Good morning from Skift. It’s Friday, June 14, 2024. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.
29.05.2024 - 11:05 / skift.com / Alain Ducasse / Paris Olympics / Rashaad Jorden / Sean Oneill / Jose Marmolejos / Air France / Gordon Smith
Good morning from Skift. It’s Wednesday, May 29. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Google Podcasts | Amazon Podcasts
Google has made further inroads in the travel industry in recent months with several AI-powered products it’s launched. Travel Technology Reporter Justin Dawes delves into four of them.
Dawes notes that Google has incorporated new AI features into software for physical products, including mobile phones. A new feature on Android devices enables users to translate content on the screen without having to switch apps. Travel technology firm Sabre recently unveiled a new AI-powered retailing platform for airlines called SabreMosaic, which is meant to help airlines create and sell personalized retail experiences.
Meanwhile, Alaska Airlines is planning to launch a trip planner built with tech from Google. IHG Hotels & Resorts has plans to release a trip planning tool powered by Google’s AI within its One Rewards mobile app later this year.
Next, New York City hotel rates have hit record highs in large part due to a supply crunch, writes Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill.
The average nightly room rate in New York City during the first quarter was $231, a nearly 7% jump from last year, according to data firm CoStar. O’Neill notes one major factor behind the soaring room rates is local authorities essentially banning short-term rentals in the city. The New York Times reported short-term rentals represented roughly 10% of the city’s travel lodging before the crackdown.
The city’s move to convert thousands of hotel rooms into lodging for migrants has also contributed to the soaring room rates. The practice has removed about 2% of the city’s net hotel rooms from the market compared to pre-Covid levels.
Finally, Air France will open an ultra-exclusive airport lounge ahead of the Paris Olympics, reports Airlines Editor Gordon Smith.
While Smith writes the concept of airlines offering exclusive services for premium guests is far from new, he notes Air France is pushing those boundaries further with its new ultra-luxe offering, La Première lounge. Passengers in the lounge have access to a spa as well as a menu curated by prominent chef Alain Ducasse.
In addition, Air France’s premium guests can reserve space in three completely private suites that are adjacent to the main La Première lounge. Each suite includes a double bedroom, outdoor patio and a dedicated butler on the patio.
Producer/Presenter: Jose Marmolejos
Good morning from Skift. It’s Friday, June 14, 2024. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.
LVMH and Accor said Thursday they had signed a deal to speed up the revival of the Orient Express brand.
Can property managers successfully build national brands? Have short-term rental businesses tilted too heavily toward travelers instead of homeowners? What has been the impact of New York’s Local Law 18, which amounted to a defacto ban of most Airbnbs, on individual homeowners?
Last year, Air France rolled out a swanky new business class on its new Boeing 777-300s, with lie-flat seats, 4K high-definition screens, and sommelier-selected wine. This year, the French flag carrier is continuing to invest in its premium service, upping the ante with new upgrades to its celebrated first-class product, La Première.
Have you been to Amsterdam? If so, there’s a good chance you’ve flown on a plane without knowing it. The company, better known by its catchier acronym KLM, is the flag carrier of the Netherlands and the world’s oldest airline operating under its original name.
Good morning from Skift. It’s Thursday, June 6. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.
If you thought it was too late to use your points and miles to fly to Europe on peak dates this summer, United Airlines and Swiss have plenty of seats available.
Good morning from Skift. It’s Tuesday, June 4. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.
The world’s top hotel executives are betting big on AI, groups, and India amid a post-pandemic travel resurgence that’s bolstering the bottom line despite economic headwinds and labor challenges.
Sports tourism is on a rise in India, with the country’s sports tourism market expected to be valued at nearly $53 billion in 2033, according to a report released by market research firm Future Market Insights last year. The firm expects the industry to grow at an annual rate of 17.1% from its valuation of $11 billion in 2023.
Marriott International revealed details to Skift on Monday about its newest hotel brand — temporarily named Project Mid-T — in the “midscale” hotel category. The hotel giant said the new brand is primarily aimed at developers converting existing hotels rather than new construction and is meant to appeal to travelers worldwide.
Wyndham’s top boss wants to shed his hotel group’s reputation for focusing on economy hotels in the U.S. through a strategy to expand worldwide and offer brands that range from economy to luxury.