I listen to travel tech companies that have boosted their revenue despite the pandemic shock to the travel industry. These vendors can reveal clues about what’s on the minds of travel execs shopping for tech. But to be clear: When I sum up a vendor’s views and forecasts, I’m not saying they’re the last word on any topic. This week, I listened closely to Cloudbeds. Cloudbeds, based in San Diego...
Expedia CTO and E-Commerce SVP Exit After ‘A Violation of
One week after Ariane Gorin took over as the new CEO of Expedia Group, the company issued a statement Friday that Chief Technology Officer Rathi Murthy, and Sreenivas Rachamadugu, senior vice president, core services product & engineering, are no longer working at the company. Expedia Group cited “a violation of company policy,” but wouldn’t provide additional details on their exits. The...
Online Travel Faces Lots of Unfinished Business in 2022
Online Travel This Week Online travel has a ton of loose ends, questions to be answered, and fortunes to be won or blown, and these issues didn’t get resolved, of course, just because the Gregorian calendar spent its annual allotment of days on December 31. Here are some of the open questions for online travel in 2022: Who Will Be Tripadvisor’s Next CEO? The search for a CEO at Tripadvisor to...
News
Hotels Hyatt Exec Explains Soft Brand Strategy With Boutique Luxury Hotels One of Hyatt’s many business models is to take indie luxury hotels that pride themselves on being boutique-y, providing them the benefits of Hyatt (distribution! marketing! operational support!) and then downplaying any sign of corporate involvement in the eyes of guests. So far, it’s working. Sean...
Saudi Tourism CEO: Lionel Messi Ad Campaign Targets Traveler ‘Preconceptions’
In Saudi Arabia’s latest tourism campaign, Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi aims to bust the stereotypes global travelers may have about the kingdom. The campaign emphasizes that Saudi Arabia has a lot to offer and is a welcoming destination, said Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority. Saudi has been hyperfocused on cutting its dependence on oil and diversifying its economy. Over...
Skift Global Forum: Opening Night Reception and Chat with Hilton
Trump Close to Selling D
The Trump Organization may finally have a buyer for its Washington, D.C., hotel. Miami-based CGI Merchant Group is in advanced talks to acquire the Trump International Hotel in D.C. for close to $370 million, the Wall Street Journal reports. The acquisition would come in well below the initial $500 million the Trump family originally marketed the hotel at in late 2019. But the sale would still...
Boeing Production Crisis Deepens as Strike Begins at 737 Max
Boeing’s already fragile airliner production chain is facing renewed jeopardy. Late on Thursday, workers overwhelmingly rejected a tentative deal agreed between union representatives and company management. More than 30,000 unionized staff in Washington and Oregon are now on strike. Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) turned down a package that...
Adani Group to Invest $7
The Adani Group is set to invest INR 600 billion in its airport business over the next five to 10 years. This investment will be used to expand seven of the existing airports in its portfolio and will be split evenly between ‘airside’ expansion and ‘cityside’ development, the conglomerate said. Airports set to expand: The group has identified Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Mangaluru, Guwahati...
Inflation Be Damned as Companies Encourage Travel No Matter What
Pent-up demand is trumping inflationary hikes in travel costs, as businesses “open the taps” to encourage their employees to get moving again. Inflation may be starting to dampen demand for summer vacations, but companies are willing to pay the price despite the continuing rises in airfares — for now. They’ve got no cap in place, according to one corporate travel agency, which is currently...