travel industry

13 Stories

Travel Industry's New Buzzword: 'Skillcation'

More people are looking to learn something on their breaks from work

(Newser) - The standard "out of office" message is starting to have a "back to school" vibe. A growing number of travelers are using their paid time off to pick up new abilities—think sourdough techniques, photography, falconry, mahjong, whatever—in what the travel industry is now branding as "...

Among Travel Influencers, an 'Uproar' Over AI

Brands are deploying digital avatars as cheaper, more controllable marketing personalities

(Newser) - Radhika posts about the tang of spicy chutneys and her lunchtime meals of saffron noodles, although she can't taste either. That's because Radhika is one of a growing number of AI-generated travel influencers quietly populating social media as tourism boards and travel firms look to cut costs, speed...

Viking's Willingness to Say No Has Paid Off

Luxury line has reaped the benefits of knowing what it wants to be

(Newser) - Viking Holdings has carved out a niche in the luxury cruise world by leaning into one word: no. No kids, no casinos, and you won't find a single cocktail festooned with a tiny umbrella. As the Wall Street Journal explains, "the company's strictness on what its...

Older Women Are the New Face of Wanderlust

The adventure travel industry is getting a boost from mature female tourists

(Newser) - Adventure travel's allure lies in its promise of helping you break out of your comfort zone as you explore new places and meet new people. For women especially, that sector of the travel industry has exploded: Citing stats from the Adventure Travel Trade Association , the Washington Post reports that...

Major Storm Threatens Thanksgiving Travel

Forecasters see a couple of scenarios

(Newser) - A major storm could throw a wrench into the plans of Thanksgiving travelers next week. It's too soon to know how the weather will break, meteorologists said, but several ways could affect millions of people planning holiday trips, USA Today reports. "We could be looking at a huge...

World Cruise With $73K Base Fare Sells Out in 3 Hours

Fares on the Regent Seven Seas cruise go as high as nearly $200K

(Newser) - A four month cruise went on sale last week and sold out within three hours despite the pandemic havoc (and continued uncertainty ) wreaked upon the industry as a whole. Don't feel left out, though—you probably couldn't have afforded a ticket, anyway. With a base fare of...

As Bookings Rebound, Airline to Hire 300 Pilots

Business still is down from 2019, but bookings are climbing

(Newser) - United Airlines said Thursday it plans to hire about 300 pilots, another sign that airlines feel more confident that a recent increase in travel will continue. The airline plans to start by hiring pilots who received conditional job offers or had a class for new hires canceled last year, the...

World's Oldest Travel Company Collapses

UK launches 'biggest peacetime repatriation'

(Newser) - The world's oldest travel company has collapsed after the failure of last-ditch talks, leaving around 600,000 travelers stranded around the globe. The UK Civil Aviation Authority said late Sunday that Thomas Cook has ceased trading "with immediate effect." Britain has now launched what officials call its...

One Industry That May Be Seeing a 'Trump Bump'

US tourism isn't seeing a slump

(Newser) - Last winter, the US tourism industry fretted that Trump administration policies might lead to a "Trump slump" in travel. But those fears may have been premature. International arrivals and travel-related spending are up in 2017 compared with the same period in 2016. There might even be a "Trump...

US Lets Google Buy Online Fare Tracker, With Strings

Feds approve $700 million purchase of ITA

(Newser) - Government officials are letting Google proceed with its $700 million purchase of airline fare tracker ITA Software, a deal that will establish the search giant as a key player in the online travel market. The purchase gives Google control over the technology that powers the reservation systems of most major...

Racist Email About First Lady Stings Tenn. Exec

Hospitality official forwards comparison of Michelle Obama and chimp

(Newser) - A Tennessee tourism executive is backtracking after forwarding an email that compared Michelle Obama to a chimpanzee. Tennessee Hospitality Association CEO Walt Baker has apologized to "anyone who is offended by this action" and "the people of Tennessee, and to anybody that has either seen or been affected...

American Airlines Will Charge $8 for a Blanket

Passengers must pony up to bundle up on long domestic flights

(Newser) - Bundle up, air travelers: Blankets cost extra now, too. American Airlines will begin charging coach passengers $8 for a blanket on long domestic flights and some international routes. On flights of 2 hours or less, no blankets will be available, no matter how much money you throw around. On the...

Anonymous Posters Bedevil TripAdvisor
Anonymous Posters Bedevil TripAdvisor
TRAVEL
Nov 20, 2009 2:35 PM CST

Anonymous Posters Bedevil TripAdvisor

Hotel ranking site shows dangers of crowdsourcing

(Newser) - Some recent snafus have taught TripAdvisor the hard way that crowdsourcing may be powerful, but it isn’t always reliable. In one recent incident, a new boutique hotel shot to the top of the site’s Miami Beach hotel rankings on a flood of positive reviews—until one reviewer implied...

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