Business Travel News

It makes sense for hotels to step up their cultural programming, and for a certain high-end guest, it will provide an extra incentive to book.

Virtuoso is a you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours kind of business. The luxury travel network has some good programs to help member agencies, and that increases engagement with Virtuoso. It also provides learnings on how to keep refining the company.

ASTA's new Myanmar chapter and plans for training projects with Myanmar tourism should benefit travel advisors seeking more education about an intriguing destination once off-limits for travel. However, the fact that the country engages in ethnic cleansing is raising ethical questions about visiting there at this time.

The letter ASTA sent was over-ambitious and a little dramatic, but ultimately a smart move and way overdue.

Luxury is no longer defined by pristine interiors and personalized service but limited knowledge-based access, distinct cultural experiences, and curated, specific references. Luxury hotels opening the doors to those experiences set themselves apart for future generations of affluent travelers.

This week in tourism, The New York Times strikes out with its 52 Places To Go list, business is booming for a black-owned tourism pioneer, and a Thai retail personality speaks up on Thailand's tourism issues.

Will new travel management platforms emerge in Asia as they have elsewhere in recent years? Fragmentation and the digital habits of Asian travelers will make it an interesting challenge.

Luxury brands are gradually realizing the power of experiences and this is leading them to buy or partner with traditional travel and hospitality companies. Expect this trend to continue in 2019.

Several black-owned travel agencies in the U.S. will be sending clients on tours of Ghana this year to mark the Year of Return. African travel has been a pillar of their businesses for years, even before genealogical travel became a thing.

Henderson Travel, a black-owned agency founded back in the Civil Rights era, pioneered roots travel to Africa. Its continued success is a testament not just to the popularity of genealogical tourism, but a booming African-American travel market.