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 is Skift’s Founding Editor and Executive Editor. Dennis has been a reporter focusing on online travel and short-term rentals for more than two decades at Skift, Tnooz, USA Today, and Travel Weekly. He is well-known for tough one-on-one interviews on stage at Skift events, including with the CEOs and top execs of Expedia, Uber, Booking Holdings, Priceline, Kayak, Hopper, and more.
Airbnb Takes Another Step to Keep Users From Straying Off-Platform
Airbnb plans to discontinue its email alias feature, citing safety reasons and aiming to prevent direct bookings outside of its platform.
Google Travel Boss Richard Holden Has Been Replaced
Kudos to Google for bringing some diversity into the leadership of Google Travel. Left unanswered is whether the leadership changes portend any strategic shifts.
Vacation Rental Management Association Seeks New Allies and a Stronger Voice
The VRMA is known for its conferences and networking. Kimberly Miles is trying to broaden its partnerships and make it more relevant.
Google and Booking.com Poised for Fallout From EU’s ‘Gatekeeper’ Restrictions
The fine print would ultimately determine the financial impact of the Digital Markets Act. But the fact that Booking Holdings filed a statement from Booking.com with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission about it this week means it believes the repercussions could be material to its operations.
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.
Tripadvisor Versus GetYourGuide: Who’s Bigger and Badder in Experiences?
In the battle between Tripadvisor/Viator and GetYourGuide, the winner is — offline experiences, which have more than 90 percent market share. That spells big opportunities for both of these companies.
United CEO Apologizes for Flying Private While United Planes Were Cancelled
On the same day, Wednesday, that United hub Newark Airport, JFK and LaGuardia saw more than 2,000 flight cancellations by a variety of carriers, CEO Scott Kirby chartered a private…
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.
Booking.com Chooses OpenAI – Not Google Bard – for Generative AI Rollout
The tit-for-tat in generative AI one-upmanship has begun with both Booking.com and Expedia having ChatGPT apps. This will go on for many years.