United's Strong Position + Hotels Bullish About 2019 + 5G Meetings Potential

The Travel Industry's Daily Agenda-Setting Newsletter

November 29, 2018 View in browser

Editor's Note T​en years of consecutive growth, no matter what the industry, is an impressive feat these days. That is what the U.S. hotel business is expected to notch in 2019, according to a new report by CBRE Hotels Americas Research. ​Hotel occupancy is predicted to rise to 66 percent. And despite some year-over-year softness that revealed itself in recent quarterly earnings, hotels can expect to see more growth for probably another year or so, says CBRE — thanks, in part, to money Donald Trump's tax cut put into people's pockets. The other side of the story is that room rates have oscillated so hotels aren't filling up at top prices. But given increasing fears of a global recession, whether founded or not, hotels in the U.S. certainly can't complain about a decade of solid growth, especially when Airbnb came along to shake things up. — Tom Lowry, Managing Editor How One City Revamped Its Urban Core and Reshaped What Meetings There Can Be Sponsored by Visit Phoenix With a flood of smart development, downtown Phoenix is positioning itself as a top-flight meeting destination with the 'round-the-clock amenities, fresh infrastructure, and local flavor that today's attendees demand. Read More Top Stories U.S. Hotel Occupancy Projected to Hit New Record in 2019 Despite Recent Softness Bottom line for hotels? They haven't hit the top in terms of growth just yet, and probably won't for at least another year or two. What 5G Will Mean for Hotels and Events Arriving soon: 5G mobile internet. But it will likely be years before it is deployed around the world in any significant ways. Travel companies, along with event professionals, should start planning now for a future defined by ubiquitous access to high-speed data. United Airlines Capitalizes on Robust Demand Amid Falling Fuel Prices Two months ago, airlines were panicked about the price of fuel. But fuel is now cheaper than it was before the run-up, and business is booming. It seems like it's a good time again to be an airline executive. Disillusioned Traveloka Co-Founder Resigns, Saying 'This Game Is No Longer for Me' In what appears to be a clash of ideals and aspirations, the brains behind Traveloka's technology, Derianto Kusuma, is leaving the company he co-founded in early 2012. It is telling how a startup that has reached unicorn status is changing. But is it for the better? Europe Wants Value Not Volume in 2019 Tourism Push Europe is so popular as a tourist destination that it doesn't really need any help growing numbers. A move to concentrate on value is a sensible approach and one that will hopefully see the benefits spread to lesser-known destinations. eDreams Odigeo Shows Its Turnaround Is No Quick Fix The dream of being a turnaround artist who swoops into a distressed company to restore growth is appealing to many people. But CEO Dana Dunne is finding that the turnaround of eDreams Odigeo that he has been pursuing since 2015 is a long hard slog. When Will Innovation Come to U.S. Airports? Most U.S. airports are clunky, publicly run enterprises, and they innovate slowly. Plus, their largest tenants — airlines — can be cheap, and unwilling to pay more than they need to. But a few airports are innovating, and that's good news for passengers. Plusgrade Nets $150 Million Investment for Auctioning Travel Products A $150 million investment in Plusgrade may seem like a lot, given the scope of the market for the company's services. But we're not surprised that a business that specializes in drawing out the highest price from bidders in consumer markets would attract this level of funding. Skift Table TripAdvisor Expands Restaurant Delivery With DoorDash Partnership Both TripAdvisor and DoorDash continue to pack on the partnerships in 2018, in hopes of attracting more restaurant owners and consumers to their mobile apps. The Brains Behind New Orleans' Most Famous Restaurant Are Selling Picnic Food Plenty of chefs are opening casual restaurants, but it's a dramatic move for the chef and co-owner of Commander's Palace in New Orleans. Still, Picnic Provisions and Whiskey had the blessing of the late restaurant matriarch Ella Brennan. Designing a Chain Restaurant for 40 Million Travelers Transportation dining has the potential to be transportative in and of itself, especially when designing for durability doesn't mean sacrificing aesthetics. Popular Now Alaska Airlines Hints It May Finally Join the Oneworld Alliance Alaska Airlines is evolving its business as it tries to think more globally. But unlike Canada's WestJet, which went out and acquired Boeing 787s, Alaska is thinking much more prudently. That's probably the right move. What the Latest Brexit Agreement Means for Travel and Tourism The United Kingdom and European Union have finally agreed on a Brexit deal — but the drama isn't over yet. The UK parliament still needs to give its approval and at the moment, that isn't looking likely. 6 Ways Celebrity Edge Is Changing the Game for the Cruise Industry Celebrity Cruises wanted its newest ship to be transformational for the brand and for the cruise industry. With reimagined staterooms, technology, and even hot tubs, the cruise line is following through on that goal. For Gmail users: If you are using the tabbed inbox, Skift emails may be pushed to the 'Promotions' tab. 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