Experiences

Travel today is all about immersion. At Skift, we dive into how companies like Airbnb, Marriott, and Disney are redefining what it means to create memorable experiences for travelers.

Here, you’ll find stories about everything from Airbnb’s unique experiences and Viator’s handpicked activities to the latest in luxury travel that’s setting new standards.

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Virtual experiences are shaking things up, offering new ways to explore the world without leaving home. Whether it’s the cultural richness of Abu Dhabi or Disney’s latest attractions, we’re here to keep you informed on the trends that are driving the experiential travel landscape.

Check out the latest articles from Skift to stay in the loop on how the world of travel experiences is evolving.

Business Travel

Tour Injury Lawsuit Tests Whether TripAdvisor Is Liability-Free

Bulletproof legal immunity for "platforms" like TripAdvisor seems to have softened in recent years. What's certain is that as tours and activities go more mainstream as an option on booking sites, intermediaries will have to put more effort into vetting the tour operators.

Dennis Schaal | 6 years ago

Business Travel

Storefront Travel Agencies Get Reimagined as Social Hubs

Travel agencies are thriving by replacing offices with lounges, complete with drinks and parties. By setting up shopfronts on busy streets, they’re also convincing travelers that they still exist.

Linda Humphrey | 7 years ago

Experiences

Airbnb Hosts Will Be Able to Pay to Fast-Track Verification of Their Listings

Airbnb — and other players in the short-term rental space — have a daunting task in trying to verify millions of home listings, along with an expanded array of tours and activities. With this push, it might just open up more players to liability from content offered on their platforms.

Dennis Schaal | 7 years ago

Experiences

How Mercure Hotels Is Giving Travelers a Sense of Place with Local Food, Beverage, and Craftsmanship

A “midscale” hotel brand may have once brought to mind conventional design, amenities, and food and beverage. But Mercure Hotels is making moves to show that midscale hotels can provide the unparalleled uniqueness of a local experience and become a portal to the destination.

Accor Group + Skift | 7 years ago

Online Travel Agency Giants Are on the Backfoot in Tours and Experiences

Expedia, Booking.com, and Ctrip are boosting the supply of sightseeing and experiences options that can be booked in merely a few clicks. But several factors are complicating any plans they may have to dominate bookings in this sector the way they have in flights and hotels.

Sean O'Neill | 7 years ago

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Experiences

The Battle Over Tours and Activities Reservation Systems Rages On

FareHarbor and Bokun act as if they're unstoppably on the way to becoming giants. But the market for booking systems for sightseeing and experience operators remains very much in flux.

Sean O'Neill | 7 years ago

Business Travel

Airbnb Invests in Tiqets for Experiences That Are Not, Well, Unique

Airbnb may never become a clone of its online travel agency competitors, but it will eventually go more mainstream to attract a wider range of travelers and locals, as the Tiqets investment suggests.

Dennis Schaal | 7 years ago

Experiences

Google Is Phasing Out Its Buzzy Touring Bird Tours and Activities Search Feature

Touring Bird gained no traction in the real world outside Area 120, and for all the inroads metasearch has made in hotels, flights, and cars, it has really struggled in emerging categories where the products aren't cookie-cutter such as in vacation rentals, and tours and activities. After all, when experiences are unique or varied, comparing them is hard.

Dennis Schaal | 7 years ago

Business Travel

Airbnb to Shuffle the Leadership of Experiences Business at Critical Juncture

Is everything on target in the evolution of Airbnb's Experiences business? It's clearly not profitable yet after three years, and the leadership change at the top signals problems. That doesn't mean it's fatally flawed although this isn't precisely the portrait you want to paint on the cusp of Airbnb going public next year.

Dennis Schaal | 7 years ago

Experiences

Expedia Group’s Conundrum: Acquisitions or Share Repurchases?

Expedia Group doesn't intend to hoard piles of cash for a rainy day. The company purports to favor share repurchases over acquisitions, all things being equal, but if a rainmaker of a deal comes along, then Expedia may pounce.

Dennis Schaal | 7 years ago