Dennis Schaal travel tips

The European Union’s Digital Markets Act, designed to ensure fair competition and protect consumers, became effective Thursday, and the EU Travel Tech association claimed Google is not complying with the new law.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Thursday, March 7. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

Ever since Liberty Tripadvisor disclosed in early February that it was exploring a potential transaction in which itself and Tripadvisor would be acquired in an all-cash deal, speculation was rife that a private equity firm was behind the possible move.

Airbnb several years ago had the ambition to be a “super brand for travel.” There was talk of an Airbnb flights feature, as well as restaurants, boutique hotels and experiences. But the pandemic forced it to refocus on its core business of short-term rental stays.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Tuesday, March 5. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

The obituary for the Tripadvisor Plus subscription plan, which offered hotel and experiences discounts in exchange for a $99 annual fee, was all but written more than two years ago.

More than four years after Airbnb pledged to verify all of its listings, the company said Monday it will soon have nearly 1.5 million verified listings, and that badges will be pinned to listings that have completed the process.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Thursday, February 29. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel.

Vacasa announced it will fire 320 employees, including members of local operations and central teams, and Chief Operating Officer John Banczak is leaving the company, as well.

Capital One Travel has introduced upscale vacation rentals in a launch Tuesday through partnerships with Boutiq and AvantStay. A CapitalOne spokesperson said the company will bring on Inspirato and Key.co as inventory providers later this year.

Don’t expect Ryanair and eDreams Odigeo to kiss and make up anytime soon.

Australia-headquartered Flight Centre announced Tuesday it is closing its U.S.-based wholesaler, Gogo Vacations.

Expedia Group announced late Monday that it began notifying 1,500 employees that they would be laid off “in light of the Company’s organizational and technological transformation.”

One of the knocks on Tripadvisor a decade ago was that it was too dependent on its two largest advertisers, Expedia and the Priceline Group.

Spanish regulators levied a $530 million fine against Booking.com in the fourth quarter in a draft decision, Booking Holdings announced Thursday.

Airbnb has started to verify listings in five of its top global markets, but the process is much simpler for professional hosts than those with individual listings, according to requirements viewed by Skift.

Short-term rental and hotel operator Sonder announced that it would lay off 106 corporate employees, or 17% of that workforce, as it moved to reduce overhead costs and deal with underperforming properties.

Why pay Google even more to acquire customers when your company can open travel agency storefronts, and counsel customers to book trips online?

Good morning from Skift. It’s Friday, February 16. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel.

The prospect of a deal to acquire Tripadvisor hung over the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call Thursday and executives didn’t offer any further details.

Expedia Group has pulled a Vrbo ad in Canada because its use of a traditional Newfoundland and Labrador folksong triggered a backlash.