Isaac Carey

Reducing food waste and environmental impacts are proving to be difficult for meeting planners. The sector's antiquated way of doing business is holding up progress at a moment when widespread change is necessary.

It's not enough for companies to offer online booking tools — they need to not only make sure employees know how to use them but also do a better job at keeping up with digital trends.

This week in tourism, wildly expensive resort Banwa Private Island is under investigation by Philippine authorities, and negative press threatens to harm the Dominican Republic's travel industry. Plus, be sure to check out our newest Skift research, where we explore the future of international travel.

This week in hospitality, higher room rates make boutique hotels attractive to Best Western, Hyatt strategically builds new relationships with hoteliers worldwide, and Marriott's chief commercial officer discusses the role of Google in driving business.

This week in digital news, Cvent adds a third event platform to its growing portfolio, Airbnb launches its own version of a traditional tour service, and Africa's largest online travel agency plans to move into the corporate travel space.

This week in aviation, airlines grapple with increasing pressure to reduce their environmental impact. Plus, one of the world's largest airline groups is finally moving into Asia, after partnering with regional airline Thai Smile.

Going forward TripActions hopes direct connections with airlines can give it a leg up on the competition. Encouraging its customers to use the functionality, though, could be tricky.

This week in tourism, the U.S. political climate is having a big impact on travel: the Trump administration heavily restricted trips to Cuba, and controversial government policies are making the states less attractive to international visitors. Meanwhile, Vietnam grows as a destination for Russian tourists.

This week in hospitality, Marriott feels obligated to get into homesharing to keep its customers coming back, and we explore the ramifications of an Accor-owned Oyo. Plus, we talk to hotel glass attendant Anthony Benitez about the ins and outs of his unique job.

This week in digital news, Google, Facebook, and Amazon may be facing tough antitrust enforcement from U.S. regulators, making life easier for some travel companies. Plus, TripAdvisor responds to a petition started by a sexual assault survivor, and General Atlantic invests in a tech startup known for selling cheap air tickets.