Luxury Travel

In our top travel stories this week, we took a Skift Deep Dive to find out why all-inclusive, luxury resorts will never be the same. We also explored post-pandemic recovery in the Philippines, Airbnb’s host dilemma, the much-anticipated electric aircraft, Hertz plans after bankruptcy, and more.

Auberge is making a run at the high-touch, yet as a colorful and unique boutique play. And so far it is finding an audience.

You can't make this stuff up. Airbnb's payout to HotelTonight of 3.2 million shares didn't appear very attractive when Airbnb's business almost collapsed in the spring. On paper, though, it's all looking very good right now.

If Airbnb hasn't already devoted resources anew to HotelTonight and expanding its hotel business, the short-term rental giant assuredly will once it goes public. After all, in addition to Google, Airbnb sees online travel agencies, with their wide breadth of accommodations' offerings, as its most significant set of competitors. 

Oasis is yet another example of how the travel sector has been testing the subscription model this year. But the company's on-again, off-again investment history with Accor, Hyatt, and Vacasa hints at a broader story. Blended hospitality with leisure travelers is difficult to do at scale.

In some respects, travel companies are prisoners of their geographic strengths and weaknesses in the Covid-19 era. Operational considerations aside, it sure didn't hurt Trip.com Group to be based in China.

The worst time ever to launch a global expansion of an iconic luxury hotel brand? Maybe not, if you are players like Accor and SBE with enough capital and Delano brand awareness.

Luxury travel brands may see a customer looking for a deeper experience when travel picks up after the pandemic. They will be there to serve.

Domestic airfares around the world fell dramatically in May — on average. But, as with hotels, there are currently pockets of strength — and will be for months. Still, contrarian trends don't make for a nice, tidy trend line when it comes to prices.

The coronavirus pandemic has underscored Maldives’ tourism vulnerability. How this Indian Ocean nation strategizes its recovery path in the days ahead could be a good case study for other small island nations heavily reliant on foreign tourist dollars.