Articles tagged “luggage”

By itself, the coronavirus scare needn't be like kryptonite to Samsonite, which has high gross margins. But the long-term double whammy of supply shocks (due to factory closings) and demand shocks (due to travelers pulling back on spending) may reduce the company's ability to pay interest on its heavy debts.

For increasing numbers of travelers, leaving home without a beloved pet (or pets) is unthinkable. While the travel industry has become more accommodating to this trend, the challenges are such that services from pet travel experts are in demand.

Away has so far managed the tricky transition to brand extensions beyond suitcases. The established travel goods industry will be watching with envy if the startup can continue to pull off its empire-building.

The success of this, and all brand partnerships, is dependent on a synergistic approach to luxury whether that be sleek and understated or bold and brash. We expect to see more cross-industry partnerships emerge as brands wrestle for the attention and trust of the new luxury consumer.

The co-founders of luggage maker Away are seeing surprisingly good early results by applying the direct-to-consumer model that Warby Parker championed in eyewear. Also this week: Short-term rental platform Favstay attracted more than $2 million in funding.

At this year's annual travel goods industry conference, it's obvious that the hot trend among manufacturers is to add USB ports, battery packs, and location-aware beacons to their luggage.

25 Moments that Mattered in 2015: To make our selection of 25 moments, we thought back to the stories that drove reader engagement and sparked discussion among both travel experts and the general public. Some stories were quick blips that represented bigger things while others were narratives that built slowly through out the year. Each one, though, spoke to where we are right now when it comes to the big business of global travel.

Bluesmart stands apart from crowd-funded peers in its transparency and competency, two things that don't always go hand in hand.

Saez-Gil knows the ways in which companies, which once could get away with bad customer service and bad design, are realizing that the Internet has made open innovation possible.

Bag fees are surely a big reason for these complaints. Do U.S. airlines still need more proof travelers aren't satisfied with the overall baggage situation?