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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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Online Travel

Trivago Guy, RIP — You and Your Fellow Stars Have Been Retired From Travel TV Commercials

Trivago is changing its brand marketing approach to abolish the Mr. and Ms. Trivago cult of personality. Instead Trivago is trying to establish deep emotional connections with viewers. TV will still be important despite the digital surge in consumer preferences, and in Trivago's calculations, YouTube is not a particularly effective option.

Dennis Schaal, Skift | 3 years ago

Trivago Guy, RIP — You and Your Fellow Stars Have Been Retired From Travel TV Commercials

Online Travel

The Grip of Airbnb and Short-Term Rental Giants Leaves Direct Bookings Elusive

Direct-booking advocates in the short-term rental space will face tough going long term because they have to deal with plenty of juggernauts. When the travel recovery gets under way in full, it will be Airbnb, Booking.com and Expedia spending billions of dollars to win over fickle, bargain-hungry travelers.

Dennis Schaal, Skift | 3 years ago

The Grip of Airbnb and Short-Term Rental Giants Leaves Direct Bookings Elusive

Online Travel

When an Iconic 20-Year Online Travel Veteran Leaves the Booking Board

The online travel industry focuses on every move or utterance from Airbnb and its CEO Brian Chesky. Not that Booking Holdings is an after-thought these days, but before Airbnb there was Priceline, Booking.com, and the Group's boss, Jeffery Boyd. Building blocks, certainly.

Dennis Schaal, Skift | 3 years ago

When an Iconic 20-Year Online Travel Veteran Leaves the Booking Board

Online Travel

Will Airbnb’s Lackluster Ad Campaign Backfire as a Travel Recovery Picks Up Later This Year?

Airbnb officials fell in love with the perceived artistry of their TV commercials, which don't have a targeted message. That could produce aftershocks later this year if rivals take advantage.

Dennis Schaal, Skift | 3 years ago

Will Airbnb’s Lackluster Ad Campaign Backfire as a Travel Recovery Picks Up Later This Year?

Online Travel

A Former Top Exec at Orbitz and Uber on What AirAsia Can Expect in Online Travel Competition

Running an airline isn't easy, and neither is launching ridesharing, financial services, and delivery businesses from scratch. AirAsia has its work cut out for it in terms of the required investments and trying to be everything to everyone in Southeast Asian markets with entrenched incumbents.

Dennis Schaal, Skift | 3 years ago

Online Travel

Is Airbnb’s Big Ad Blitz a Dud?

The impact of Airbnb's new ad campaign seems to be underwhelming to date. But if the idea is to broaden awareness about hosting, Airbnb may be willing to play the long game.

Dennis Schaal, Skift | 3 years ago

Is Airbnb’s Big Ad Blitz a Dud?

Online Travel

Airbnb’s Supposed Independent Host Clubs Are Run by the Company: New Report

Airbnb's stealthy financing and leadership of supposedly grassroots host clubs around the world to pursue the short-term rental giant's advocacy agenda may be an effective tactic, but it furthers a false narrative about the nature of the company, and it is a blotch on its reputation.

Dennis Schaal, Skift | 3 years ago

Airbnb’s Supposed Independent Host Clubs Are Run by the Company: New Report

Online Travel

Airbnb’s Guest-Host ‘Flywheel’ Advantage Is More Myth Than Reality

Airbnb will spend tens of millions of dollars, if not more, on its global advertising and referral campaigns to recruit more hosts, and that's probably a smart move. On the face of it, though, this proves that the company's host sign-up efforts are hardly organic, as one analyst alleged.

Dennis Schaal, Skift | 3 years ago

Airbnb’s Guest-Host ‘Flywheel’ Advantage Is More Myth Than Reality

Online Travel

Is Investor Certares on the Road to Becoming a Next-Gen Travel Powerhouse?

At a time when a travel operator like Expedia Group is shedding brands to become more focused, private equity firm Certares is investing in a broad array of travel assets. Divergent strategies for two very different companies. Certares' goal is likely to wrangle synergies while making a ton of money.

Dennis Schaal, Skift | 3 years ago

Is Investor Certares on the Road to Becoming a Next-Gen Travel Powerhouse?

Online Travel

Airbnb’s Host Dilemma — 5 Percent Control Nearly a Third of All Rentals

New data from AirDNA show that corporate hosts wield huge power on Airbnb's platform despite the fact that individual hosts make up more than 90 percent of hosting's ranks. Airbnb is empowering the growth of these property managers, but the result could be disenchanted hosts and guests.

Dennis Schaal, Skift | 3 years ago

Airbnb’s Host Dilemma — 5 Percent Control Nearly a Third of All Rentals