2020 Archives

The $27 billion software deal creates a new melting pot of users for travel tech platforms to tap in to. The race is on.

Enhancing the traveler journey with the right combination of contactless digital experiences, socially distanced service touchpoints, and personalized information and offers can help return us to a time when the travel journey is just as enjoyable as the destination.

When the pandemic hit, some industry leaders forecast airlines and travel agencies would set aside their plans to reshape how tickets are distributed and sold. But a top executive at British Airways has some evidence to the contrary.

In our top travel stories this week, Skift Editorial and Skift Research covered Airbnb and short-term rentals from every angle. Our most popular stories also included the latest acquisition of Lonely Planet, an interview with former Continental Airlines CEO Gordon Bethune, and the false hope of digital passports.

Airbnb played the Booking.com-like performance marketing game in 2019, and got burned as losses piled up and revenue growth didn't keep pace. A centerpiece of Airbnb's roadshow is to show that its brand advantage and repeat visitor dynamics mean it doesn't have to deploy the same strategy as its peers.

The U.S. hotel sector continues to add jobs since its worst-performing month of April, but there are likely a rough few months ahead for unemployment until a vaccine is in widespread distribution.

Nine travel startups have recently announced more than $43 million in funding, collectively. Concepts include virtual interlining for airlines, management software for travel agents, and booking services for places like Namibia and South Korea.

Marriott still sees Homes & Villas as a small part of its entire business. But the platform grew by eight times its launch size in less than two years and added 4,000 listings just since October — a rare hotel industry silver lining for 2020.

Everyone makes mistakes, but fraudulent expenses cost companies a lot of money. Travel platforms have a chance to step in and help.

Airbnb likely isn't shaking in its boots over Accor ramping up short-term rental offerings. If anything, it shows hotel companies increasingly recognize travelers expect brands to offer more variety than the four walls of a typical hotel room.