2023 Archives

As we look to the future, planning event experiences is not enough. The next iteration of creating events is considering people’s desire for self-improvement and transformation.

Skift coined the term "permanxiety" in 2017 to describe how social, political, and climate turmoil is coloring consumer expectations, including for travel. Permanxiety has only been compounded since on the heels of war and a pandemic. Travel companies need to make sure newly upbeat services and messages aren't out of sync with the gloomy mood music in many travelers' heads.

Like it or not, automation via artificial intelligence is coming to the creative side of the travel industry, first marketing and graphic design. Adapting to the inevitable change is key.

Whatever you call it — travel insurance, fintech, trip protection, peace of mind — the past several years have shown travelers the importance of having a safety net. That shift has led to new opportunities for travel brands to use insurance products to improve their technology, increase loyalty, build lifetime customer value, and drive revenue.

Millennials now surpass Boomers as the largest sector of the U.S. population, giving rise to a new class of “anywhere travelers.” This group has a strong passion for experiences that taking them to less obvious destinations. These habits, in their own way a new form of balancing overtourism, will put new destinations in focus.

After years of delay, guest sentiment pushed Airbnb into more transparent pricing. It’s great for the short-term rental sector, and many competitors large and small will have little choice but to follow.

2023 will be the year of AI. To realize its full potential, travel companies need to rethink their entire philosophies around data, analytics, and decision-making.

Integrating wellness into hospitality is nothing new, but doing it in a holistic way that factors in broader sustainability goals and aligns with community values points to a new way forward.

As more and more travelers turn to short-form content for trip discovery and inspiration, the stage is set for destination marketing organizations (DMOs) to fully embrace this popular format as the most effective way to engage with today’s audiences.

​​As the luxury travel landscape becomes increasingly competitive, destinations are thinking more strategically about how they can showcase the diversity of their nature-based and cultural offerings. For Abu Dhabi, this means spotlighting Saadiyat Island, a vibrant leisure, residential, business, and cultural hub.