Samantha Shankman

The ultimate goal of every trip is to enjoy oneself, which makes the ultimate purpose of these startups' point on -- even if it seems inconsequential at times.

A negative mind might suggest that Marriott is culling young talent for innovative ideas that it can turn around and slap a Marriott logo on; however, the brand deserves credit for going all in on its millenniall-or-bust development strategy.

It's unlikely that many airline or hotel guests are waiting on their preferred travel brand for a holiday card; however, it is now in fashion for all companies to send out the warm wishes for both current and potential customers to see.

Carnival is investing big dollars in a Super Bowl ad so it's smart to extend its life and impressions with an online component; however, that doesn't mean that either will be enough to significantly shift consumers' perception of the brand.

The new relationship shifts some of the responsibility of informing and educating hosts to Airbnb, which can use its platform to ensure they comply. This is a model that will likely be copied in other markets looking to legitimize the short-term rental economy.

The very highest spenders may have abandoned Vegas for Macau, but foreign visitor growth paired with on-the-ground developments will keep Vegas on track for more growth.

Impacted airlines moved quickly to fix the URL issue. However, it's possible that the hack has been quietly used before. The incident highlights how even the slightest technical oversight can have a huge impact on operations.

Designing the guest experience today requires thinking through the entire travel process, which includes providing guests with jealousy-inducing stories to share upon their return.

Many African countries are ripe for tourism innovation; however, it will take on-the-ground product development in addition to smart marketing campaign to shift travelers' perceptions and drive bookings.

The success or failure of BTA's marketing and product development will contain key lessons for other large and small destinations looking to attract a younger visitor base.