Ctrip (Very) Deep Dive + Israel’s Food Tourism Bet + Universal Vs. Disney

The Travel Industry's Daily Agenda-Setting Newsletter

July 26, 2017 View in browser

Note From the Editor For those of you who are used to a few people carrying out Google-led desk research to explore a weighty topic, may we offer you our latest Research Report. To get a better understanding of Ctrip, we sent Senior Research Analyst Jared Wein to China for a week to meet with the company's executives — including its CEO — as well as competitors and travel industry experts. Combined with our already deep knowledge of the brand, this long-distance field trip gave us the insight you'll find in our deep dive into the rapidly growing travel booking giant. — Jason Clampet, Editor-in-Chief Top Stories New Research Report: A Deep Dive Into Ctrip and the China Online Travel Market 2017 This report represents the launch of our coverage of Asia, offering insights into both Ctrip and the online travel market more broadly. Israel Looks to Food Tourism to Attract a Different Kind of Visitor Israel doesn't really have a problem bringing in visitors. But bringing visitors who are not driven by religious beliefs is a challenge. Diversifying the country through food could help convince some travelers that a trip here is worth it. Lux Bus Startup Hopes Design and Flat Beds Will Make Overnight Trips Appealing Cabin seeks to bring style and a "moving hotel" approach to the overnight bus journey. They've nailed the design and approach, but will Californians choose it over flying? Universal Has More in Store for Harry Potter as Theme Park Battles Rage Disney still wins this round with the sheer volume of announcements it made earlier this month, but Universal definitely steals some theme park thunder with news of a new thrill ride at the original Wizarding World of Harry Potter. JetBlue Exceeds Second Quarter Expectations After Tweaking Growth Strategy JetBlue pulled back on its growth plans earlier this year, focusing instead on rolling out its improved Mint product. It seems to have paid off and the airline will be opportunistic about growing its fleet going forward. Tourico Holidays Tunes Up Its Technology After Hotelbeds Merger The wholesale travel sector is under pressure from shifts in how hotel companies distribute their rooms. Tourico's new tech for agencies and airlines may help boost sales and margins in the face of these trends. New Luxury A few months ago we launched our weekly newsletter devoted to the changing luxury travel space. Subscribe now and join over 4,500 travel professionals who are already in the know. Where Millennials and Baby Boomers Agree on Luxury Travel Demographics always defy preconceived notions, but the mindsets of consumer segments are where the focus should be. A Parisian Luxury Institution Gets a Facelift to Compete with Modern Hotels Renovating an historic grande dame hotel can be a daunting task. And when you are working with a Parisian building originally commissioned by Louis XV, the stakes are even higher. We learn how a team of French designers re-imagined the historic Hôtel de Crillon into a hotel that appealed to 21st century senses and sensibilities. Decoding the Hoshinoya Tokyo Hotel Experience The Hoshino Resorts brand melds Japanese tradition with modern design and incredible service. Its ambitions outside of Japan, if successful, may some day serve as powerful cultural diplomacy for the country. Popular Now What the Travel Industry Could Learn From Amazon Prime Amazon's subscription model — which has already disrupted music, groceries, and retail — could be the key to travel brands unlocking more revenue per customer. Here's the lowdown on the latest tests. InterContinental Hotels Group Institutes a 24-Hour Cancellation Policy Twenty-four hours is more lenient than 48 hours. We'd be surprised if IHG doesn't eventually make the move to 48-hours' notice like its peers Hilton and Marriott very soon. Ryanair Cares Less About Fares Than You Might Think Fares look like they are coming down in Europe and Ryanair, thanks to its low-cost base and multiple revenue streams, is in a better position than most to weather the storm. For Gmail users: If you are using the tabbed inbox, Skift emails may be pushed to the 'Promotions' tab. To get updates from Skift direct to your primary inbox, drag and drop this email to that tab. You received this email because you are subscribed to Skift Daily Newsletter from Skift.

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