China Shuts Down Marriott’s Website and 5 Other Hospitality 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 hospitality.

For all of our weekend roundups, go here.

>>Airbnb has been moving beyond homesharing for awhile now. After venturing into experiences and dining, what part of travel will the company tackle next? Airbnb Co-Founder Wants to Offer All Forms of Travel

>>Customization, wellness, and technology are must-haves for any luxury hotel brand that wants to remain relevant — regardless of the age of their customers: Luxury Hoteliers Believe Customization Is Key to Winning Over Millennials

>>NH Hotels may have turned down this approach, but it has not closed the door on others. And with minority shareholder HNA Group looking to raise cash, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see another offer sooner rather than later: NH Hotels Turns Down Barceló Merger Offer But Is Open to Others

>>Tripping, a leader among vacation rental price-comparison startups, is facing fierce competition from rivals like HomeToGo, Holidu, and Hundredrooms thanks to a flurry of fundings in the past year: Vacation Rental Search Startups Face Intensifying Rivalry

>>The world’s biggest operator of ski resorts, Compagnie des Alpes, wants to fend off the threat of third-party distribution by offering consumers a one-stop shop for booking all parts of a trip. Leave it to the French to lead the resistance: Ski Resort Operator Compagnie des Alpes Buys Travelfactory

>>This incident is a tough reminder for Marriott and many other global companies that when it comes to China, especially, everything is politics: China Shuts Down Marriott’s Website and Mobile App Over Tibet Gaffe