Best Tourism Videos + Cuba Travel Roadblock + Hotel Design of the Future

The Travel Industry's Daily Agenda-Setting Newsletter

October 2, 2017 View in browser

Note From the Editor Several of today's stories — broadly speaking — are about storytelling. Tourism reporter Dan Peltier, in writing about the United Nations World Tourism Organization's annual video competition, found that the quality of their storytelling was among the factors that separated the winners from the also-rans. The U.S. State Department is telling a story about Cuba travel with the theme that the Caribbean island isn't safe for U.S. travelers. Many U.S.-based travel companies, though, are so far rejecting this storyline. In another familiar generational story, senior writer Andrew Sheivachman cites a survey pointing out that Millennials will soon have to share the limelight because Generation Z is coming. Generation Z prefers adventure while Millennials opt for comfort and experiences. Travel marketers will spend the next couple of decades deciphering the whims of these game-changing groups. — Dennis Schaal, Executive Editor From Novelty to Game Changer: AI and The Future of Work in the Travel Industry [SPONSORED] Sponsored by IBM Smart technology is playing an increasingly important role in our lives. At home, we playfully bark orders and pose hypothetical questions to virtual assistants such as Siri and see them getting smarter over time. The reality is that interconnected, cognitive technology is on the brink from moving from novelty to essential on the home front. For business, it's a game changer. Read More Top Stories Best Tourism Videos of 2017 Highlight the Art of Storytelling These winning tourism videos don't use radical production elements to tell the stories of their countries. Instead, they let the landscapes and handshakes speak for themselves, and show why travel is such a beautiful and enlightening thing. Hotel Design of the Future Emphasizes Sustainability Given the industry's increasing focus on sustainability, these hotel ideas could soon become a reality. That's especially so for developers looking to build projects that are not only eco-friendly, but are increasingly design forward. Travel Brands React to New U.S. Travel Warning for Cuba It's hard to see how other airlines, hotels and cruise lines don't follow JetBlue's lead in issuing waivers on change fees and cancellations for itineraries to Cuba given the U.S. government's ill-conceived warning for travel to the Caribbean island. The warning looks like it will help reverse the Obama administration's loosening of restrictions on U.S. citizen travel to Cuba. U.S. Millennials Travel the Most but Gen Z Is on the Rise Generation Z prioritizes international travel and special events more than its older counterparts. Generation Z members also have the least amount of money to spend on travel, for now. When have we heard this all before? A decade ago, about millennials. All-Encompassing Cuba Travel Warning Issued by Trump Administration The U.S. warning might have been limited to visiting hotels in Cuba, where U.S. embassy employees have allegedly been targeted. But instead the Trump administration would prefer to close the door on U.S. citizen travel to Cuba. As Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson said at the Skift Global Forum this week, U.S. policy toward Cuba has accomplished nothing over the last few decades. American Airlines Teams With Casper for In-Flight Bedding and a Hipper Appeal American and Casper will soon be working together to bring custom-designed bedding to the airline's long-haul flights. A hipper brand such as Casper may resonate better with younger flyers than legacy brands such as Westin or Saks. Ousted Uber CEO Fills 2 Board Seats and Wants Everyone to Know He's Still a Force We hope there will be security guards sitting in during Uber's next board meeting because this is going to be rough. To borrow a phrase, former CEO Travis Kalanick is not going gentle into that good night. At all. Popular Now Hilton CEO Outlines Plans For 'Hostel on Steroids' Hilton's plan for an urban micro-brand is certainly intriguing, but we'll have to wait until next year for more details. TripAdvisor CEO Responds to Analyst Critiques of Its Hotel Search Strategy Analysts continue to critique TripAdvisor's near-term tactics. But CEO Steve Kaufer said Wednesday that no other company is as well-positioned to create value on mobile in the long run as his own. Travel CMOs Weigh Keeping Brands on TV in a Digital Marketing World Some travel brands are still hooked on TV and see the value in creating ads for that medium, and then repurposing TV content for other platforms. In those varied other platforms, they can try and reach diverse audiences wherever they watch their content. 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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