Patrick Whyte

It's been a difficult few months for Ryanair, with many of its problems showing no sign of abating. Still, Ryanair remains in robust financial health. And if fuel prices keep rising and capacity doesn't fall, we should expect it to come out on top.

It sounds like the Restel deal has gone relatively smoothly for Scandic. Might the company now set its sights on other targets? Or will it become a target itself?

With another multibillion dollar fine handed down, we might be getting nearer to the European Commission taking a closer look at Google's travel products.

It's a difficult topic for the travel industry to discuss, especially as experiences get more immersive. But just because it can be uncomfortable doesn't mean we should shy away from confronting it and calling out bad behavior.

Periods of prolonged hot weather can hurt tour operators with potential customers staying at home or booking a domestic trip instead. However, it shouldn't be used as an excuse to mask other problems within a business.

While some cruise lines have had success targeting younger travelers, it is older people who are still the most interested. But so what? There are plenty of wealthy retirees who are happy to while away their days sipping cocktails at sea.

Even if you think you've heard enough about millennials and Chinese consumers, it's worth keeping an eye on how both are reshaping the luxury travel industry — especially as brands are looking to target them in the coming years.

Despite the travel industry having had years to get used to the idea of new rules governing the sale of vacations in the European Union, there are still plenty of people still scratching their heads over the changes.

Of course Google could become an online travel agency if it wanted to, but why would it want to jeopardize such a lucrative revenue stream in terms of ad dollars it receives from booking sites?

Hotel loyalty programs are evolving especially with new forms of accommodation coming online. Change is inevitable but that doesn't mean everyone is going to be happy.