Experiences

Travel today is all about immersion. At Skift, we dive into how companies like Airbnb, Marriott, and Disney are redefining what it means to create memorable experiences for travelers.

Here, you’ll find stories about everything from Airbnb’s unique experiences and Viator’s handpicked activities to the latest in luxury travel that’s setting new standards.

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Virtual experiences are shaking things up, offering new ways to explore the world without leaving home. Whether it’s the cultural richness of Abu Dhabi or Disney’s latest attractions, we’re here to keep you informed on the trends that are driving the experiential travel landscape.

Check out the latest articles from Skift to stay in the loop on how the world of travel experiences is evolving.

Experiences

What's Wrong at Tripadvisor?

Question: At Tripadvisor, as a controlled company, what mechanisms did minority shareholders have to pressure Chairman Greg Maffei to make dramatic changes? Answer: Relatively few.

Dennis Schaal | 5 years ago

Business Travel

Airbnb Taps a Former Disney Theme Park Exec to Run Its Experiences Business

Experiences could become a big business for Airbnb, but a cautionary note is that competition from venture-backed companies is heating up. The sector leader, Tripadvisor, just took a step back to reboot its experiences strategy while laying off employees.

Dennis Schaal | 5 years ago

Business Travel

Travel Advisors See Changing Cruiser Preferences for Peak Booking 'Wave Season'

Travel advisors say this year's "wave season" is showing strong preferences for less-visited ports and immersive land experiences. There are also indicators that passengers are more likely to hold the cruise industry accountable on sustainability.

Maria Lenhart | 5 years ago

Experiences

Tripadvisor Reorganization Brings Exec Departures and New Life for Viator

Flush with SoftBank and other venture capital money, GetYourGuide and Klook, as well as Airbnb and Booking.com, are nipping at Tripadvisor's heels in tours and activities. Tripadvisor will try to leverage its brand, Viator, which already had a following before Tripadvisor absorbed it, to keep the insurgents at bay.

Dennis Schaal | 5 years ago

tripadvisor viator travel agency platform ziplining costa rica

Experiences

Tripadvisor to Lay Off 200 Workers With Experiences Business in Line of Fire

Along with its dining reservations business, Tripadvisor's tours and activities unit had been a bright spot. But well-funded competitors such as GetYourGuide and Klook have tightened the race, and Tripadvisor is feeling it.

Dennis Schaal | 5 years ago

Business Travel

Tour Injury Lawsuit Tests Whether TripAdvisor Is Liability-Free

Bulletproof legal immunity for "platforms" like TripAdvisor seems to have softened in recent years. What's certain is that as tours and activities go more mainstream as an option on booking sites, intermediaries will have to put more effort into vetting the tour operators.

Dennis Schaal | 5 years ago

Business Travel

Storefront Travel Agencies Get Reimagined as Social Hubs

Travel agencies are thriving by replacing offices with lounges, complete with drinks and parties. By setting up shopfronts on busy streets, they’re also convincing travelers that they still exist.

Linda Humphrey | 5 years ago

Experiences

Airbnb Hosts Will Be Able to Pay to Fast-Track Verification of Their Listings

Airbnb — and other players in the short-term rental space — have a daunting task in trying to verify millions of home listings, along with an expanded array of tours and activities. With this push, it might just open up more players to liability from content offered on their platforms.

Dennis Schaal | 5 years ago

Experiences

How Mercure Hotels Is Giving Travelers a Sense of Place with Local Food, Beverage, and Craftsmanship

A “midscale” hotel brand may have once brought to mind conventional design, amenities, and food and beverage. But Mercure Hotels is making moves to show that midscale hotels can provide the unparalleled uniqueness of a local experience and become a portal to the destination.

Accor Group + Skift | 5 years ago

Online Travel Agency Giants Are on the Backfoot in Tours and Experiences

Expedia, Booking.com, and Ctrip are boosting the supply of sightseeing and experiences options that can be booked in merely a few clicks. But several factors are complicating any plans they may have to dominate bookings in this sector the way they have in flights and hotels.

Sean O'Neill | 5 years ago