Golf-Hotel-Resorts AND CASINO News: Airbnb Poaches From Amazon + 8 Radisson Brands Explained + IHG Is Getting Closer

March 7, 2018

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Note From the Editor

Score one for Airbnb with the news, covered by Hospitality Editor Deanna Ting, that it hired Greg Greeley to head its Homes Division. Greeley led Amazon Prime, and played a key role in its creation more than a decade ago. He worked eons ago for United Airlines, and has no hospitality experience, but let's assume he's a quick learner.

The bottom line is that Airbnb, as it transitions to the next phase of its growth, is probably in a better position today with the hiring of Greeley than it was yesterday. The quality of management is an often-undervalued factor in a company's success, and Airbnb, by all accounts, landed a heavy hitter. The only other thing we'll selfishly say, at this point, is let's hope that Amazon Prime, with Greeley's departure, doesn't lose its disruptive power.

— Dennis Schaal, Executive Editor

Skift Video: Transforming an Airplane Hangar Into an Immersive Event Space

Can Greeley do for Airbnb Homes what he did with Amazon Prime? And if yes, is that, ultimately, a good thing? Is his appointment a sign that Airbnb is moving even further away from hospitality and gravitating that much closer to just being like any other massive online travel giant?

Every One of Radisson's 8 Hotel Brands, Explained

With official brand descriptions like these, it's like Radisson was just begging for us to give them the Skift Take treatment — and we gladly obliged.

Cruise CEOs Want to Ease Overtourism Without Taking Blame

As much as cruise lines don't want to take responsibility for contributing to overtourism, there's no denying that they flood destinations with thousands of visitors in a short time. The fact that they are discussing ways to do that more thoughtfully is a good step.

InterContinental Hotels Is Closing In on a Luxury Acquisition

Asset light, something with history and heritage, fewer than 200 hotels ... IHG CEO Keith Barr has quite a specific wish list. It doesn't sound like we'll have to wait too long until we find out the identity of the luxury hotel brand in question.

Luxury Travel Is Becoming Even More Specialized

Here's a concept you are likely to hear more about soon: silo travel. It's all about going to a place for a very specific reason, and luxury travelers are all over it.

Can In-Store Dining Give Retailers an Edge Over Online Rivals?

Whether it's virtual reality tourism or online shopping, both are radically improved if you're actually in the destination or store with something delicious to eat and good to drink.

Facebook isn't really in the conversation yet when it comes to competing with Google in travel advertising. But Facebook has the ability to reach travelers at various stages of the trip-planning process so it has the potential to be even more disruptive than it has been.

Tours and Activities Race for Dominance in 6 Charts

Viator leads in online tours and activities, as Skift Research's new analysis shows, but being in first also puts a target on its back. Rivals are working hard to close the gap and the race is far from over.

SkyTeam Eases the Hassle of Getting Rebooked When Flights Get Disrupted

Casual travelers often think airlines in the same alliance love to cooperate with each other. That's not always true. They're often fierce competitors. At least SkyTeam has developed new technology that is designed to make it easier for airlines to rebook customers during irregular operations.

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