Golf-Hotel-Resorts AND CASINO News: Expedia Axes Price-Matching + Reviving Midscale Brands + Scotland Shutters 39 Visitor Centers

October 25, 2017

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Note From the Editor

The only constant in life is change, as the old saying goes, and that applies to travel as much as anything else. Exhibit A today is Expedia, which earlier this month put an end to its longtime price-matching guarantee. Representatives for the booking site didn't give an explicit reason for the change, but Travel Tech Editor Sean O'Neill explores some of the possibilities.

Hospitality Editor Deanna Ting also tells a story of evolution, as two hotel operators seek to breathe new life into their midscale brands amid increasing competition. In the case of Marriott International, that change comes in the form of a throwback to the farm-inspired history of Fairfield Inn & Suites. What's that other saying? Everything old is new again — or at least that's what Marriott is hoping.

— Hannah Sampson, News Editor

New Skift Research: U.S. Experiential Traveler Trends 2018

The data collected from our second annual Experiential Traveler Survey presents a deep dive into the mindset of the modern traveler. We dig into their values, attitudes, travel behavior, and more.

Expedia's move seems odd, as hotel chains ramp up their direct-booking campaigns that include best-price guarantees. Our guess is that the company tested and found that most consumers are no longer swayed by price-matching offers. Or perhaps there was pressure from ongoing probes in Europe.

Marriott and Choice Take Varied Approaches to Reviving Classic Midscale Brands

This makes a lot of sense, but can Marriott and Choice make make their established midscale brands stand out among all of the more design-driven newcomers that others are unleashing? Or do consumers and developers not really care as long as they save or make money?

JetBlue Doesn't Expect Puerto Rico Tourism to Recover Until Late 2018

JetBlue has been good to Puerto Rico, but the airline has no choice. The island has been devastated by Hurricane Maria, and tourists won't be able to return soon. JetBlue needs to move some flights to other popular tourist destinations.

Is the Visitor Center Dead? Scotland and LA Have Opposing Answers in the Mobile Era

Destinations with visitor centers are adjusting their strategies to ensure their locations are being effectively utilized. The concept of a mobile or pop-up visitor center is also becoming more common, and is certainly a trend to watch in 2018.

Inside the Travel Habits of China's High-Spending Millennials

Make no mistake: Chinese millennial travelers are among the richest groups in China, with the majority holding white-collar jobs. When this generation speaks, the luxury market should listen.

Smartphones Open Hotel Rooms at Luxury Properties But That Should Be Just the Beginning

Hotels have years to go before guests will routinely be unlocking guest room doors with their mobile apps. Even then, it could be just a gimmick unless hotels make it part of a broader guest-experience enhancement.

Luxury Getting Increasingly Democratized Through Social Channels

Consumers' perception on the accessibility of luxury brands is shifting through their daily, almost intimate interactions with both luxury products and the influencers who tout them on social media.

As destinations scramble to reduce the impact of tourism on their citizens, foundational work must still be done to create a repeatable framework and process for preventing overtourism.

Business of Loyalty: Etihad Bails Out Air Berlin's Loyalty Members

The jig was almost up for members of Air Berlin's frequent flyer program, but at the last moment, Etihad extended an olive branch.

New York Times Is Hiring a Reporter to Visit Its 52 Places to Go

Many avid travelers and destination marketers look forward to these where-to-go lists and the Times wants to make its list more engaging and relevant to its readers. Sending a reporter to 52 places in 52 weeks sounds like a stretch, but there's no doubt many travelers will enjoy following the person who will have one of the world's best jobs.

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