Airbnb's Best Quarter and Other Top Stories This Week

A cyberattack has breached the computer system at MGM Resorts, forcing the company to shut down operations at a dozen of the most iconic casino hotels in Las Vegas—including the Bellagio, Mandalay Bay and the Cosmopolitan—as well as another half-dozen MGM properties around the United States. The attack has left hotel guests locked out of their rooms and unable to use their digital key cards to charge goods and services.

Zurich boasts stunning scenery with the snow-capped Alps in the distance and offers plenty of activities and attractions to explore. It has enchanting streets lined with historic architecture, plus excellent restaurants and nightlife spots. Shopping opportunities abound in Zurich – from luxury boutiques to bustling markets and charming little stores. Zurich is also known for its vibrant culture, with plenty of art galleries, museums, theaters and festivals to enjoy. These Zurich Airbnbs put you close to it all.

Seoul is an incredibly vibrant city full of culture, history, and modernity. There are so many things to explore like the bustling streets of Myeongdong or the ancient palaces of Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung. With its world-class museums, shopping centers, and parks, Seoul is a great place for tourists to get lost in its unique blend of culture and modernity. These Airbnbs showcase the city’s hippest areas.

Here are the top stories from the Daily Lodging Report newsletter in the past week. Get news on hotel deals, development, stocks, and career moves. Sign up here now.

Airbnb launched its latest brand campaign, “Get an Airbnb,” last week, using animation styles reminiscent of the previous “Airbnb It” campaign from last fall that targeted hosts. 

Shrewsbury, a gorgeous medieval market town, was put on the art map in 2021 with the launch of the Shrewsbury Arts Trail. The event goes from strength to strength: this year it boasts three sculptures by Salvador Dalí. Two are outdoors: the 5-metre-tall Surrealist Piano startles visitors to the castle grounds and Homage to Terpsichore dominates the courtyard of the Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery. Inside the gallery, the Dalínian Dancer is part of the Inspirational Exhibition, which also includes work by LS Lowry, Man Ray, Barbara Hepworth, Damien Hirst and Banksy.

Can hotels exert more influence in policy-making? Where will future development growth come from? Is generative AI relevant to the hotel sector? These and other subjects will be top of mind for us as we interview top bosses at Hilton, Hyatt, Accor, and other hotel leaders on-stage at the Skift Global Forum in New York on September 26-28.

The luxury travel network Virtuoso® has revealed the winners for its 2023 Best of the Best awards announced at this year’s Virtuoso Travel Week held in Las Vegas at Bellagio Resort & Casino, ARIA Resort & Casino, and Vdara Hotel & Spa. The 35th annual gala spotlighted the network’s most esteemed travel agencies, advisors, and preferred partners.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Thursday, November 3. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

Highgate Signs Deal to Buy Viceroy Hotels: Viceroy may be able to accelerate its growth and brand awareness given Highgate’s scale and track record. Of course, that is if Highgate can execute well after the deal closes.

How Latin America Is the Future of the Airline Industry: No part of the world is seeing as many big changes to the airline business as Latin America. The final shape is still opaque, but one thing is clear for the region’s aviation industry: All eyes are watching closely for how this transformation unfolds.

Airbnb Mulls Removing Cleaning Fees as a Separate Charge: Hosts may be sabotaging their own bookings by levying excessively high cleaning fees. It is turning off many people to Airbnb, which is a concern for the company.