Expedia Bucks Restaurant Trend + Decoding Repeat Travelers + SoftBank's Portfolio Strategy

The Travel Industry's Daily Agenda-Setting Newsletter

December 11, 2018

Editor's Note Will the holdouts have the last laugh? Sometimes the copycat phenomenon in business is mind-boggling as companies scramble to follow each other with strategies that seem to them, in the moment, to make perfect sense. In travel lately, that has been combining restaurant reservations, food delivery and ridehailing with traditional booking businesses. So when an executive like Expedia CEO Mark Okerstrom says he's not ready to take the plunge, you're eager to hear why. Check out Executive Editor Dennis Schaal's story that lays out Okerstrom's rationale — stoking our curiosity over whose strategy will end up winning. — Tom Lowry, Managing Editor Building Brand Loyalty in the Era of the Empowered Traveler Sponsored by Epsilon and Conversant Travel brands have made it so easy for guests to sign up for loyalty programs, it's no wonder travelers' points and miles often go unredeemed. In order to create a more meaningful version of brand loyalty, travel marketers need to use data more effectively to deliver more seamless, personalized, and rewarding experiences. Read More Top Stories New Skift Research Decodes Travelers Who Return to Destinations Keeping visitors loyal is often a complex task for destinations. Understanding those travelers who are most likely to go back to places they've visited is a crucial component of this equation. Travelport's Proposed Buyout Deal May Not End the Drama The early consensus is that Elliott Management put together a disappointing deal for investors. We cover the case for and against the deal here. But expect larger Travelport investors to consider resisting the deal or hope that a white knight acquirer rides in with a better offer. Expedia Isn't Ready to Invest Big in Restaurant Reservations Expedia has dealt with a ton of distractions in recent years as it acquired Wotif, Travelocity, Orbitz Worldwide, and HomeAway, for example. CEO Mark Okerstrom wants to focus on the basics instead, and doesn't want to take bold steps into dining reservations or food delivery for now. On the other hand, Expedia is a very acquisitive company so never say never. Grab's $100 Million Investment in Budget Hotel Chain Oyo Reveals SoftBank's Firm Hand Grab's $100 million investment in Oyo is just the start of a strategy to have a tag-team under the same major investor, which is leveraging the strengths of each member of its portfolio. Expect to see more "teams of unicorns" attacking incumbents in the next year or so. Travel Technology Europe Is Europe's Leading Event for Travel Technology Professionals Sponsored by Travel Technology Europe (TTE) This show features an educational conference program with popular technology and marketing sessions delivered by expert speakers. Hot topics and case studies include the Internet of Things, NDAs, cyber security, blockchain and personalization. Register now for free using the code SKIF19. South Africa's Visa Policy Still Hurting Tourism Despite Recent Tweaks South Africa's onerous visa regime for minor travelers continues to hobble its all-important tourism industry. Amendments published last month may look like good news, but read them closely and – industry insiders say – not nearly enough has changed. Oneworld Airline Alliance's New Partner Opens Opportunities in Africa Those who fly on American, British, and a dozen other worldwide carriers will soon get better access to Africa with a new partner joining the Oneworld alliance in 2020. Popular Now Travelport Is Being Taken Private in $4.4 Billion Deal The long-predicted buyout of public-company Travelport has happened at a premium of about twice the market capitalization of the company. Expect a spinout of the company's eNett payments division and the proverbial "cost restructuring." HotelQuickly Disaster Raises Questions on How Travel Search Giants Vet Advertisers It's a matter of probability that some companies will face cash crunches. It appears HotelQuickly has. But global travel search companies need to detect problems sooner. They must quickly put a pause on referring consumers to troubled companies before too many victims pile up. How Artificial Intelligence Determines Which Airline Stories Go Viral As a Dataminr executive told us, "There is no such thing as a secret now." If it happens on an airplane and someone puts it on social media, it is bound to become news. That's just how it goes now, for better or worse. 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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