What Alternative Travel Is Teaching Mainstream Brands About Connections


Skift Take

Smart travel brands willing to stretch the definition of who they are and what they provide can offer as many opportunities for connection and discovery as alternative travel platforms, but changing the status quo — especially at large corporations — is a timely and costly task.

The alternative travel industry has grown from once-small networks of travelers exchanging apartments and cars into a global movement. And it is having a seismic impact on major travel companies -- both the kinds of experiences they provide and how they connect with customers. The following information and slideshow was originally shared at The Ad Club's Travel Marketing Event on April 7, 2015.  Business travelers and families are choosing apartments on Airbnb over urban hotels due to space, booking convenience, and overall ambiance. Visitors are relying on on-demand ride apps like Uber and Lyft in place of taxis and public transportation. Some a