Luxury Travel

In Skift’s top stories this week, Icelandair's plan to return to normalcy, airlines wants to bring criminal charges against unruly passengers, shortages ripple through the travel industry this summer and investors back Outdoorsy as the new Airbnb.

Wyndham's arrival to the luxury sector adds a missing piece to its brand portfolio, but don't expect a high-end glut of new hotels anytime soon. This is a very competitive hotel sector, and Wyndham plans to stick to the standard luxury playbook of exclusivity. Less is more when it comes to finer hotels.

In Skift's top travel stories this week, we covered Europe's opening to vaccinated U.S. travelers, luxury travel's recovery, Amtrak in the limelight, and American Airlines demothballing jets.

We could all use a splurge after what we've been through. That's why upscale leisure travel is starting to sprint ahead for a phased, market-by-market recovery.

Subscriptions look set to be big business, with the needle currently swinging to higher quality holidays and experiences.

In our top travel stories this week, we took a Skift Deep Dive to find out why all-inclusive, luxury resorts will never be the same. We also explored post-pandemic recovery in the Philippines, Airbnb’s host dilemma, the much-anticipated electric aircraft, Hertz plans after bankruptcy, and more.

Auberge is making a run at the high-touch, yet as a colorful and unique boutique play. And so far it is finding an audience.

You can't make this stuff up. Airbnb's payout to HotelTonight of 3.2 million shares didn't appear very attractive when Airbnb's business almost collapsed in the spring. On paper, though, it's all looking very good right now.

If Airbnb hasn't already devoted resources anew to HotelTonight and expanding its hotel business, the short-term rental giant assuredly will once it goes public. After all, in addition to Google, Airbnb sees online travel agencies, with their wide breadth of accommodations' offerings, as its most significant set of competitors. 

Oasis is yet another example of how the travel sector has been testing the subscription model this year. But the company's on-again, off-again investment history with Accor, Hyatt, and Vacasa hints at a broader story. Blended hospitality with leisure travelers is difficult to do at scale.