Alison McCarthy

New research shows that travelers that book trips via online travel agencies will play a significant role in hospitality’s recovery. Hoteliers that keep the evolving wants and needs of OTA travelers in mind will have an advantage as properties reimagine how they do business.

As the hospitality industry pushes ahead on the road to recovery, Hilton remains optimistic about the future, supported by a resilient business model and a strong commercial engine. Continued conversion signings, new development, and extended stay brands are contributing to the expansion of its one million room portfolio.

After Peloton’s advertising fiasco, other fitness technology brands will likely step it up this season and market themselves as the “It” holiday gift. And because wearables cost so much less than a Peloton bike — even for the top-of-the-line Apple Watch — chances are they’ll see a surge in seasonal sales.

More people want wellness woven into their travel than ever before, whether through retreats or one-off experiences, and the trend will likely gain momentum in the next decade.

To get customers in the door, retailers — whether grocery stores or athleisure brands — are offering fitness classes. It’s not a bad idea considering the popularity of working out these days, combined with the struggles of brick-and-mortar.

It’s low-risk for big brands like Gap and Express to launch digital-native wellness brands considering the unfit state of brick-and-mortar sales. If these companies find success, other retailers may follow suit.

If you think about it, airlines and meditation apps make a perfect pairing. Headspace currently has a stronghold when it comes to in-flight meditation, but the new Inscape and JetBlue partnership could chip away at its dominance.

SoulCycle is smart to try and cash in on the wellness retreat trend — and look for other ways to make money so it can keep up with Peloton. For that to happen, though, it’s going to need to garner a lot of interest.

If Alphabet does indeed buy Fitbit, it'll be great news for the tracking brand. To keep in step with Apple Watch, though, Fitbit will have to ramp up its innovation. Needless to say, Alphabet has its work cut out for it.

Giant companies see the benefits of investing in wellness — and have enough money to take chances. But the wellness landscape, as we all know, is littered with fads gone bust.