Amadeus Snaps Up TravelClick + Accor Hungry for Brands + New Deep South Tourism

The Travel Industry's Daily Agenda-Setting Newsletter

August 13, 2018

Editor's Note In recent years, much has been written about how the removal of Confederate statues is forcing the South to confront the ugliest chapters of its past. But a much deeper reckoning is happening down in Alabama with the groundbreaking Equal Justice Initiative's memorial and museum, opened this past spring to honor the victims of lynching. Assistant Editor Sarah Enelow-Snyder, who covers diversity issues in travel for Skift among her other duties, traveled to Montgomery recently to tour the museum. Her firsthand account you will read today is powerful and personal. Her reporting suggests that there is a new kind of tourism unfolding in the Deep South that can be deeply emotional and hard to confront, but no less of a business, as you will read of the ripple effects so far to the Montgomery economy. The Equal Justice Initiative's project is the model. Here's hoping it is replicated over and over, and that tourists will come. — Tom Lowry, Managing Editor TripActions Wants to Empower Stress-Free Business Travel Sponsored by TripActions Most would agree that business travel hasn't kept up with changing markets, shifting consumer behaviors, and new technologies. TripActions believes there's a real opportunity to change this. Read More Top Stories Just Announced: Skift Global Forum Opening Event Venue We're kicking Skift Global Forum off with food, drinks, and spectacular views at the luxurious Mandarin Oriental, New York. It's your first chance to meet our 50 percent VP-level and above audience. Secure your spot today to join them! Amadeus Buys Hotel Tech Firm TravelClick for $1.5 Billion With this deal, Amadeus Hospitality finally has a chance to start selling its enterprise software after years of perfecting its platform-based offering. Lynching Memorial Draws Tourists to a New Kind of Deep South In Montgomery, Alabama, the tourism board and a new memorial to victims of lynching are building off each other's visibility, drawing visitors into a revitalized area of the Deep South they may not recognize. Don't Expect Greater Airport Security After Alaska Air Crash Security is all about tolerances. Yes, there's probably a way to ensure that no airline employee ever steals an airplane again. But it's probably not worth instituting such procedures. This was more likely a tragic fluke than anything. Japan's Gleaming Rail Giant JR East Endures on White-Glove Service Average train delays of 36 seconds every year? Who could complain about that kind of service? The Japanese icon JR East is one of the subjects in Skift's recent sixth anniversary book, For the Long Haul, Lessons on Business Longevity, whose chapters we are excerpting for you here in the coming weeks. Video: Why AccorHotels Wants to Keep Collecting Brands If you have a company you want to sell, get in touch with AccorHotels. U.S. Airlines Report Sky-High Profit From Frequent Flyer Programs This analyst has a point. Perhaps Wall Street is undervaluing airlines because investors don't know the full value of airline frequent flyer programs. But it's not clear anything will change. Copa Airlines' Rebound May Depend on a Latin American Turnaround Someday Latin American economies will boom again, and the region's airlines will be big investor favorites. But until then, investors may remain wary of companies like Panama's Copa Airlines. What's Missing in Wellness Hospitality? We're in the first inning of wellness innovation in hospitality. There's a lot more science, integration, and bold new ideas yet to surface. Here's a look at how the space will evolve in the next few years. FLYWELL During Your Flight and STAYWELL at Your Destination Sponsored by FLYWELL As an award finalist in a number of prestigious airline competitions, FLYWELL is an interactive and comprehensive wellness in-flight program allowing business professionals and holiday travelers to feel comfortable during their flights and refreshed upon arrival. Popular Now Booking Holdings Says Half Its Customers Now Come Direct: Will It Be a Game Changer? Some hotel groups will be jealous of Booking Holdings' ability to have one out of every two of its customers booking travel on its brand sites and apps without having to buy online ads to acquire them. What You Need to Know About the Possible Sale of Luxury Hotelier Belmond Shareholders are no doubt elated, but luxury travelers are concerned. They don't want Belmond to become another Ritz-Carlton, and get folded into another mega-hospitality giant. Minor Hotels Founder Offers Lessons in Bottom-Up Entrepreneurship Minor Hotels founder William Heinecke has had quite the entrepreneurial journey. As an American expat, he started his entire empire of businesses in Thailand from the age of 17. Here he shares thoughts about the state of hospitality, luxury, and embedding social good into the core of his properties. 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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