The Future Is Now — Corporate Travel Innovation Report

Allow me to reintroduce myself. This is Andrew Sheivachman, Skift’s Business Travel Editor, and I’ll be editing the Skift Corporate Travel Innovation Report going forward.

Over the last two years, we’ve examined the trends that have driven the sector toward a stronger focus on what business travelers actually need to succeed.

Now, we’re diving deeper into the disruption that is taking place across the industry, ranging from distribution issues to the ways in which technology will transform the traveler experience.

We’ll also examine the wider international competition among corporate travel agencies, along with the dynamics affecting travel buyers at the world’s largest companies. Expect deep dives and features on the thorny, complex issues that define the industry.

You can reach me any time with tips, thoughts, or concerns via email at [email protected] or on my Twitter handle @sheivach.

I hope you’ll follow along as we cover the news and trends that will define the corporate travel ecosystem in the future.

— Andrew Sheivachman, Business Travel Editor

Business of Buying

Airbnb Growth Story Has a Plot Twist — A Saturation Point: As Airbnb tries to become the only brand in travel that you’ll ever need, it’s not just the hotel industry that the company has to contend with, but online travel agencies, too. We can just imagine the hotels telling Airbnb, “Welcome to the club.”

Langham Hotels Parent Reinvents Eaton Hotels for Socially Minded Millennials: So many brands today say they’re committed to social causes — but how many of them actually stick to those commitments? And how many of those companies are actually sustainable or profitable? Will Eaton Workshop be an exception?

Rental Car Companies Have Inched Their Way Back From the Brink: Now that the car rental giants have sold off their extra cars, they can focus on continuing to grow revenue. But is there really a long-term future for rental cars in a world that has embraced ridesharing?

Lyft Will Enter Canada as Its First Foreign Market: In Formula One, a race car will go where the driver’s eyes go. In capitalism, a startup will go where its investors see the most potential for market share gain. In the race between Lyft and Uber in Canada, the real winner now is the consumer, thanks to discounting.

Safety + Security

Third Trump Travel Ban Gets Partial Approval From Appeals Court: The ultimate outcome of the Trump administration’s travel ban push is far from over as both sides brace for a protracted battle.

Disruption + Innovation

Hilton and Marriott Turn to the Internet of Things to Transform the Hotel Room Experience: It was only a matter of time before the big brands started rolling this smart-room technology. But what will be even more interesting is seeing which brand’s approach works better in a hospitality setting, and is more appealing not only to guests but to hotel owners, too.

Why In-Flight Entertainment Screens May Persist on Long-Haul Routes: Airline in-flight entertainment systems never age well. They’re expensive, and they’re often heavy, so airlines burn more fuel having them on board. Why do they persist? Passengers — even those who bring their own devices — tend to like them. But can airlines keep installing these systems forever?

Airbnb Revenue Reached $1 Billion in Profitable Third Quarter: When is that IPO coming, again? And how interesting is it that this news comes just days after an arguable negative report from Morgan Stanley about the health of Airbnb’s business?

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Skift Business Travel Editor Andrew Sheivachman [[email protected]] curates the Skift Corporate Travel Innovation Report. Skift emails the newsletter every Thursday.

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