Las Vegas Sands Sells Venetian and Sands Expo Center for $6.25 Billion

Ricky Barnard  / Wikimedia

Investment fund Apollo Global Management is set to buy Las Vegas Sands’ Venetian Resort and Sands Expo and Convention Center for $6.25 billion. Ricky Barnard / Wikimedia

Skift Take: The $6.25 billion jackpot for the Venetian Resort and Sands Expo and Convention Center shows investors clearly see a rebound ahead for the Las Vegas convention industry.

— Cameron Sperance

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Why Omni and Loews Opted for Partnership Over a Merger

Omni Hotels & Resorts

Loews and Omni are finally linking up in a sales and marketing deal that could eventually extend to the meetings and events side of their similar businesses. Omni Hotels & Resorts

Skift Take: Loews and Omni’s closer working relationship is more about maintaining their respective independence rather than setting the stage for an eventual merger, or so company leaders say.

— Cameron Sperance

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The Aspirations of JetBlue to Be a Travel Tech Company

JetBlue

Image of planned Mint class studio seat for JetBlue’s planned transatlantic service. JetBlue Airways sees wants to add a business line: travel technology, said chief digital and technology officer Eash Sundaram. JetBlue

Skift Take: What’s the best strategy for a corporation? Some years, it’s trendy for consultants to advise companies to focus on their “core competency.” In other years, it’s all about diversifying. JetBlue’s effort to diversify into enterprise tech will be worth watching.

— Sean O’Neill

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Electric Aircraft Are Coming, Just Not as Soon As You Think

Jean-Marie Liot  / Eviation Aircraft

Eviation’s Alice aims to be one of the first electric planes certified by regulators. Jean-Marie Liot / Eviation Aircraft

Skift Take: Electric aircraft are an inevitable step for commercial aviation with the heightened focus on carbon emissions. Numerous companies are vying to develop this new technology but, with engines still in the works and a lengthy certification runway ahead, when is everyones’ guess.

— Edward Russell

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Meet the Newly Confirmed Commerce Secretary Who Will Lead U.S. Travel Jobs Recovery

Casino Connection  / Flickr

Newly confirmed Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo will have to tackle a travel economy in the U.S. devastated by job losses. Casino Connection / Flickr

Skift Take: To say that former Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo faces a tall task is an understatement. Nearly 40 percent of the U.S. jobs lost in the pandemic came from leisure and hospitality.

— Tom Lowry

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