Thomas Cook’s Hard Year and 10 Other Tourism Trends This Week

>>Thomas Cook might have been a victim of circumstance, but it probably hasn’t helped itself. It is caught between the asset-heavy approach of TUI and smaller, more nimble online rivals. It needs to get its house in order to ensure it doesn’t keep repeating the same mistakes: What Went Wrong at Thomas Cook in 2018?

>>This past year served up headlines that certainly didn’t end with the start of another news cycle. The ripple effects were felt across all of travel. Follow the trends of the moments that we have pointed out here — and be prepared to ride their waves well into 2019 and beyond: 25 Travel Moments That Mattered in 2018

>>Two and a half years after the Brexit vote, the UK is still sorting out its departure from the European Union. As the clock ticks down and the situation gets more serious, we should expect more horror stories in the coming months: Truth, Fiction and the Pain Travel Companies Still Suffer From UK’s Brexit Chaos

>>Carnival Corp. had a rough day on Wall Street after its forecast for 2019 disappointed. Executives at the world’s largest cruise company are hoping to far surpass the low expectations they laid out Thursday: Carnival’s Lackluster Outlook Raises Concerns for 2019

>>The ongoing investigation into the painting of the Batu Caves steps points to a greater need to appropriately preserve heritage sites. Protecting a country’s history and heritage for future generations should come first; increasing the number of Instagram “likes” and “tags” a heritage site gets should come second: Kuala Lumpur’s Batu Caves Reveal Heritage Tourism’s Struggles in an Instagrammable World

>>With little unrest in recent years, tourism demand for Egypt is making a big comeback. Tour operators are beefing up offerings and agents are seeing renewed interest among clients: Agents and Tour Operators See a Surge of Interest in Egypt

>>Today’s luxury agent has to be part travel advisor, part business person, and part life coach. Finding candidates with this trifecta of skills is no easy task. That’s why a pair of top luxury agency consortia is tackling the recruitment conundrum through education: Luxury Agency Groups Tackle the Recruitment Conundrum

>>LVMH’s decision might seem strange on the surface, but in reality it makes a lot of sense for a company that wants to make sure it has a piece of all things luxury: LVMH’s $2.6 Billion Bet on High-End Experiences

>>We predicted CBD oil would be a thriving business in 2019 –– but it will soon likely be a skyrocketing one, thanks to the passage of the new farm bill. This means consumers may find a whole lot of anxiety relief, and hemp farmers and product manufacturers will likely see big profits: New Farm Bill Spells Good News for the Cannabis Industry

>>After years of dormancy, tourism to Egypt is coming back strong. Tour operators are expanding their products and departure dates, while travel advisors are seeing renewed interest among clients to visit what is for many a bucket-list destination: Travel Advisor Innovation Report: Egypt Bookings on Upswing

>>We’re hosting our inaugural Skift Forum Asia at Singapore’s Equarius Hotel, part of the acclaimed Resorts World complex on beautiful Sentosa Island. Hope to see you there! Skift Forum Asia Will Be at Singapore’s Resorts World Sentosa