Weekend Review: Marriott-Starwood Judgement Day + Airbnb-Branded Mess

The Travel Industry's Daily Agenda-Setting Newsletter

August 18, 2018

Editor's Note Today is deadline day for Marwood, or at least the integration of the Marriott and Starwood loyalty programs is slated to kick in. The consolidation's success or failure likely won't be evident this weekend, unlike the long lines you might see at an airport when an airline screws up a reservation system cutover. There is a lot that Marriott needs to prove in terms of property owner retention, and the sentiment of the now-legacy Starwood elites. And, if there are any foul-ups, competitors ranging from Hilton to Accor and Hyatt are waiting in the wings. This is where it all gets interesting. — Dennis Schaal, Executive Editor Save 25% on Skift Research for a Limited Time Are you armed with the best market research and data out there? Future-proof your business with Skift Research. Use your promo code SUMMER18 to save on an individual report or annual subscription today. Learn More Top Stories Marriott and Starwood Clean House Ahead of Combining Loyalty Programs Marriott and Starwood are ready to pull the trigger on integrating their loyalty programs — but will their hotel and loyalty members ever be ready for the change? The Genesis of Overtourism: Why We Came Up With the Term and What's Happened Since We came up with "overtourism," a simple portmanteau to appeal to people's baser instincts with an element of alarm and fear in it. That is the biggest reason why the term and its exploration by everyone has caught on. Tenants of the Latest Airbnb-Branded Complex in Nashville Feel Blindsided Oops, they did it again. Will the Airbnb-branded apart-hotel developer Niido ever learn its lesson? Customers Cram Carry-Ons as U.S. Airlines Look the Other Way Don't look for airlines to impose weight limits on carry-on bags anytime soon, even though jet fuel prices are climbing and heavier loads eat up fuel. Luxury General Managers on How Five-Star Expectations Have Changed What better way to discover how luxury travel has evolved than to chat with veterans of the five-star hospitality space? Booking Holdings Bought HotelsCombined for Only $140 Million Don't you just love those proverbial tuck-in acquisitions? Booking Holdings didn't break the bank for either HotelsCombined ($140 million) or FareHarbor ($250 million). Sometimes making smaller bets is a much smarter strategy than gargantuan deals, but only time will tell. SkiftX Webinar: How Hotels Are Using Cloud-Based Tools to Attract Meetings Sponsored by Cvent Register for our next webinar on August 28, 1-2 p.m. EST, when we'll dive into the recent disruptions within the meetings and events industry that are forcing hoteliers to rethink how they attract meeting planners. Register Now Editor's Picks The 21 Uncomfortable Truths That I Have Learned About the Travel Industry Never accused of holding back on what we think, what we have learned and unlearned. My lessons from six years of Skift and eight years exploring the travel industry. Despegar Tripped Up by the Ailing Economies of Argentina and Brazil Lousy economies in key markets have hurt Despegar's profit. But deft management during the recent storms suggests the online travel agency has a promising future. What's Missing in Wellness Hospitality? We're in the first inning of wellness innovation in hospitality. There's a lot more science, integration, and bold new ideas yet to surface. Here's a look at how the space will evolve in the next few years. MakeMyTrip Sees Gains From Its Loyalty Programs Investors are understandably focused on MakeMyTrip's ongoing operating losses. But in good news, the company is narrowing the size of those losses while maintaining its growth rates. Condé Nast Traveler Will Combine U.S. and UK Editorial Teams There is a striking difference in editorial styles between the two titles, with the U.S. edition hyper-focused on luxury and fashion and the UK one focused on a broader swath of readers. We're interested in seeing what will emerge as the singular voice. 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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