Tourism and short-term rentals can be highly beneficial to some communities, but tourism boards and research firms for hire shouldn't view them as sacrosanct.
A regional consumer affairs agency in Spain fined eDreams Odigeo $23,300 (24,000 euros) for allegedly duping some consumers into buying the company's much-publicized Prime subscription service.
When it comes to out-performing the online travel industry in terms of a post-Covid booking recovery, eDreams Odigeo can claim a top prize. It is plowing revenue back into discounts to make its subscriptions a no-brainer.
Whether it’s via Whimstay or others, the Hotwire-like selling of last-minute inventory for vacation rentals is destined to find a role in this very hot sector.
If you think Dara Khosrowshahi is going to toggle a switch and turn Uber into the next Expedia or Booking, then consider the years-long effort Booking Holdings is putting into building "the connected trip." Who's going to plan a vacation and start with a rideshare app?
Subscriptions are relatively hot in travel although AirAsia's limited new plan might be seen as a sign of weakness rather than strength. AirAsia Super+ is essentially a marketing plan to jumpstart the airline's flights and food delivery businesses.
The global travel industry is split over doing business in Russia, although the vast majority of companies are abiding by the relevant economic sanctions. Moral outrage, self-interest, and disparate views over harming ordinary Russians are clashing big time.