Golf-Hotel-Resorts AND CASINO News: Travel Ban Short-Circuited + Airbnb's Partnership About-Face + Vacation Rental Mega-Funding

October 18, 2017

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Note From the Editor

Two of our stories today give us a glimpse into larger business-to-business industry trends. Vacasa, which does property management for vacation-rental owners, snagged an eye-popping $103 million in financing, highlighting how the behind-the-scenes business side of the sector is making moves toward prime time.

And hotel-search company Trivago, which has been dabbling, as have competitors, in providing marketing services to hoteliers, launched a standalone division dedicated to hawking these services. Whether the initiative will amount to fluff or enhanced focus remains to be seen.

— Dennis Schaal, Executive Editor

How Artist, Designer and Co-Founder of Flat Vernacular Finds Beauty in the Everyday [SPONSORED]

Sponsored by The Unbound Collection by Hyatt™

Brian Kaspr, artist, designer and co-founder of design studio Flat Vernacular, has made it a point to put creativity first and foremost in his life. He finds inspiration in mundane, everyday situations and emphasizes the increasing importance of awareness and attention.

Another travel ban has been halted, this time just hours before taking effect. At no point have the executive orders been able to prove that letting people from Muslim-majority countries into the U.S. would have a detrimental effect on security.

What's Worrying the Business Traveler

In a complicated world, businesses are concerned with the safety of their workers on the road. Technology can help ease business traveler anxiety, but there is no flawless solution when something goes wrong.

Vacasa Raises $103 Million as Venture Capital Commits to the Property Management Sector

Vacasa spent years building a business before venture capital came along for the ride at this level. Its fate now depends on how well it executes the sometimes-cumbersome task of on-boarding new properties at scale, and whether it can avoid hubris.

Airbnb Reverses Strategy in Return to Affiliate Partnerships With Big Players

The home-sharing giant is only partnering with websites that attract at least a million visitors a month. Airbnb is calculating that the revenue upside would be worth the brand sacrifice that comes with affiliate marketing.

Video: Travelsify and Accenture on Putting the "Personal" Back In Personalization [SPONSORED]

Sponsored by Travelsify

CEO and Co-Founder of Travelsify and Global Personalization Lead at Accenture Interactive discuss the two-sided coin of personalization: consumer and product.

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Trivago Launches a Subsidiary to Sell Hoteliers on Its Business Tools

Trivago, its parent Expedia, and Booking.com all want to provide business services to hotels. It's easy to see the potential value to resource-strapped hotel managers. Still, many hoteliers remain suspicious of these giants.

China Wants Cruising to Grow But Also Wants More Control

Cruise executives have said they are optimistic about the future of cruising in China in part because the government has made the growth of the industry there a priority. Are those priorities evolving?

Why Luxury Travel Brands Should Pay Attention to High-End Retail Trends

International spending on luxury goods often tracks movements in worldwide travel. A recent report sheds light on how travel and high-end shopping are intertwined.

Belmond Looks to Solidify Its Brand Image Against Competitor With Its Old Name

While part of the goal of Belmond's new branding campaign is to establish itself as an entity apart from its former Orient Express moniker, we wonder if the images it presents may be just a little too reminiscent of its former self.

Luxury Ski Spot Breckenridge Tries to Diversify Its Seasonal Economy

Even luxury destinations must diversify their offerings to bolster the economy in the off-season. Breckenridge's slow and thoughtful approach can serve as a role model.

This makes perfect, if long overdue, business sense for Airbnb. But can Airbnb really make sure these tools won't be abused by commercial operators running illegal hotel businesses in cities like San Francisco or New York?

Video: Delta CEO Sees Basic Economy as Way to Show Passengers They Aren't Getting Ripped Off

Unbundling has been one of the biggest buzzwords in the airline industry in recent years, and for good reason. Full-service carriers like Delta think it is a great way to hit a broader range of consumers, but it doesn't come without its risks.

Cruise Execs Are Talking Up the Caribbean as Key Ports Recover

Cruise passengers are still taking the trips they had planned for this time of year in the Caribbean, despite recent storms. As operators seek to reassure travelers that the region is open for business, it's still unclear how demand for cruises next hurricane season will hold up.

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