Coronavirus and Travel

Hyatt might have improved performance from a year ago, but having to still report losses while others are touting a return to profits has to sting. Waning Omicron cases in 2022 are pointing to better days. Investors are hoping that's the case.

These aren’t going to be transformative deals for Choice Hotels like Starwood was for Marriott, but an upscale, extended stay brand would provides another option for business travelers. Meanwhile, a higher-end, full service brand would just help round out the overall portfolio.

Global hotel companies like Hilton are quick to say China’s stretched-out lockdown measures aren’t deterring them from developing new projects there. Too much money is riding on these potentially lucrative deals to happen.

Affordable hotels and a focus on resilient, on-the-road business travel segments like infrastructure accounts throttled Wyndham back to pre-pandemic performance levels. Maintaining focus on its strengths sets it apart from direct competitor Choice Hotels.

The U.S. recovery fueled Marriott's profitable fourth quarter and entire 2021. But weaker performance in China isn't deterring the company from wanting to have more hotels there and other international markets. Real estate is a long-term play.

Buying up niche startups can only take you so far, because at some point you've got to consolidate. Coupa’s new travel and expense platform neatly sums its acquisition strategy to date, but some features could be a little hit-and-miss.

Countries beyond China in the Asia Pacific region are moving ahead with reopening plans in the coming months. The test is how long can China's "zero-Covid" policy last when the rest of the world is accepting it just has to live with coronavirus.

A largely closed-off international sporting event in China’s capital city means the historically fickle Olympic bump in hotel business is more likely to be an Olympic blip.

Christine Ourmières-Widener suggests that airplane mask mandates could be a forever thing — which would be certain to keep the unruly passenger factor stoked on board flights.

Travel brands have little choice but to make a fresh start with their loyalty programs, because they can't keep on extending points and status forever.