Golf-Hotel-Resorts AND CASINO News: IHG's New Brand + JetBlue CEO Is Livid + Foodie Rewards for Flyers

September 19, 2017

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Note From the Editor

What's in a name, and what should brands really mean or stand for these days? Just yesterday, InterContinental Hotels Group finally revealed the name of its newest hotel brand (drumroll, please), Avid Hotels. It represents what most new hotel brands have become: focus-group driven, safe, and non-threatening (translation: bland). More importantly than what we think, however, is what will "Avid" really mean to consumers? Only time will tell if Avid attracts a passionate fan base, but we hope IHG will inject some personality into this new brand.

Speaking of fans with a passion, these are exactly the types of travelers SAS is appealing to with its new loyalty program perk, as aviation business editor Brian Sumers examines today. The airline is finding some travelers who are willing to spend big bucks just to travel on an exclusive trip to Japan with its head chef. Now that's a brand with some avid fans, if we do say so.

— Deanna Ting, Hospitality Editor

Only 19 Tickets Remain for Skift Global Forum

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Time to play another game of "Is it a boutique hotel or a condom brand?" We won't go that far here, but we wonder if IHG will be willing to inject a bit more personality and more of a story into its newest brand.

JetBlue CEO Blasts Big U.S. Airlines for Wielding 'Anti-Consumer Power'

These are fighting words from JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes, who does not like the tight control the largest U.S. airlines have over domestic and international markets.

Booking.com Could Narrow the Gap In Vacation Rentals

Booking.com has long experimented with vacation rental inventory. Its inventory has been growing rapidly, but vacation rentals still remain a small part of Booking.com's business.

SAS Strives to Fulfill Passenger Dreams and Its Own With Experiences Program for Elite Flyers

We're not surprised SAS frequent flyers love to take trips with the airline's head chef, though we're impressed the airline found 20 takers willing to spend $5,000 a piece (plus 100,000 points) for a five-day trip to Japan.

Tour Operator Context Nets $5 Million in Funding for Its Daunting Task of Scaling

Context is a scholarly tour business betting that digital marketing will let it replicate its model profitably worldwide. Other experiential tour businesses will watch with a skeptical -- but hopeful -- eye.

U.S. Business Travelers Embrace Technology but Also Fear Its Impact

U.S. business travelers want the technology tools to make their trips easier. The rest of the world, however, doesn't necessarily see technology as the solution to service problems.

Business of Loyalty: EasyJet's Long-Haul Alliance Shirks Traditional Codeshare Benefits

EasyJet just launched an airline alliance aimed at better-connecting travelers across low-cost networks. Beyond a booking engine, though, the partnership offers few benefits.

Chefs+Tech: Does Corporate Investment Kill Indie Brands?

We're pulling for Blue Bottle to maintain its indie cred even though it now has serious corporate backing.

While some may disagree, we believe that Google is not becoming an online travel agency. It certainly could do so, but its travel business is already massive and highly profitable. We estimate it will generate around $14 billion in revenue in 2017, and will grow at over 20 percent per year for the foreseeable future.

Interview: SpiceJet Founder Rescued an Airline and Has Big Ambitions for Indian Aviation

Unless you're obsessed with aviation, you probably don't know SpiceJet. But you might someday. India is a fast-growing aviation market, and SpiceJet has nearly 200 Boeing 737s on order. Someday, it might even fly long-haul jets to London or beyond.

Crystal Cruises Hires Disney Veteran In Shakeup to Replace Outgoing CEO Edie Rodriguez

Crystal Cruises has no shortage of ambitious plans for growth, but those plans have occasionally changed. Its new CEO will need to reassure fans of the luxury brand that the company will steer a consistent course under new leadership.

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