Dennis Schaal, Skift
Bulletproof legal immunity for "platforms" like TripAdvisor seems to have softened in recent years. What's certain is that as tours and activities go more mainstream as an option on booking sites, intermediaries will have to put more effort into vetting the tour operators.
2 weeks ago
Raini Hamdi, Skift
Both partners seek growth when the home markets aren’t expanding as much as before. Intrepid needs Ctrip’s user base of 300 million while Ctrip needs Intrepid’s kind of journeys. But doubtful if sustainable travel will instantly be the norm in China. It's a start.
2 weeks ago
Patrick Whyte, Skift
Yes, you read that number correctly. Thomas Cook's directors have rightly come in for plenty of criticism, but others — including the UK government — need to have their record examined as well.
1 month ago
Shirley Zhao, Bloomberg
Fosun is understood to be launching a new Thomas Cook platform to attract European clients. It has to do what Thomas Cook failed to do, plus restore the brand’s image. Not an easy job.
1 month ago
Rosie Spinks, Skift
If tourists increasingly seek adventure when they travel, whose job is it to ensure they are adequately informed of the risks associated with doing so? It's a tough question to answer.
1 month ago
Patrick Whyte, Skift
TUI continues to have ambitious plans, and its quest to move away from the traditional tour operating market seems sensible given the problems endured by one of its biggest competitors. But good intentions often get derailed by outside circumstances. Can it stay the course in 2020?
1 month ago
Patrick Whyte, Skift
Thomas Cook collected its fair share of brands over the years. Now rivals are picking over what remains of the group.
1 month ago
Rosie Spinks, Skift
Tourists are welcome to visit Wolf Haven International in Washington state, but the needs of the sanctuary's residents — which include two species of wolves, wolf-dogs, and coyotes — are always prioritized. The sanctuary's co-manager Pamela Maciel Cabañas is devoted to making sure that happens.
1 month ago
Raini Hamdi, Skift
In the post-experiences world, one sector that will keep thriving is niche adventure tour operators that really know what they are talking about. They take clients backstage to explore exotic places and leave little footprint — but deposit lots of dollars in local communities.
2 months ago
Patrick Whyte, Skift
Given Fosun's desire to help keep Thomas Cook afloat, the news shouldn't come as a surprise, especially since the Chinese company's Foliday ecosystem features the storied brand name.
3 months ago
Patrick Whyte, Skift
Even though Thomas Cook Group is no longer around, parts of the company live on. The Nordic business was pretty profitable, crucially has strong local brands, and isn't weighed down by an extensive store network. It's easy to see how it can be a success in the future.
3 months ago
Dennis Schaal, Skift
Airbnb may never become a clone of its online travel agency competitors, but it will eventually go more mainstream to attract a wider range of travelers and locals, as the Tiqets investment suggests.
3 months ago
