Weekend Review: Trump's Cuban Step Backwards + Hotel CEOs' Top Worries

The Travel Industry's Daily Agenda-Setting Newsletter

June 17, 2017 View in browser

A certain U.S. political leader demonstrated his ability to go back in time this week, didn't he? Not content with already having a retrograde enough tourism policy towards Cuba, Donald Trump kicked it up a notch with new restrictions designed to wring a few more votes from a shrinking base. As we've said before, the travel industry in the U.S. hoped it was getting a political leader who understood the travel industry. But it did not. — Jason Clampet, Editor-in-Chief Missed This Week's Research Report Launch? Skift's newest Research Report offers insights into big picture online travel trends through the lens of TripAdvisor. Did you know that when you become an annual Research Subscriber, you'll get access to twice-monthly reports like this one as well as premium Data Sheets and Analyst Calls? Buy Report Now Start Here Airbnb Buys Background-Check Startup Trooly to Combat Scams Anyone here getting IPO-ready? Improving the quality of the site's listings, and making it harder for users to do transactions outside of the platform will boost Airbnb's valuation. Interview: Ian Schrager on the Next Generation of Boutique Hotels The next generation of boutique hotels, according to Ian Schrager, is about adding technology and business smarts to the tried-and-true formula that he and other boutique pioneers perfected nearly 40 years ago. Interview: Copa Airlines CEO on Building the 'Hub of the Americas' in Panama Panama's Copa Airlines is not well-known in most of North America, but it's among the most profitable airlines in the Americas. Its secret? Like Southwest Airlines, it keeps its model simple. Hyatt Plays Hardball With Expedia Over Contract Negotiations Hyatt, like every other hotel company out there, wants to get better rates from online travel agencies like Expedia. But does it have the scale (and the muscle) to do it? WTTC Says Trump Should Make Tourism Job Growth a Priority Tourism Industry Could be A Beneficiary of UK Election Chaos Prime Minister Theresa May's reputation has been shattered by her own hubristic behaviour and she is only clinging on to power through a loose alliance with another party. The UK is in a much weakened position as it prepares to start Brexit negotiations. Appeals Court Upholds Block of Trump Travel Ban as Supreme Court Battle Approaches This is good news for travelers, and hurts the executive branch's case for upholding the travel ban as the U.S. Supreme Court considers the issue. Cuba Right Now For U.S. travelers Cuba has been much more interesting over the last two years. Radical? No, but people are planning their trips differently among the new, more open rules. That ended today as the current president tried to cater to the needs of a small group of voters in southern Florida. Here is what you need to know about how you can travel to Cuba now. Trump to End 'Abusive' Individual People-to-People Travel to Cuba Cuba Travel FAQ: What Trump's Policy Changes Really Mean Here's the lowdown in a FAQ on what the new U.S. policy toward Cuba means for travel companies and travelers alike. Twists and Turns in Travel Industry's Approach to Cuba Since Obama's Changes Trump Will Tighten Cuba Travel Policies, Not Reverse Them Lodging Most Hotel CEOs Dismiss Airbnb's Impact But Demand Level Playing Field Most CEOs said the same thing they've said about Airbnb countless times before — 'We need a level playing field' — but there are signs that some are starting to take the $31 billion alternative accommodations provider a bit more seriously. Consumers Are Facing a Glut of Loyalty Programs in Hospitality Airbnb Ramps Up Push to Get More Hosts to Choose Instant Booking Digital TripAdvisor Returns to TV Advertising With Bathrobe-Clad Owl as Spokesperson TripAdvisor's new ad campaign comes at a momentous time for the company, although TripAdvisor views it as part of a long-term TV advertising enterprise. With $70 million behind it and an empathetic bent it will probably do well. You can expect Trivago to up its game as well. TrustYou Acquired as User-Generated Reviews Sector Heats Up Travel Tech CEO Series: Farelogix Tries to Profit From Airline Distribution Turmoil Tourism U.S. Workers Are Taking a Bit More Vacation Despite Their Employers Airbnb Promises $5.6 Million For Community Tourism Projects in Europe Smart Cities Need Open Data and a Willingness to Test and Learn Flying CEO Interview: KLM CEO on Why His Airline Still Feeds Passengers for Free KLM may not be a perfect airline, but it's surprisingly spunky considering it's owned by a giant French company that also controls Air France. The two airlines couldn't be more different. United Says Customers May Dislike Basic Economy But They're Buying It Why Scandinavia's SAS Is Creating a New Airline With the Same Name in Ireland American Airlines Reverses Plan to Shrink Legroom on Some Planes Biz Travel Time-Starved Business Travelers Are Missing the Bleisure Trend While bleisure travel isn't growing in a huge way, this study shows nearly half of millennial business travelers add leisure to business trips. Those young travelers could cut back as they get older — or employers might need to better adjust to a rise in bleisure down the road. The C2 Conference Is a Billboard For Montreal as a 'Smart Living Laboratory' 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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