Airbnb Adds Social Features to Experiences, Expands ‘Reserve Now, Pay Later’
Airbnb has a lot riding on its Experiences business. Adding a social feature is an incremental improvement, not a game changer.
Dennis Schaal is Skift’s Founding Editor and Executive Editor. Dennis has been a reporter focusing on online travel and short-term rentals for more than two decades at Skift, Tnooz, USA Today, and Travel Weekly. He is well-known for tough one-on-one interviews on stage at Skift events, including with the CEOs and top execs of Expedia, Uber, Booking Holdings, Priceline, Kayak, Hopper, and more.
Amex Travel Posts Record Bookings as Chase Rivalry Heats Up
If you think the competition between Airbnb and Booking.com is hot, what about the rivalry between American Express Travel and Chase Travel? You'll be hearing lots more about it in years to come.
EU Lawmaker Wants Housing Rules to Tackle Short-Term Rentals
Member states of the European Union have little in the way of coordinated short-term rental policies other than a data-sharing pact. It's premature to predict whether a proposed affordable housing plan will have any answers.
Building Agentic Commerce Is ‘Imperative’ for Travel Companies
If consumers respond positively to agentic AI and if these ChatGPT apps gain traction, then travel companies will be required to develop them, just as they do today for the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Will AI Disrupt Booking and Other OTAs? One Analyst Says They’re ‘Well-Positioned’
Booking Holdings and the other online travel agencies have survived through several platform shifts in the past. However, the gen AI revolution finds them in slower growth mode than in past era, upping the pressure.
Hotels.com Lets Loyalty Members Use Discounts When Booking or Save Rewards for Later
This isn't a new loyalty program for Hotels.com, but a double-edged feature that may be attractive. The former book 10 nights and get one night free was very popular, but likely too expensive for the company.
Airbnb Ramps Up Its Hotel Biz With Global Job Openings
Airbnb's bid to vastly expand its hotel business will be labor intensive and a years-long effort. The job openings it is advertising are just the start.
Inside Airbnb’s Host Summit: Profile Changes for Property Managers, What Chesky Said – Scoop
The creation of business profiles for property managers on Airbnb would be a step forward in the name of transparency. Guests would be better served if they have a preference for individual versus professional hosts.
An Airbnb Loyalty Program Is In the Works and It Won’t Be Like Marriott Bonvoy
Airbnb will launch some type of membership program to give guests a reason to book a hotel on Airbnb rather than earn points elsewhere. It certainly won't be a clone of hotel group loyalty programs — that's not Airbnb's style.
Capital One Travel Taps Agoda B2B Veteran as New Head: Scoop
Capital One Travel landed an experienced travel B2B exec in Sarah Kaplan Moore, who hails from the online travel agency side of the ledger. Capital One's Discover acquisition potentially provides it with ammunition to better compete against leaders Chase Travel and American Express Travel.