Priceline Invests $450 Million in Chinese E-Commerce and 5 Other Digital Trends This Week

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.

>>Vacasa spent years building a business before venture capital came along for the ride at this level. Its fate now depends on how well it executes the sometimes-cumbersome task of adding new properties at scale, and whether it can avoid hubris: Vacasa Raises $103 Million as Venture Capital Commits to the Property Management Sector

>>Trivago, its parent Expedia, and Booking.com all want to provide business services to hotels. It’s easy to see the potential value to resource-strapped hotel managers. Still, many hoteliers remain suspicious of these giants: Trivago Launches a Subsidiary to Sell Hoteliers on Its Business Tools

>>Come work for the best boutique travel media research company on the planet! Skift Research Is Hiring a Full-Time European Analyst

>>We’ve heard for several years how travel brands will use new technology to make travel seamless. We wish it would happen next year. But it sounds like we’ll have to wait awhile. Perhaps someday we’ll get there: Video: Priceline CEO Glenn Fogel on How Artificial Intelligence Will Make Travel Seamless

>>The deal shows the pragmatism of Priceline Group’s new CEO toward China. Glenn Fogel chose to sync up with an additional local player rather than rely just on its existing partnership with Ctrip: Priceline Invests $450 Million in Chinese E-Commerce Giant Meituan-Dianping

>>Another day, another support system for travel startups. Given all these incubators and accelerators, travel startups must be enjoying a golden age of innovation and profitability. Right? Expedia Affiliate Network and Hotels.com Hop on Travel Startups Incubator Trend