Artificial Intelligence Vs. Tourism Jobs and 7 Other Digital Trends This Week

>>Travel executives love to say that their employees are at the heart of their brands and they are on the front lines of the guest and visitor experience. Employees will toast to that notion, but hope they won’t have to tussle with a robot or virtual assistant to prove their worth: Tourism Jobs Numbers Increase Despite Modest Introduction of Artificial Intelligence

>>Tools are finally emerging that empower event professionals with the insights they need to better understand how attendees operate at events and the value created for sponsors. It’s about time, and these tools will only become more useful over time as event planners learn more about what makes their gatherings successful: The Era of Personalization in Event Tech Is Finally Here

>>Skift has brought on two new team leaders to build the next phase of growth of our Editorial and Research teams: Skift Adds Senior Editorial and Research Leadership to Team

>>Do locals spend more money on at-home activities than travelers spend on in-trip activities? The answer isn’t as pressing as the fact that most of the world’s activities are still up for grabs by booking platforms: Skift Forum Europe Preview: What Travelers Want From Activities

>>The phrase “cash is king” is fast becoming outdated as Chinese travelers popularize mobile payment methods like Alipay and Weixin Pay: Alipay Steps Up Push to Cater to Chinese Travelers in the U.S.

>>Cruise lines had a lot of big plans for China a few years ago, but as the market has cooled, those plans are changing. SkySea Cruises shows that winning Chinese travelers isn’t as easy as taking an old ship and tailoring it to local preferences: Royal Caribbean Ends Its Joint Venture With Ctrip in China

>>Meeting and event planners know they need to do a better job tailoring events to their attendees and providing their sponsors with a stronger idea of how successful their partnership has been. New solutions will make it easier for them to make informed decisions moving forward: Personalized Events Empower Planners and Attendees

>>The CEO of Apple Leisure Group isn’t concerned about the prospect of virtual reality or other technology taking the place of actual vacations. But he is worried about the impact of policy that throws up roadblocks to traveling — a much more immediate concern: Apple Leisure Group CEO Believes Vacations Are Much Better Than Virtual Reality