2022 Archives

Good morning from Skift. It's Friday, June 24 in New York City. Here's what you need to know about the business of travel today.

Startup Draper House, which is part of the billionaire investor's funding network, is the perfect embodiment of entrepreneurial tourism, a fast-growing sub sector that blends startup culture and venture capital with hospitality. Co-branding opportunities could help it expand rapidly.

Chinese hotels are now performing as well as they had been before the wave of coronavirus re-infection. Plus, news on Accor's expansion in India, Taiwan's tourism stimulus package, and more.

Whether it is executive compensation or the company's stock performance, there is clearly unease among Expedia Group shareholders.

A London startup is betting that travelers will take mystery vacations, learning their destinations at the airport. A Czech travel agency raises $100 million for expansion. And other venture capital and funding news this week.

Between August and November 2021, Japan Airlines (JAL) began a three-month promotion, making non-refundable flight tickets available in a discounted wholesale deal to travelers booking trips. 

Private passenger rail operator Brightline posted ridership up 20 percent in May compared to 2019, its third straight month with passenger numbers above pre-pandemic levels.

In a wide-ranging interview, Anthony Capuano said Marriott is testing adding buttons to its mobile app that would let guests choose their room assignments electronically or tip staff with online payments. The improvements couldn't come fast enough for many travelers.

Travel advisors don't love booking one-way flights for customers due to the additional work it entails. But the practice will continue to boom if airfares don't drop and airlines don't expand their flight schedules.

The accommodation sector in APAC is witnessing a fast paced recovery with 2022 revenue levels not far from reaching pre-pandemic levels. However, composition of the industry remains unclear with short-term rentals revenue share decreasing in 2022.