There was a time when travel-related brands heavily relied on influencers to sell a fantasy. These partnerships often resulted in a Facetuned photograph of a popular figure on a sandy beach, standing in crystal-clear waters with a candy-colored cocktail. Or they could be seen enjoying a picturesque view from their fancy hotel room, perhaps quietly…
Travel is rarely easy whether its for work, to visit friends or family or just to escape for some time away. In response, Nordic hotel chain Scandic has released a campaign to promote itself as a place for people can depend on when away from home. With 270 hotels, the brand has released the campaign…
In the age of social media, TikTok- and Instagram-ready lodging has become all the rage in travel and hospitality. Third-party vacation rental companies like Airbnb and Vrbo have certainly benefited from the trend, offering what they touted as unique stays that were considered preferable among travelers looking to nab an enviable stay on a sensible…
After a year and a half of people staying home, domestic travel is picking up again, which represents an important opportunity for hospitality brands to make up for the commerce they’ve missed out on. This wide-ranging category, which includes airlines, hotels, theaters, theme parks, spas and tourist destinations, should be focused on looking ahead. Marketers…
The thought of a New York hotel being premised on “affordable luxury,” making it “open to all,” sounds like a contradiction in terms (at best) or empty marketing speak (at worst). But when real estate developer and hotelier Ian Schrager expresses this concept in his gravelly New York rasp, it not only sounds genuine; it…
New York City’s once seemingly indomitable hospitality industry sustained another blow this week when the owners of the historic Roosevelt Hotel, a 96-year-old Midtown institution, announced that the 1,025-room hotel will cease operations on Oct. 31. Named for President Theodore Roosevelt, the hotel opened in the fall of 1924, and its Italian Renaissance fa?ade of…
Key Insight: During the pandemic, travelers have opted for drive-to leisure destinations, such as beaches and parks. For travelers who want to pair visits to Yellowstone, Yosemite and Rocky Mountain national parks with indoor plumbing, Marriott announced this morning it’s teaming up with the National Park Foundation, the charitable arm of the National Park Service….
The U.S. Travel Association has a simple message for the country: Let’s go there. Anywhere. Literally, anywhere. It doesn’t have to be tomorrow, but please, put something on the calendar. Launched this morning, the new campaign titled “Let’s Go There” is a collaboration between prominent USTA members including Marriott, Disney, Delta and American Airlines, along…
In the travel industry, the customer journey has always been a fickle thing for marketers. There are online travel agencies displaying discounts, thousands of review sites, and a whole Google suite of travel products dedicated to helping travelers get a good deal. As travel demand has plunged during the pandemic, and is just barely beginning…
It took a little less than two months into the pandemic for top hospitality brands including Hilton and Marriott to try and reassure travelers that their rooms were squeaky clean, even amid the health crisis. In April, Marriott announced a council featuring prominent doctors to elevate its own cleanliness standards. A week later, Hilton announced…
In what executives hope marks a (small) turning point out of the deepest financial trenches of the pandemic, Hilton has announced that it lost $432 million in the second quarter. The results are “not a shining moment” in the brand’s 100-year history, according to president and CEO Christopher Nassetta. “Our second-quarter results reflect the challenges…
After months of cancellations and depleted future bookings, the strain of which led Airbnb to lay off 25% of its workforce, Airbnb saw a sign for hope in July: The platform surpassed 1 million booked nights in a day for the first time since the first week of March. It’s an undeniable sign of recovery…
The hospitality industry will likely have the effects of the Covid-19 crisis seared into its collective memory for years to come–but, week by week, the troubled sector is beginning to recover. That optimism was the primary takeaway from a panel discussion featuring executive leadership of the world’s largest hotel brands. The virtual event, hosted by…
Within the United States, the world’s largest hotel brand Marriott is seeing occupancy rates rise as the travel industry begins to inch toward recovery, surpassing 20% among its open properties. “Crossing over 20% occupancy is a meaningful improvement from where we were before, but it is a long way from where we need to get…
How many Americans would travel to Las Vegas in the middle of a pandemic if their flight was paid for? Evidently, at least 2,000. With social distancing still the recommended course of action in the U.S., travel remains at a low. While some airlines have noted a small uptick in travel, Memorial Day traffic was…
Roughly two hours west of Denver, Devil’s Thumb Ranch in Tabernash, Colo., offers all the typical amenities of your average dude ranch: archery, horseback riding, even a zipline. But that’s not what Devil’s Thumb is advertising. Instead, in the age of Covid-19, it’s promoting the quality of its mountain air. “Mind, body, spirit and morale…
Marriott, the world’s largest hospitality brand, has extended furloughs that began in April with the outbreak of Covid-19 through the summer, until Oct. 2. “The Covid-19 pandemic is having a more severe and sustained financial impact on Marriott’s business than 9/11 and the 2008 financial crisis combined,” according to a company statement. “Today, Marriott informed…
For a brand that started out renting air mattresses, Airbnb’s business has grown substantially. It’s best known for its accommodation listings, ranging from an apartment in Downtown Brooklyn to Barbie’s Malibu Dream House. In recent years, it’s also developed an experiences business, which sends travelers on activities like accompanying cattle herders in Kenya or stargazing…
Despite managing to eke out a small profit in the first quarter, executives at two of the largest U.S. hotel brands are warning investors about the brutal damage to their financials to come. “We do not think our first-quarter results provide clear insight into the current environment,” said Chris Nassetta, president and CEO of Hilton….
Just as the coronavirus has spread around the world, its effects have been felt by companies in every industry. Yet even as we’re all adjusting to the new normal–both personally and professionally–brands are finding ways to do their part to help. Whether it’s easing the burden on frontline and other essential workers, helping struggling businesses…
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