Weekend Review: TripAdvisor Uncovers Scam + British Airways' Creative Solution

The Travel Industry's Daily Agenda-Setting Newsletter

June 24, 2017 View in browser

Like a typical worker getting ready to take a break from the office for any length of time, the entire Skift team was distracted this week as we got ready to take our annual retreat — this year to Montreal. That didn't keep us from catching some late-breaking news about SeaWorld's latest setback on Friday, nor did it stop us from hunting down details on British Airways' creative solution to an impending strike. There were others stories, too, this week, from a giant scam TripAdvisor helped federal officials unravel to Ritz-Carlton's interesting (and we really mean it) move into the cruise world with a unique yacht offering. The Skift team will be a bit slow next week as we all focus on exploring Canada's best city (sorry Toronto and Vancouver), but like a typical worker out of the office, we'll stay connected so as to not let you down. — Jason Clampet, Editor-in-Chief Start Here 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. 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. British Airways Seeks Planes and Crew From Qatar During Proposed Flight Attendant Strike Most passengers would love it if British Airways could keep flying a full schedule even while many of its flight attendants are on strike. But will regulators let British Airways wet-lease nine planes registered in Qatar? Ritz-Carlton Enters the Luxury Cruise Business With 3 Custom Yachts 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. Travel Habits of Americans: Strong U.S. Dollar Means Little to Outbound Tourists Skift's data show many U.S. adults weren't planning an international trip this year even with a stronger dollar, but for those who were a more favorable exchange rate largely wasn't a make-it-or-break-it factor in the decision process. The Low-Cost, Long-Haul Carrier Revolution In 3 Charts The low-cost, long-haul revolution is only just starting to take off. Will full-service carriers be able to adapt to this new reality or are we about to see a total realignment? Enhancing Loyalty: Best Practices for CRM Systems in Asia-Pacific [SPONSORED] Sponsored by Cendyn Encompassing diverse markets in mature economies like Australia, Japan, and Singapore, and those with vast growth potential like China, expectations of service and customer experience can vary widely throughout the Asia-Pacific Region. This report looks at strategies to build hospitality customer loyalty through effective use of customer relationship management (CRM.) Download Interviews We like to talk to the industry's smartest leaders and (sometimes) that puts us face-to-face with a CEO. This week Hospitality Editor Deanna Ting was fortunate to meet with Kimpton's Mike DeFrino at the Eventi Hotel next to Skift headquarters. Our Airline Business Reporter Brian Sumers traveled a bit further (Cancun, this time) to have a conversation with Finnair's Pekka Vauramo. Interview: Kimpton CEO Sees IHG Helping to Propel Its International Expansion The hotel company that started the boutique hotels movement in the U.S. wants to set a precedent for scaling up — without losing its soul in the process. But can it succeed? Interview: How Finnair Plans to Crack the Potentially Lucrative Chinese Market Not every airline can be a global behemoth. Finnair mostly focuses on its niche — connecting Europe with Asia, including secondary Chinese cities. Hospitality Midscale Hotel Brands Are Getting Smarter About Not Being Boring If you're a hotel company planning to launch and/or reinvest in a midscale brand, please make it interesting. IHG Announces New Midscale Hotel Brand — Without a Name Scandic Hotels Bolsters Nordics Strategy With $127 Million Finnish Acquisition Digital A Timeline of Online Travel Agency Battles With Hotels and Airlines There is pomp and circumstance, and plenty of bluster, but most negotiations between online travel agencies, on the one hand, and hotels and airlines, on the other, eventually end up in signed contracts. That's because the two sides usually need each other, like it or not. Mobile Travel Bookings Will Reach 40 Percent of Online Sales in 2017 Etraveli Gets New Owner in Push to Dominate European Online Booking The Motivations of European Travelers from Generation Z to Baby Boomers [SPONSORED] Sponsored by Expedia Media Solutions How can marketers target European travelers? The first step is understanding their behavior patterns and preferences across generations. Tourism Cayman Islands Tests U.S. Meal-Kit Service to Boost Its Food Tourism Marketing The Cayman Islands feels its new meal-kit campaign is new and exciting, and in many ways it is. It's refreshing to see a tourism board take a novel approach to reaching consumers and there will be a lot to learn in how consumers will respond. Carnival Says China Is a Good Long-Term Cruise Bet Despite Ongoing Struggles BMW Picks Butterfield & Robinson as Its Exclusive European Tour Operator Airlines Airbus Is Making Some of Its Most Popular Jets More Passenger-Friendly Is this a game-changer? No. But let's give Airbus some credit for making short-haul travel a little more pleasant. Too bad passengers must wait until 2020 to see the new cabins. Norwegian Air CEO Is More Worried About UK Passenger Taxes Than Brexit American Airlines to Drop Contentious Uniforms Within Three Years For Gmail users: If you are using the tabbed inbox, Skift emails may be pushed to the 'Promotions' tab. 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