Jeremy Kressmann

There's obvious safety and privacy reasons to limit widespread use of drones at popular tourist sites. But perhaps there's a way these robotic flying machines, if used responsibly, can still inspire and excite travelers' imaginations.

As companies as wide-ranging as the railroad industry to Facebook have realized, if you control the infrastructure other companies need to deliver their products, you win. As many travel brands now realize, APIs are that infrastructure for the internet.

Voice-powered travel search, circa 2016, is still very much a beta test. But don't laugh: The day when travelers can book a flight or hotel using only their voice isn't far off.

Traveler demand for, and use of, Internet connection services is soaring, creating a dilemma for travel brands that must walk a precarious tightrope between charging for access and risking customer anger over unreliable free service.

Fliers consistently rave about the perks and convenience of airlines like Porter. But the sad truth is that more powerful industry competitors and government regulators can make or break the success of upstarts, simply by denying access to key airports or limiting their growth.

Digital payments are big business. It's not just a question of how travelers spend. It's about the market power that comes from knowing how they spend, and other companies' access to that information.

Airbnb's new user-generated city guides feature suggests the company has aspirations that extend well beyond the hospitality and accommodations-sharing sector. Companies like Yelp and TripAdvisor are likely watching this new move with interest.

Luxury travel marketing is at an interesting crossroads, as consumers' attitudes and spending adjusts to more uncertain times. Will luxury marketers' shift towards experiences over "things" be enough to ride out the downturn?

Why are brands like Apple, Disney and Nike are among the world’s most valuable? Because they’re able to embody a lifestyle, offering consumers access to an emotional connection that goes well beyond their product offering.

Without the added dose of Internet outrage, would Rhode Island's new tourism campaign have been as negatively received? These days Destination marketing is as much about appealing to online audiences as it is about reaching potential visitors.