New Insights Deck — The State of Loyalty: 2019 Hotel Ancillary Report

Skift Take: Ancillary products are becoming increasingly important to hotels’ marketing, branding, customer loyalty, and revenue goals. This new insights deck from iSeatz offers a detailed audit examining how today’s leading hotels brands are using ancillaries in 2019, helping sector executives make smarter decisions about how to use such products in the future.

Read the Complete Story On Skift

Accor and Alibaba Form Partnership to Attract Chinese Travelers

Accor

Accor is partnering with online retailer Alibaba to appeal to Chinese travelers. This is a dining room at the Sofitel Shanghai Hyland Hotel. Accor

Skift Take: Accor has formed a partnership with online marketplace Alibaba to make it easier for Chinese travelers to book rooms and other services. It’s a smart move to appeal to Alibaba’s 700 million high-spending consumers who are eager to travel around the world.

— Nancy Trejos

Read the Complete Story On Skift

Oyo Founder Describes U.S. Owner Concerns as ‘Teething Issues’

Oyo Hotels and Homes

Ritesh Agarwal: “We just need to improve in every line item of our business.” Oyo Hotels and Homes

Skift Take: A deeper engagement with owners is definitely one of the key things Oyo needs to achieve to address some of its problems. CEO Ritesh Agarwal, who recently took a larger stake in the company, seems to be on the case.

— Raini Hamdi

Read the Complete Story On Skift

Why Wizz Air Has No Plans to Try Low-Cost, Long-Haul Anytime Soon

Wizz Air

A Wizz Air aircraft. The airline has no plans to go long-haul — at least not yet. Wizz Air

Skift Take: Wizz Air is probably right to steer clear of trying its hand at long-haul flights, at least for the moment. CEO József Váradi’s assessment seems correct — the industry is still waiting for the right aircraft to come along.

— Patrick Whyte

Read the Complete Story On Skift

Is Lufthansa’s Coolness on Stakes in Alitalia and Condor a Ploy?

Lufthansa Group

A Lufthansa a350. The carrier group has been linked with bids for two other airlines. Lufthansa Group

Skift Take: What are the chances that Lufthansa ends up owning at least parts of Alitalia and Condor? It doesn’t seem enthusiastic about either, but it might be better than letting a competitor get hold of them — as long as regulators agree.

— Patrick Whyte

Read the Complete Story On Skift