Patrick Whyte

It's been a quick turnaround for IAG, which only announced plans for a low-cost, long-haul airline in December. The legacy carriers have clearly been spooked by Norwegian's initiatives and are now working to compete in this new landscape.

Marriott's decision to buy Starwood does seem to make consolidation among the rest of the chasing pack seem very likely. The problem is nobody wants to get burned by doing a deal at the very top of the market.

While the sale from one private equity firm to another isn’t necessarily the most exciting news, the promise of further funds for expansion by the new owner shows a commitment to the budget model. The hostel landscape is very different than it was 10 years ago and by focusing on design, Generator managed to evolve the product.

Plenty of hotel companies have woken up to the benefits of offering good food and beverage options with an open and inviting lobby area. Even though Marriott is one of many in this space it does seem prudent to expand its own offering.

TUI’s target is very ambitious and five years doesn’t seem like enough time to develop and expand into countries where it does not have the brand recognition.

Instant booking has long been thought of as a natural progression for the metasearch sector, so it is interesting to note the cautious tone adopted by Momondo’s Chief Executive. It would be a big change and Hugo Burge is determined to make sure whatever he brings in does not confuse the consumer.

Cheap fuel is keeping the European aviation market competitive, which presents something of a challenge to strong, established carriers like EasyJet and Ryanair. We'll probably have to wait until next year for any kind of shake-up.

While Rezidor is still suffering from the impact of terrorism, its outlook is likely to improve if and when it is taken over by Chinese conglomerate HNA Group, which would undoubtedly help it capture a bigger slice of the tourism market.

While it's good news for Greece that bookings are on the rise, the struggle to find value in Spain shows just how difficult a summer it might be for European tour operators. Thomas Cook's cautious outlook hints at gloomier times ahead.

The likes of Thomas Cook and Tui Group should be wary of Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, who in the past has taken on Google and Apple. Should she find anything amiss there is the potential of a sizable fine and a revamp of their practices.