel Industry Alarmed

>>Different corporate departments have varied goals for business travel. What they can all agree on is that enabling mobile booking has gone from a luxury to a necessity: Business Travel Priorities Divide Corporate Leadership

>>Context is a scholarly tour business betting that digital marketing will let it replicate its model profitably worldwide. Other experiential tour businesses will watch with a skeptical (but hopeful) eye: Tour Operator Context Nets $5 Million in Funding for Its Daunting Task of Scaling

>>Some destinations preparing for Hurricane Maria were still bailing out from Hurricane Irma and the succession of intense hurricanes will have a long-term impact on many aspects of the region’s tourism industry: Hurricane Maria: Updates From the Travel Industry

>>From water parks to overseas investment, theme park operators are coming up with new ways to grow their business. One common thread: Find brands that have a built-in customer base and use them to attract new visitors: 5 Top Theme Park Trends Dominating the Season

>>Visit Philadelphia’s new videos target black travelers making at least $75,000 and aim to reclaim some lost market share. But the campaign sends a more nuanced message to a wider audience: Visit Philly Turns to The Roots to Attract More Black Tourists

>>Florida’s tourism industry was already having a turbulent year before one of the most active and destructive Atlantic hurricane seasons in years began playing out. Getting travelers to come back will require unified marketing efforts — and that’s currently in jeopardy: Visit Florida Is Planning Ways to Get Tourists Back After Hurricane Irma

>>Event overload is causing attendees to register later than ever, and early-bird discounts are so yesterday. It’s time for planners to get innovative: Meeting Planners Are Experimenting With New Tactics to Avoid Last-Minute Registrations

>>Will there ever be a day when last-minute event or meeting RSVPs are a thing of the past? Probably not: Timing Is Everything When It Comes to Event Planning — Meetings Innovation Report

>>Making business travel smoother and less painful is an admirable goal. But what’s the best way to do that? We expect to see even more technology solutions crop up to try to answer that question: Can Business Travel Ever Be Buttery Smooth? — Skift Corporate Travel Innovation Report

>>More destinations understand that WeChat is a different ball game than western channels and they’re getting smarter about how to reach Chinese travelers on the platform. The challenge is showing how Paris, for instance, is different from a city in Belgium or Germany that also wants to attract more tourism: European Destinations Are Trying to Stand Out to Chinese Travelers