Samantha Shankman

The travel and tourism industry consists of an extremely broad range of businesses and services, and there was broad yet modest employment gains across many of its sectors.

HotelTonight's marketing team likes to play up spontaneity as a prime booking motivator, but this data suggests that users are in need of reasonably priced rooms without the bells and whistles.

It's not impossible to imagine a future where robot intelligence plays a crucial role in the logistical operations side of certain hotel brands.

High traveler demand is making hotels more comfortable charging guests for what used be included services, but both the costs and numbers of fees would quickly drop should another recession zap demand.

Rosetta Stone has recently made major changes to its products, but it's now learning how to speak the language of a younger customer set for whom the changes will benefit most.

Raising awareness about local products is good for guests and the business community and it is something that more hotels, gateways to a destination, should integrate to align themselves with their customers' interests.

Golf tourism is a niche kind of travel, but one that attracts higher spending given the nature of resorts and destinations associated with the sport.

Everybody needs to take time to unplug from the constant communication made possible with mobile devices, but that requires consciously setting aside time for meditation and adventure -- not chaining ourselves to a regressive view of technology.

Everyone loves some element of the travel experience, but turning that activity into a full-fledged business is a difficult task that requires stepping outside your passion to pass it on to others.