TUI and Thomas Cook Tackle Brexit and 10 Other Tourism Trends This Week

>>Travel companies and those destinations that rely on UK tourists may want as little as possible to change after Brexit. The problem is that the ultimate decision is out of their hands: Europe Travel Giants TUI and Thomas Cook Still Searching for Brexit Answers

>>Tour buses bring thousands of people to Rome each day, but many increasingly run on cleaner fuels than their passenger car counterparts. Buses also replace some of those cars and probably know the traffic laws better than the average driver, another reason that has us scratching our heads at Rome’s plan: Rome Tour Bus Restriction Stirs Europe’s Latest Overtourism Controversy

>>If you’re reading the papers, Zimbabwe’s economy looks like a disaster from the outside. But it offers one of the most interesting tourism experiences in Africa at the moment, and intrepid travelers have taken note: Zimbabwe Is Boosting Tourism Despite Its Ravaged Economy

>>Pot tourism has become a big business in places like Colorado where marijuana has been legalized. Caribbean tourism officials wish local governments would legalize the drug to get pot tourism experiences and events on the map: Caribbean Destinations Gear Up for Pot Tourism Even While Weed Is Still Illegal

>>Consultant Nolan Burris is a pioneer in advocating that travel agencies charge service fees. Now that the practice has become standard, Burris says many agencies have failed to realize the revenue potential of service packages and need to overhaul their approach: Travel Advisors Are Selling Concierge Services — Just Don’t Call Them Fees

>>Travel advisors need to reinvent how they market themselves. It’s not about service fees anymore. Forward-thinking agents sell service packages — unabashedly: Travel Advisor Innovation Report: Sell Services, Not Fees

>>Exercise, yoga, and meditation are surging in popularity, but consumers are as time-crunched as ever. It’s no wonder that the audio-based fitness brand Aaptiv (yes, there’s an app for that) has taken off: Wellness Newsletter: ‘Spotify of Fitness’ Aaptiv Takes Its Audio Workouts Global

>>Luxury travel advisors are experts at planning a five-star vacation for their clients, but agents are more frequently being asked to add a more local element to their plans. A lot of behind-the-scenes work goes into making sure these experiences go off without a hitch: Luxury Agents Try to Combine High-Level Service With Street-Level Experiences

>>Taking a peek behind the scenes during earnings seasons offers some useful insights. Can Norwegian make a successful play for bigger cruise spenders, and will Belmond eventually sell itself? Norwegian Targets High-Spending Cruise Customers

>>Eventbrite’s rise should be a lesson for the overall event tech ecosystem: Make something that is easy to use and powerful enough to scale, and customers will come: What Eventbrite Tells Us About the Big Business of Events

>>We’ve confirmed top speakers to take the stage and our program is taking shape. Join us for the inaugural Skift Forum Asia, where the Future of Travel Will Be Tested: Skift Forum Asia Update: Program, Speakers and Super Early Bird Tickets