Deanna Ting

Design was just one ingredient, albeit an essential one, for creating a boutique hotel both then and now.

But is the Snapchat audience willing to devote more than three seconds to watch it? This is something any travel brand attempting to experiment on this platform should ask themselves.

Will Oasis and other alternative accommodations players' arguably steadier, slower, and more curated approaches to scale pay off in the long term? Or will the speed and scale of bigger players like Airbnb win out in the end?

The reigning "Airbnb of China" is going all out to increase its competitive edge in the country as its leading homesharing platform.

Overall, the reviews are positive, but some have found the app to be glitchy at times. The bigger question on our minds: Can this prove to be a moneymaker for both hosts and for Airbnb in the long term?

It’s hard to imagine Ace Hotels becoming what it is today without the visionary drive of its late co-founder, Alex Calderwood.

If there were ever someone who truly influenced and mentored an entire generation of hotel leaders, Bill Kimpton would be at the very top of that list.

But the bigger question remains: Can it successfully compete with the reigning "Airbnb of China," Tujia?

It will be interesting to see if Marriott can really turn around Sheraton as it has before with other brands. We'll wait, and see what develops.

It seems like everyone in hospitality (and travel in general) is looking at the tours and activities space these days.