Skift Take

This week in digital news, we looked at how Avis is stretching beyond the traditional rental car business to offer new digital services, while TripAdvisor began mulling a loyalty strategy to take on giant Google. And we also looked at Eventbrite's struggles as a public company and what that means for the event tech sector.

Digital Travel 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 digital trends.

For all of our weekend roundups, go here.

Skift Global Forum Preview: Avis Tackles Digital Innovation Through Partnerships: Doing just traditional car rental isn’t going to cut it anymore, and Avis is rapidly expanding its alternative services.

Amex GBT Signs Deal With Kanoo Travel in Middle East Push: American Express Global Business Travel continues to add support in competitive regions around the world. Is another major acquisition on the way?

TripAdvisor Plots Loyalty Program in Campaign Against Google: A loyalty program from TripAdvisor could be a strong incentive for unaffiliated travelers to drive business to the online booker. But TripAdvisor will need to offer a unique program to change established user habits.

Sabre Dares U.S. Justice Department to Sue It Over Farelogix Deal: The travel technology giant said Wednesday it would go ahead with its planned $360 million acquisition on August 21. If the U.S. federal attorneys aren’t happy about it, they can sue, Sabre said. No travel tech company has used, and threatened in public to use, its lawyers as much as Sabre in the past decade.

Why Skyscanner Is Closing Its Stand-Alone Local Recommendations App: It’s no surprise to see Skyscanner absorb the last bits of the user-generated reviews brand formerly known as Gogobot. But the price-comparison search company’s bet on soliciting reviews from its own customers remains intriguing. The move highlights its ambition to become a superapp for travel.

Sabre’s Deal With Spirit Underscores Its Airline Tech Rebound: Spirit’s decision to buy more airline technology from Sabre signals two things. Sabre has overcome a sales slump. And Spirit is investing to cope with its growth.

Eventbrite’s Struggles Deepen as a Public Company: One has to wonder whether Eventbrite’s struggles as a public company will make the event-tech sector less attractive to investors in the future.

The Standard Hotels’ One Night to Launch New App Where Customers Operate as Travel Advisors: Crowdsourcing the booking process, if you will, is a smart strategy to make guests feel involved in the business.

AirPortr Raises $8.6 Million for Luggage Delivery: Travel Startup Funding This Week: Investors have bet on some innovative business models. AirPortr has hand-delivered about 100,000 bags from homes to airports, lifting a worry off the hands of Londoners as they pass through airport security. PaulCamper is an Airbnb for RVs. Meanwhile, SleepBox converts spare hotel rooms into video game halls and other social zones for college students.

Amex GBT Makes Strategic Move in Middle East: American Express Global Business Travel continues to strike strategic deals around the world. Its competitors are doing the same, and one has to wonder how all the international competition will shake out.

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Tags: digital, Travel Trends, trends roundups

Photo credit: Avis is looking to up its game with digital innovations, starting with partnerships. Avis Budget Group / Facebook

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