WeChat Debuts Tools for Tourism Boards and 4 Other Digital 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 digital trends.

For all of our weekend roundups, go here.

>>Many tourism boards now have entire teams dedicated to China and WeChat. It’s a very complex task for foreigners to get the content right, but it appears as though WeChat parent Tencent is trying to make the platform more accessible for tourism boards: WeChat Debuts Tools to Make It Easier for Tourism Boards to Create Microsites

>>In 2017, politics dominated the headlines, which were built out of travel bans in the United States and the UK confirming to the European Union that the divorce would indeed proceed. Kick back for the upcoming holidays. We’ll all need plenty of energy for 2018: 25 Travel Moments That Mattered in 2017

>>Lastminute.com Group’s attempt to wean itself off low-margin flight ticket sales gets accelerated with this deal. The relatively low purchase price makes it a relatively risk-free acquisition: Lastminute.com Group Speeds Pivot With Purchase of Germany’s Weg.de

>>Is the revamped tax code a “gift for hard-working Americans” as President Trump declared, or just a gift for corporations already reaping record profits? For now, travel executives seem way more excited than the general public: Travel Companies Enthusiastically Back Tax Bill That Majority of Americans Oppose

>>This week, startups raised funding to help simplify cross-border transactions, lend consumers money to book travel, offer airport valet services, map interior spaces, automate back-office processes for rental property managers, and split the booking of multiple-night hotel stays. They’ll have a happy New Year for sure: Airwallex Closes $19 Million Round for Payments Tech: Travel Startup Funding This Week