Hotels Reveal Distribution Strategies 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.

>>When it comes to Wyndham finally offering loyalty program members discounted rates, it’s always better late than never, right? Wyndham Finally Joins Competitors With Discounted Loyalty Rates

>>IHG CEO Keith Barr said business travel is continuing to grow — and evolve. How will the global company address those realities in 2018? IHG CEO Believes There’s More Opportunity in the Midscale Hotel Sector

>>As we’ve noted before, as much as hotels and online travel agencies may not necessarily love one another, they certainly need each other. Their current love-hate relationship will certainly change, however, if and when other players like Airbnb or Google become bigger players in the hotel booking space: Hotel CEOs Reveal Strategies for Expedia, Google and Airbnb

>>Wynn’s departure has us thinking about another hotelier (a hotel brand, really) with much less success in the gaming industry, and even more proof of having committed assaults against women. But, alas, it’s proving much tougher to get him to resign: Steve Wynn Is Out as Wynn Resorts CEO Effective Immediately

>>There’s nothing better than a travel CEO, like Filip Boyen of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, who isn’t afraid to speak his mind: Small Luxury Hotels CEO: Soft Brands Aren’t Hurting Our Business

>>Anyone willing to bet that you may find your favorite “mass-produced” hotel chains on Airbnb in the not-too-distant future? Airbnb Strikes Deal to Make a Bigger Hotel Push