Dennis' Online Travel Briefing

Every Wednesday, Executive Editor and online travel rockstar Dennis Schaal brings readers exclusive reporting and insight into the business of online travel and digital booking, and how this sector has an impact across the travel industry.

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Short-Term Rentals

New York’s Short-Term Rental Rules Fuel Shadow Market of ‘Airbnb Alternatives’

If you follow the money in New York City's pressurized short-term rental industry, it's going underground or to venues with few protections for guests and hosts.

Dennis Schaal | 1 year ago

Online Travel

Airbnb and Booking Keep the Cash Flowing

We saw during the pandemic how important it was for companies to have plenty of cash and the ability to borrow more. Airbnb and Booking Holdings have ample resources for big things on their to-do lists.

Dennis Schaal | 1 year ago

Online Travel

Hopper Shows No Quit After Expedia Breakup

Hopper is just fine with its fintech strategy – despite the Expedia breakup – confident in the value of its products and features, and ready to explore new relationships in the travel industry.

Dennis Schaal | 1 year ago

Online Travel

3 Airlines and the FAA Join Google to Assess Flight Emissions

All would admit that the way online travel companies display the climate impact of flights is vague and inadequate. But help is on the way.

Dennis Schaal | 1 year ago

Online Travel

Booking Is Trying to Acquire a Flights Seller. Europe Would Be Wrong to Block It.

The European Commission's logic appears to be that any strengthening of Booking.com — even in its flights business — would bolster its grip on the hotel business. Deal or no deal, Booking is committed to expanding in flights.

Dennis Schaal | 1 year ago

Online Travel

Tripadvisor Tests Instant Book (Again)

The regime under CEO Matt Goldberg is testing a bunch of stuff, including Tripadvisor Instant Book, and a new form of the previous subscription plan, Tripadvisor Plus. The idea is to not throw out the baby with the bath water, and to see what works now.

Dennis Schaal | 1 year ago

Online Travel

Google and Booking Face European Objections Over Competition

Google faces a tougher hill to climb than Booking, although the European Commission's statement of objections puts Booking's Etraveli acquisition in doubt.

Dennis Schaal | 1 year ago

Online Travel

Expedia CEO Calls Out Rival Agoda: How They Get Those Cheap Prices

Apple doesn't let Best Buy discount iPhones, and hoteliers don't want online travel agencies like Agoda to undercut their rates. A win for the hotel industry would be a loss for travelers.

Dennis Schaal | 1 year ago

Online Travel

Kayak Co-Founder Paul English Is Launching New App as an Alternative to ‘Garbage’ Restaurant/Hotel Reviews

The advent of user reviews in travel was a disruptive and positive force, and they in turn may indeed get upended or greatly modified as new technologies take hold.

Dennis Schaal | 2 years ago

Short-Term Rentals

New York City Expands Short-Term Rental Ban by 2,300 More Buildings

Owners and managers in News York City are rushing to sign up their buildings as no-book zones for short-term rentals, but the number of host registrations is paltry so far.

Dennis Schaal | 2 years ago