U.S. Airfares Have Highest One-Month Increase in History
From the Financial Times this morning:
Sean O’Neill is Skift’s Senior Hospitality Editor. Sean’s forte is reporting, and he’s broken multiple hotel industry scoops. He has also conducted 1:1 interviews on stage with the CEOs of Marriott, Hilton, IHG, Hyatt, and Wyndham.
Private Equity Firm Brookfield to Pay $3.8 Billion for Watermark Lodging Trust
The Brookfield deal shows that investment interest in hotel portfolios remains strong. Analysts at Baird said that Xenia Hotels has a portfolio with similar characteristics to Watermark's.
Airbnb Strives to Give Travelers More Confidence in What They Book
Airbnb has recognized that it needs to bolster the confidence of many travelers that short-term rentals and vacation homes are exactly as advertised. It's taken a big stride in that direction, said Catherine Powell, global head of hosting at the online travel agency.
Well-to-Do Americans Still Plan to Travel, Says Morgan Stanley Research
Morgan Stanley Research released on Tuesday another of its AlphaWise surveys on consumer sentiment. This time it polled about 2,000 U.S. consumers between April 29 and May 2.
Hyatt Expects Luxury Travel Rebound to Stay Strong Despite Market Turmoil
Pity Hyatt. Just as the pandemic's dark clouds are lifting, market turmoil overshadows its optimism. Yet that isn't dimming Hyatt executives' outlook.
Sabre to Buy Nuvola in Bet on Hotel Upselling
Sabre gets deeper into hotel operations with this acquisition of a vendor of upselling and guest messaging tech.
Despegar to Buy Brazilian Online Travel Agency Viajanet for $15 Million
Online travel booking company Despegar signed a deal to buy Viajanet, a Brazil-based online travel agency, for US$15 million.
Why European Investing Giant Kinnevik Is Betting on Travel Startups
Even though Kinnevik is Europe's largest publicly listed startup investor, it has only recently begun to take stakes in travel startups. What it looks for in companies tells a broader story of how investors generally view the sector.
Scotland’s Gleneagles Offers Subscription Model for 1st Expansion in 9 Decades
It's hard to look at Ennismore's chic new Gleneagles Townhouse, which puts equal weight on its members club as its hotel, without drawing a connection to how many travel brands have been testing the subscription model.
Certares and Knighthead Invest $225 Million in Global Blue in Bet on Duty-Free Shopping
Have you ever claimed your value added tax back for things you bought during a trip to Europe? Then you probably used a Global Blue Tax Free Shopping service. Global…