Hedge Fund Travel Picks + Hotel Biz Travel Weakness + Event Tech Whiplash

The Travel Industry's Daily Agenda-Setting Newsletter

August 17, 2017 View in browser

Note From the Editor We have several stories today about expectations. In stock-picking, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose in your prognostications. We charted the stock picks in the second quarter of two of the most prominent travel-oriented hedge funds, and found them investing in airlines, online travel agencies — and Avis Budget Group. Meanwhile, as hospitality editor Deanna Ting points out, there is a disconnect between hotel executives' early optimism about 2017 and record occupancy numbers on the one hand, and lethargic corporate travel demand on the other. Europe editor Patrick Whyte writes that tour operators in the region have high hopes — and expectations — that Turkey, and even Tunisia and Egypt, will regain their popularity and take pressure off pricier and saturated vacation spots like Spain. Hope springs eternal. — Dennis Schaal, Executive Editor Free Webinar: Examining The Evolving Diversity of Modern Luxury Travel [SPONSORED] Sponsored by L.E.K. Consulting High-end travel and hospitality brands must adapt to evolving luxury consumer psychographics to provide personalized experiences aligned with the whims of today's upscale travelers. Register Top Stories Hotel CEOs Say They're Cautiously Optimistic About Corporate Travel But shouldn't hotel executives be a bit more concerned? At least that's what one analyst is wondering, and we are too. Travel-Tilting Hedge Funds Are Investing in Airlines and Online Travel Agencies Follow the money — at your own risk, of course. These two hedge funds are putting their money in airline and online travel agency stocks, often investing in competitors. Rising tides lift all boats, after all. Skift Global Forum 2017: Hear From Marriott, Airbnb and the Biggest Names in Hospitality From direct booking campaigns to the growing popularity of Airbnb, there's a lot to talk about with the most influential decision-makers in hospitality. Tour Operator CEOs Say Turkey Is Coming Back to Take the Strain Off Spain Tour operators have longed for Turkey and, to a lesser extent, Egypt and Tunisia to return to their previous popularity. All of these destinations offer better value to consumers than Spain, which is at close-to-full capacity and more expensive. Their return is also good news for the people who rely on tourism for a living. Meeting Planners Are Struggling With the Fast Evolution of Event Technology Innovation in event technology today relates as much to how planners use the platforms that already exist, as compared to new advancements in the technology itself. Chefs+Tech: How UberEats Works with Restaurants Hungry people will be loyal to the delivery app that gets them their food fastest, period. UberEats touts algorithms, analytics, and a little bit of the human touch in its work with restaurants. When Event Technology Is the Problem Instead of the Solution — Meetings Innovation Report While technology specifically designed for meetings and events continues to evolve, planners are, in some cases, struggling to keep up with the fast pace of that evolution. Popular Now Air Berlin's Slow Collapse Into Bankruptcy, Explained Over in Italy, no one wants to let Alitalia go. The Italian national carrier is also bankrupt, but keeping the airline is a matter of national pride. There's no such love for Air Berlin. It'll probably disappear, and that'll be OK. 5 Factors That Influence Millennials' Luxury Spending Habits There is no one strategy to win over millennials. Brands should focus on what they offer in terms of quality and then communicate that through as many channels as possible to increase their awareness among this diverse but growing demographic. Summer of Overtourism: 4 Lessons for the Travel Industry Destinations around the world need to wake up and realize that social problems related to tourism aren't going to solve themselves. 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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