Travel Agents

The Roadblocks Airbnb Must Tackle on Its Way to Possible IPO: Skift’s Latest Research

Rebecca Stone, Skift Research

What is hurting Airbnb’s ability to see true success? Increasing regulation, the company’s potential impact on local housing markets and the traditional hotel sector, and the company’s increasing role in hospitality and accommodation distribution. In this report, we attack all three.

1 week ago

How Travel Agent Trade Group Fought Its Way Back From Near-Extinction

Dennis Schaal, Skift

These travel advisors have a certain swagger about them these days. Their U.S. trade association, the newly named American Society of Travel Advisors, is now back among the living, and has the challenge of keeping things moving in the right direction.

1 week ago

Skift Global Forum Preview: Why Ovation Is Embarking on a New Elite Luxury Brand

Sean O'Neill, Skift

Jack Ezon of Ovation’s leisure business is starting Embark, a luxury agency with an unusual business structure. In this Q&A, Ezon shares how agents can thrive in the digital era, the biggest problem facing the travel industry, and why he hires so many millennials.

4 weeks ago

Viator’s Travel Agent Program Gets Mixed Reviews

Paul Biasco, Skift

The market for off-the-beaten-path tours and experiences has been heating up this year with the emergence of Airbnb’s Experiences. TripAdvisor, which emphasizes on-the-beaten path offerings, is putting a huge effort into trying to stay on top. Its new travel agent program is part of that effort.

1 month ago

Skift Global Forum Preview: Why the Internet Didn’t Kill Off Travel Agents

Patrick Whyte, Skift

The travel agent still exists for a reason. Despite having the option, plenty of people don't want to do it on their own, and are happy to get someone else to make plans — even if it costs more.

1 month ago

Travel Leaders Settles Sexual Harassment and Wrongful Termination Lawsuit

Sarah Enelow-Snyder, Skift

When cases like these settle out of court, the public doesn't get to learn much.

2 months ago

The Ins and Outs for Travel Advisors in Planning Billionaires’ Honeymoons

Brandon Presser, Bloomberg

A postnuptial trip by a billionaire or celebrity can be as over-the-top as the big day itself. Some of the requests that elite travel agency Ovation Vacations have handled are entertaining to hear.

4 months ago

New Skift Research Report Offers Best Practices For Attracting Chinese Tourists

Meghan Carty, Skift Research

Chinese outbound travel continues to boom and shows high potential for future growth. Travel brands and destinations need to understand the evolving behaviors and preferences of Chinese travelers in order to most effectively appeal to this market.

5 months ago

Apple Leisure Group CEO Says Mark Travel Merger Is Win-Win for Travel Agents

Dan Peltier, Skift

Many travel agents will have the benefit of selling a wider variety of packages from one distribution channel because of this deal, but will this industry giant really want to give travel agents, and their clients, the best rates if agents don't have anywhere else to turn? Time will tell.

6 months ago

Marriott and Hilton’s Group Commission Cuts Put Pressure on Industry

Andrew Sheivachman, Skift

As hotel chains have shifted their business models over the last decade, keeping owners happy has become the priority. Slashing group booking commissions for intermediaries saves owners money, so it's easy to see how the largest U.S. chains will follow the example of Marriott and Hilton in the near future.

6 months ago

Apple Leisure Group to Merge With Mark Travel in Consolidation of Legacy Players

Andrew Sheivachman, Skift

This transaction makes one of the largest private players in leisure travel, Apple Leisure Group, even bigger and sweetens the potential reward for the almost inevitable private equity sale of its assets.

7 months ago

Former Travel Leaders Exec Alleges Sexual Harassment and Wrongful Termination

Sarah Enelow, Skift

Richard Branson might be a contender for the king of lechery, and Steve Wynn's sexual harassment scandal didn't come as a surprise to some, but the lawsuit against Travel Leaders Group, if the allegations turn out to be true, is a reminder that you don't have to be a household name to be held accountable.

8 months ago