Luxury Travel

Less than a year ago, a Tripadvisor pitch deck about Tripadvisor Plus touted its "multibillion dollar revenue potential." Despite the company expressing confidence in Plus when it scrapped its business model in September, Tripadvisor admitted last week "we haven't found the product-market fit that we're looking for."

This deal would break the mold of so many technology plays we've seen to date, giving JP Morgan an edge in supporting bookings with experienced consultants.

Pendry has built an interesting boutique-feeling brand on top of actual luxury knowledge and operations. The result is something differentiated in the market and worth keeping an eye on.

Unlike Airbnb and Vrbo, which have struggled at times to attract ample numbers of hosts to meet demand, Inspirato and its subscription model play in a more focused space. Although there is plenty of competition, there are tons of potential home leases to lay siege for around the world where the monied set want to jet and play.

It won’t be an easy task, but Choice Hotels moving beyond the sectors that gave it durability during the pandemic makes sense for the recovery — if it manages to build the right upscale portfolio.

So far, luxury travel club Inspirato is on track with the projections it made in June for its growth. Other companies looking at subscription or luxury products should take note of its latest pitch deck.

Guests are returning to hotels and are more ready than ever to embrace digital and mobile technology to take control of their journeys. The challenge for hotels is balancing the right level of face-to-face interaction and contactless options to ensure a five-star experience.

The Chinese government, for better or worse, is exacting a toll on online platforms in its anti-monopoly drive. Meituan's penalty amounted to 3 percent of revenue, and it is being forced to implement additional reforms.

With more luxury and lifestyle hotels offering co-working spaces, is now the time to grade the remote work experience with star ratings?

In this brand talk from Skift Global Forum 2021, Audrey Hendley, president of American Express Travel, speaks with Rafat Ali, Skift founder and CEO, on what luxury travel will look like moving forward.