Golf-Hotel-Resorts AND CASINO News: Facebook Ads Getting Traction + Airline Partner Shakeup + Expedia Gets Tough on Vacation Rentals

July 28, 2017

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Note From the Editor

It's a newsy morning. As our stories detail, Facebook is finding its advertising footing on Instagram and in Facebook news feeds, although Google isn't threatened at all — yet. Air France-KLM, as well as Delta, Virgin Atlantic and China Eastern, are creating a single joint venture while Richard Branson is stepping back a bit.

Meanwhile, tour operator Thomas Cook aims to let travelers choose their own hotel rooms in advance before they even depart for their trip, and separately Expedia is looking askance at opposition from some vacation rental owners and is basically mandating online-bookable properties for its vacation-rental subsidiary HomeAway. The travel industry proceeds apace.

— Dennis Schaal, Executive Editor

How Delta Is Using Personalization to Enhance the Business Travel Experience [SPONSORED]

Messaging was once the darling of the travel industry and for some brands it still is. But video continues to be what many brands are focusing on and monetizing that trend is a priority for Facebook.

Southwest CEO Doesn't Expect Business to Be This Good Forever

Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly doesn't always make the decisions that Wall Street wants to see, so don't expect him to deviate from his cautious stance.

Expedia's Heavy Hand Is Working for HomeAway

Expedia doesn't really care about the noise coming from some disgruntled vacation rental owners. The company is focused on scaling HomeAway's vacation rental business, and having online bookable properties is the formula for the future.

Air France-KLM Buying Stake in Virgin Atlantic in Major Airline Shake-up

Despite relinquishing his control, Richard Branson has been able to save face by negotiating the continuation of the Virgin Atlantic brand. At the same time a strengthened transatlantic joint venture means he'll have a better chance at competing with British Airways and its partners.

Thomas Cook To Let Guests Choose Their Own Rooms as Operator Accelerates Hotel Improvements

Under CEO Peter Fankhauser, Thomas Cook has quietly managed to turn itself around. The situation this year has undoubtedly been aided by an improving geopolitical climate but a more focussed, higher-quality product offering has also helped.

Expedia to Invest $350 Million in Indonesia Booking Site Traveloka

If the report is true, CEO Ferry Unardi, a Harvard Business School dropout who is only 29 years old, should be proud. Expedia's interest in Traveloka, a household name brand in Indonesia, makes sense.

Spirit Airlines Has Trouble Ahead as Airfares Decline and Competition Increases

Spirit Airlines is hurting after a mixed quarter, and the outlook isn't good for the rest of 2017. The company's leadership, however, remains undeterred from its current strategy.

FabHotels Secures $25 Million in a Goldman Sachs-Led Round: Travel Startup Funding This Week

FabHotel's franchise model joins peers OYO and Treebo in a promising effort to tame the famously fractured budget segment in India by applying consistent standards of service and marketing.

Last-Minute Hotel Cancellations Get Pricey — Corporate Travel Innovation Report

Hotels want to remove more uncertainty from their business, and getting more strict about when travelers can cancel is a good way to do that. Business travelers and travel managers need to pay attention to the new rules to avoid costly fees.

As it adapts to its new asset-light strategy, Hilton seems determined to leverage the strength of its ties to HNA, prevent unwanted hotel cancellations, and welcome more competition from an unlikely ally: Airbnb.

New Research Report: A Deep Dive Into Ctrip and the China Online Travel Market 2017

This report represents the launch of our coverage of Asia, offering insights into both Ctrip and the online travel market more broadly.

AccorHotels Combines Its Rental Brands Under Onefinestay Name

It's clear that AccorHotels needed to do something to turn Onefinestay around and by combining it with its other rental businesses it will at least be able to improve its reach. But at the same time one of the draws was the "handpicked" nature of the properties, which will surely be lost by increased scale.

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