Articles tagged “skift global forum”

Skift Tech Forum will explore the tech disruptions happening in retailing, merchandising, and distribution of travel, with customer centricity as the connecting thread running across all the topics.

Tourism executives from around the world all have unique challenges as they promote their destinations, but they also have a lot in common: They want to avoid the pitfalls of destructive tourism, get a good return on their marketing dollars, and attract high-spending visitors.

The travel industry at large speaks eagerly and often about creating positive experiences for travelers. This contrasts heavily, though, with the fears and anxieties experienced by real travelers from diverse backgrounds.

No other current online travel company CEO is as outspoken as TripAdvisor's Stephen Kaufer about the the global refugee crisis and U.S. visitor policies. We wish more executives would step up and speak out.

Expedia Inc. seems ready to further develop existing brands like HomeAway in 2018. An opportunistic acquisition or two might also take place, but CEO Okerstrom says he's focusing on organic growth from companies already in Expedia's portfolio.

You can argue it's never been a better time to fly. Fares are cheap, and amenities like Wi-Fi and free snacks keep improving. Even better, airlines are updating their mobile apps, making it easier for passengers to rebook from delayed or canceled flights. But some people — at times, frequent flyers but mostly the infrequent ones — still view flying as a pain.

The good news is everyone loves food. The bad news is that competition is fierce and the business of dining out is delicate.

The meetings industry is under growing pressure to provide education and best practices to mitigate risk, which is challenging due to the size of groups and costs to secure large venues.

Hilton isn't the only hotel company intent on launching new brands. But it remains to be seen whether there's a breaking point for having way too many hotel brands.

Personalization is playing a growing role for today’s travelers, but it’s important to leverage technology to achieve authentic experiences without losing sight of the human connection.