Golf-Hotel-Resorts AND CASINO News: Direct-Booking Straight Talk + SeaWorld Under Investigation + The SAS Employee With A Microchip Implant

June 26, 2017

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Note From the Editor

Happy Monday. If this newsletter looks a tad light through Wednesday, it's because nearly 40 Skifters from throughout the U.S. and Europe landed in Montreal over the weekend for our annual company trip. We'll be living the brand, namely soaking up Québécois culture, getting introspective about strategy, and meeting with assorted tourism luminaries. If any big news intervenes, fear not: We'll set down our Fairmount bagels and Orange Juleps, and spring into reporting mode before our mid-week return.

Speaking of returns, and revenue, hospitality editor Deanna Ting surveyed the CEOs of big hotel chains about direct-booking, and uncovered some chutzpah and surprises. Choice Hotels boss Stephen Joyce warned online travel agencies they'd better behave while David Kong of Best Western characterized the intermediaries as "invaluable." As a Red Lion marketing guru said, there's indeed still "a lot of clicking around."

— Dennis Schaal, Executive Editor

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Whether you choose to view it as a war or not, it's fairly unanimous that nearly every hotelier wishes he or she would have more direct bookings versus bookings made through an online travel agency.

SeaWorld Is Under Federal Investigation for Post-Blackfish Commentary

SeaWorld has been trying hard to assure shareholders that it is moving beyond the controversy and financial woes that followed the Blackfish documentary. This investigation — whatever it entails and however it turns out — is a major setback.

Interview: SAS CEO Explains Why the Airline Embedded a Microchip in Employee's Hand

It's a tough time to be a small, full-service airline in Europe. But SAS CEO Rickard Gustafson is trying to ensure his airline can compete both with low cost airlines, like Norwegian, and massive legacy airlines like Lufthansa Group and Air France-KLM.

Orlando and Birmingham Leaders Grapple With Tourism Identities They Didn't Want

Mayors have power to dictate how a city positions itself for tourism. Orlando and Birmingham's stories are ones where the mayors entered office admitting their cities weren't being smart about tourism and they improved their marketing strategies from there.

We've seen both luxury hotel and luxury cruise companies develop private jet products recently, but only one hotel brand is currently taking its moniker to sea. This is easily the most interesting thing the otherwise traditional Ritz-Carlton has ever done.

TripAdvisor's Review Investigators Discover a Huge Travel-Robocall Scam

These fraudulent robocalls touting over-the-top and fraudulent travel deals are a scourge. Maybe a lot of them will stop now — but there are assuredly other scammers out there so travel brands, which are victims in addition to consumers, aren't home free yet.

Carnival Says China Is a Good Long-Term Cruise Bet Despite Ongoing Struggles

Carnival Corp. reminds us that China is a small part of its business — which is true. But if the market is going to become the world's largest as the company expects, there are a lot of complications to work through.

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