Wyndham Buys La Quinta + United Adds Premium Economy + Travel Brands Get Political

The Travel Industry's Daily Agenda-Setting Newsletter

January 19, 2018 View in browser

Note From the Editor Hospitality Editor Deanna Ting started her Thursday before most of the U.S. was even awake, jumping on news that Wyndham Worldwide was buying La Quinta Holdings for nearly $2 billion — and nabbing interviews with the CEOs of both. Before the day was over, she also covered the move by Hyatt to eliminate its chief marketing officer position, a curious decision given the importance and prominence of recent marketing campaigns. All the news goes to show that there's rarely a dull moment in the hotel business — and Skift doesn't miss a beat in covering it all. On the marketing front, Assistant Editor Sarah Enelow explores how travel brands, including Hyatt, have become more pointed (and political) in their messaging about diversity and inclusion amid growing nationalist sentiment. It's a hot-button topic, and one of our top Megatrends for 2018. — Hannah Sampson, News Editor New eBook: What Can You Do With a Hospitality Degree? Sponsored by JWU Online A new eBook from Johnson & Wales University's College of Online Education lets data, successful students and alumni in the field, and a distinguished professor answer how a degree can make all the difference. Read More Megatrends 2018 Travel Megatrends 2018: Brands Embrace Diversity Message Amid Rising Neo-Nationalism Travel brands no longer get political at their own risk — they avoid politics at their own risk. With so much at stake in the Trump era, remaining on the sidelines about multicultural acceptance isn't an option. Restaurant Megatrends 2018: Design Has a 'More Is More' Moment Distinctive elements will dominate in restaurant design through 2018. Bold color choices, stand-out patterns, text-heavy neon signage, and witty branding will shape identities for new spaces, and the perceptions of those who experience them— virtually or otherwise. Top Stories Wyndham Worldwide Is Buying La Quinta for $1.95 Billion Wyndham CEO Geoff Ballotti wasn't kidding when he told us he had big plans for 2018 at last year's Skift Global Forum. United Airlines Will Add Premium Economy to Match Delta and American United is lagging behind its competitors in launching international premium economy. But this is something it needs to do, if only because of competitive dynamics. Hyatt Eliminates CMO Position in Strategy Aimed at Accelerating Its Growth Just a hunch, but does this mean more acquisitions are in the works over at Hyatt? United Will Begin Giving Passengers Details About Why Their Flights Are Delayed Airline passengers don't like being late. But what they probably dislike more is being late and not knowing why. Over the next few weeks, United will give some customers detailed information about the reason for delays. That could make passengers less anxious, which is a good thing. Onefinestay Launches Concierge Service With Loyalty Elements Rumor has it that Airbnb is gearing up to announce a loyalty program soon, and Onefinestay may have just beat its strongest competitor to the punch. The Corporate Travel Tech Revolution Is Still in the Works Travel management companies have tons of data on the behavior and spending patterns of their travelers. Doing something concrete with this information, however, is a work in progress that should be solved sometime soon. Popular Now Expedia Could Find a Silver Lining in Trivago's Woes As a sage songwriter once said, "You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows." Trivago CFO Axel Hefer knows that, and he said current headwinds are obviously harder to manage than tailwinds. But if Trivago can work its way out of the mess it's in, it may emerge as a stronger company. The Airport Lounge Conundrum — Airline Innovation Report Airline lounges are rarely as opulent as the promotional pictures suggest. Yet passengers seem to love them. Why? Will they persist forever? Travel Megatrends 2018: Travel Brands Want to Be Experience Platforms If we received a penny for every time a travel industry executive talked about how consumers are looking for "experiences," we'd be billionaires by now. But in all seriousness, there's a definitive strategy behind travel brands' desires to play an even bigger role in travelers' experiences. 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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