Hotel Sector’s Bet on Wellness Faces Profit Challenge
Maybe you didn't need to install that crystal-healing sound bath after all. Namaste, and mind the bottom line.
Sean O’Neill is Skift’s Senior Hospitality Editor. Sean’s forte is reporting, and he’s broken multiple hotel industry scoops. He has also conducted 1:1 interviews on stage with the CEOs of Marriott, Hilton, IHG, Hyatt, and Wyndham.
Marriott Starts to Lay Off Corporate Employees
Now that Marriott International has doubled in size over a decade, it saw an opportunity to rethink its organization and restructure for efficiency.
Wyndham and Lafayette Square Unveil $100 Million Fund for Diverse Hotel Owners
To expand the pool of hotel owners, it's not enough to provide access to capital. So in a pragmatic move, Wyndham is also providing a kind of support system (think mentorship in operations expertise and facilities management).
Viceroy Bets on Experiences in Overhaul of Luxury Hotel Brand
Viceroy, a collection of hotels and resorts, has rebranded. It now promises to curate luxury experiences that will be consistently top-tier and locally immersive, from Portuguese beekeeping to glassblowing in Los Cabos.
Flight Attendants Union Sees Opening at Delta: Labor Fight’s Next Phase
Delta's non-unionized flight attendants could make another push to organize "in a few months," said Sara Nelson, head of a 55,000-member union. Nelson cited broader public support for labor as one driver of change.
The Peninsula Hotels’ New Brand Campaign: Focus on Staff Stories, Not Luxury Cliches
As The Peninsula's head of marketing puts it, "Travel is an incredible thing to do and to experience, and who better to tell that story than the people who make it possible?"
Travel + Leisure CEO’s Plan: More Upscale, New Markets and Sports Tourism
Timeshares are basically a real estate product wrapped in a financial product wrapped in a vacation. And Travel + Leisure Co. CEO believes the model has several distinctive advantages over other travel businesses.
Student Travel Player EF Partners With Thai Tourism on Responsible Travel Effort
It's relatively rare for a destination marketing organization like Thailand's to work with a tour operator to help create and promote more sustainably designed tours.
IHCL Takes Control of India’s Tree of Life Boutique Hotel Brand
The latest acquisition by India's largest hotel group suggests that "experiential leisure" is becoming popular. "Experiential leisure" means "hotels with small room counts and home-like architecture, so vacationers can pretend they're not at hotels."
Amex GBT Cuts $100 Million as Small-Business Push Hits Headwinds
There's something appealing about a business model that makes money by saving other people money. So why is Amex GBT, the largest corporate travel management company, losing money?