Golf-Hotel-Resorts AND CASINO News: Blockchain's Threat to Expedia and Airbnb + René Redzepi at Skift Global Forum + TripAdvisor's Balancing Act

July 11, 2017

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Note From the Editor

U.S. supporters of Open Skies agreements are engaged in a form of targeted advertising. Under the theory that you need to engage where your audience is, they are advertising on cable channels Fox News and MSNBC to snag Donald Trump's attention and advance their pro-jobs message to the chagrin of United, Delta and American. Be careful what you wish for.

Speaking of targeting, research analyst Dave Montali interviewed TUI
Group CEO Fritz Joussen, who is zeroing in on blockchain as a way to transform the company and counter the almost "monopolistic" power of Booking.com and Expedia. TUI Group's stance is remarkable — a company that was terribly slow to warm to the digital revolution is now an early adopter. We love what we are seeing.

— Dennis Schaal, Executive Editor

As Skift expands into the business of restaurants, we closely follow those at the top of the industry creating change. We are delighted to announce René Redzepi, founder and head chef of noma, as a speaker at this year's Skift Global Forum.

Blockchain Will Disrupt Expedia and Airbnb, TUI CEO Says

Blockchain is essentially a large immutable database which, due to its security features and decentralized nature, can pose a threat to traditional intermediaries. Companies are looking to expand blockchain to tackle the current travel distribution landscape.

Pro-Open Skies Group Tries to Reach Trump Where it Matters — on Cable TV

Here's a prediction. The Trump administration may do little on the Open Skies debate. Yes, U.S. airlines probably suffer because of the agreements with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. But plenty of other U.S. interests take advantage of the same agreements to make money.

Interview: TripAdvisor CEO on How Attractions and Restaurants Fit Into Overall Strategy

TripAdvisor has hotels but its activities business is burning bright. The conversation will continue to shift toward the non-hotel revenue line, as the company moves into the long game focusing on execution rather than transformation.

Norwegian Cruise Line Is Sending a Second Ship to Cuba as Demand Stays Strong

Flights to Cuba are expected to be less in demand once the Trump administration's travel restrictions are enforced, but could that lead to more interest in cruises? Norwegian Cruise Line's announcement indicates the cruise operator is expecting a bump in business.

Half of Business Travelers Want to Avoid Human Interaction on the Road

Dealing with humanity can be annoying, and it can be even worse when you're traveling for business. More robust technology tools, however, can help automate and streamline many annoyances for business travelers.

The Business of Loyalty: How Hotels Build Loyalty Beyond the Stay

If travel really is all about the experiences, travel companies — with or without loyalty programs — better do all they can to make sure our experiences aren't just good, but great.

Chefs+Tech: Brooklyn Coffee Shop Claims Starbucks Caused Unicorn Confusion

Instagram has hastened the pace of unicorn-every-food, but when a big corporation's gimmick steps on an independent's toes, someone should be held responsible.

Cross-Team Bonding in Montreal at Skift's Annual Retreat

Among the most precious benefits of these retreats is cross-team bonding. It's easy to socially stick with your own department, but the retreat is a chance to break out of that mold, and our conference and event planner Melissa Jimenez orchestrated the whole thing.

Expedia and Booking.com, which each doubled Marriott's TV advertising spend over the last year, are still growing like weeds despite hotels' direct-booking campaigns. That makes for a tough environment for hoteliers, although some brands will do better than others.

Why Not Having a Formal Travel Loyalty Program Works — For Some

Not every travel business needs to have a formal loyalty or rewards program to have loyal customers. But if you're going to go that route, you better know what you're getting into. And for some companies, it might be time to reconsider doing without.

The Hotel Chain That Doesn't Need Booking.com or Expedia

Premier Inn's proportion of direct bookings is pretty eye-opening, but the brand operates under a particular set of circumstances. If it decides to ramp up its international expansion, it will be interesting to see if it chooses to make more use of online travel agents.

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