Skift Take

This week in tourism, cruise lines were busy. Celebrity Cruises is building a new luxury ship to sail the already expensive Galapagos, and Royal Caribbean is prioritizing new tech. We're more excited about facial recognition streamlining the boarding process than we are about virtual reality dining.

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.

>>As the year winds down, now is the best time to use your end-of-year budget on discounted tickets to Europe’s leading travel event! Skift Forum Europe Update: Speakers, Venue, and Early Bird Tickets

>>Travel warnings and alerts are important to many travelers, and any country that cares about tourism tries to avoid getting on such a list. But the U.S. State Department’s list is often selective and political, and isn’t an exhaustive list of places where travelers could face danger: Travel Warnings Create Global Worry Map For Anxious Tourists

>>When it comes to environmental impact, major cruise lines have a hard time sleeping at night. The smaller ones only occasionally wake up in a cold sweat: Video: Lindblad CEO on Cruising Despite Environmental Risks

>>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? Rental Car Companies Have Inched Their Way Back From the Brink

>>The cruise line tech race is heating up, and that means travelers should prepare for some changes. While ideas such as virtual reality dining are fun, more fundamental innovations including facial recognition, easier activity reservations, and drink delivery should have a greater impact on the cruise experience: Royal Caribbean Is Rolling Out New Tech to Make Cruising Easier

>>Through a new venture with KSL Capital Partners, Aspen Skiing Company (Skico) is broadening its scope far beyond Colorado. But it’s not only about amassing mountains. Skico is concentrating on building a new boutique hotel brand, which is raising eyebrows in its newest destination: Consolidation Is Reshaping the North American Ski Market

>>There are so many parallels between the luxury fashion and travel industries. Consolidation in both is bringing challenges as well as opportunities: What Travel Can Learn From the Fashion Industry — New Luxury

>>Scotland’s government and convention bureau want meeting planners, especially those in the U.S., to grasp that there’s cutting-edge innovation in advanced industries taking place in the UK outside London: Visit Scotland’s New Meetings Campaign Promotes Silicon Over Salmon

>>People already pay a pretty penny to sail the Galapagos Islands. Will they spend more to do it on a new, high-end ship? Celebrity Cruises is banking on it: Celebrity Cruises Is Building a Lux New Ship to Sail the Galapagos

>>As Airbnb and ridesharing services have become more popular, travel managers are dealing with the ramifications of a shift away from traditional travel products. This shift will only accelerate in coming years: The Future Is Now — Corporate Travel Innovation Report

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Tags: tourism, Travel Trends, trends roundups

Photo credit: A Royal Caribbean ship is shown at the company's private destination, Labadee, in Haiti. The company is rolling out new tech to make cruising easier. Royal Caribbean International

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