Skift Take

This week in tourism, Visit Florida gained its first female CEO, Dana Young, who is also the first former state elected official in the role. And don't miss our upcoming Skift Call on Jan. 16, free and open to the public, in which our research team breaks down the financial storm clouds hanging over 2019.

Tourism News Weekly Roundup

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 tourism trends.

For all of our weekend roundups, go here.

>>Visit Florida’s recent history has been rocky. Will a former Republican lawmaker have success making the case to her old colleagues for increased funding? New Visit Florida CEO Comes Straight From Political Arena

>>You’re hearing a lot of doomsday forecasts for 2019. Global recession. Stock market rout. Runaway inflation. We’re here to give you the flip side for how travel this year could be just fine. Listen to our experts on Wednesday, January 16 at 1 p.m. EST on a Skift Call. Please join us for this all-important discussion: Skift Call Jan. 16: Why Travel Needs to Shake Off the Gloom in 2019

>>No destination gets away uncriticized for imposing a tax on tourists. Japan is no exception, especially since the destination is loved by millions of tourists and it isn’t clear-cut why they are being taxed. But it’s unlikely tourists will say sayonara to Japan, say operators: Japan Rolls Out New Departure Tax Opposed by Airlines

>>This is the year of luxury brand collaborations. Two sectors that are coming together in a particularly big way are hospitality and automotive. We look at what’s driving the motor trend: Car Companies Team With Luxury Hotels to Drive High-End Road Trips

>>Travel Advisors seeking to grow their clientele can’t afford to ignore the growing diversity of U.S. travelers. In particular, Hispanic and Asian communities are increasingly wielding considerable economic impact: Hispanic and Asian Travelers Can Play to Travel Advisor Strengths

>>Travel advisors need to be tech-savvy and sensitive to the needs of ethnic travelers, who tend to travel with extended family, some of whom may not be fluent in English: Travel Advisor Innovation Report: How to Tap Into the Multicultural Travel Market

>>The partial government shutdown started just before Christmas, a slow time for work-related trips. But now that 2019 is well underway, business travelers are feeling an impact that will only grow if the impasse persists: Business Travel Is Taking a Hit From the Government Shutdown

>>Destinations with a distinct character are finding ways to take advantage of their identity while evolving, presenting themselves as platforms for both business innovation and leisure fun: Pittsburgh Turns to Tech for Future Meetings Appeal

>>Event planners in Pittsburgh this week were eager to try new ways to not just engage attendees, but keep them returning year after year. Technology is only part of the answer: Secondary Cities Become Dynamic Destinations

>>The business travel sector is still bullish on growth, even if financial markets have entered a state of uncertainty. So long as the economy continues to hum along, experts think everything will be fine: Business Travel Remains Optimistic Despite Slowdown Warning Signs

>>Business travel should grow in 2019. The question remains by how much, given the likelihood of increased uncertainty for global corporations: Experts Dismiss Trade War Worries

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Tags: tourism, Travel Trends, trends roundups

Photo credit: Miami Beach with cruise ship in background on Sept. 30, 2013. Visit Florida has a new CEO. katsuhiro7110 / Flickr

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