Accor keen on possible IHG merger, Airbnb IPO analysis and tourism trauma and COVID-19.

Accor keen on possible IHG merger
Monday, 24th August 2020

A French newspaper Le Figaro reported earlier today that Accor had studied a merger with IHG, and the board is in favor of while the CEO is more cautious. Accor has refused to comment on rumors >>

Analysis on the Airbnb IPO
24 Aug 2020 : Airbnb is another tech unicorn that may IPO later this year, but unlike other companies in the sharing economy, it is in an enviable position given it is already profitable with a positive cash flow in the previous two years >>

Hong Kong Wine & Dine festival goes virtual
24 Aug 2020 : In view of the uncertainties concerning the Covid-19 pandemic, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) announced that its annual signature event 'Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival' will, for the first time, take on a virtual format >>

An Instagram moment - Thailand’s lost summer
23 Aug 2020 : Beat bard poet Willie Shakespeare once penned the line 'now is the winter of our discontent', but for Thailand all you need to do is cut and paste summer into winter which then segues on to explain the current state of the national angst >>

Big scoop for vegan ice cream
22 Aug 2020 : Consumers around the world are going wild for plant-based innovation and ice cream is no exception >>

HIGHLIGHT ARTICLE

Tourism Trauma and COVID-19
Monday, 24th August 2020

Pandemic-related lockdowns, flight cancellations, and border closures may be putting a crimp on summer vacation plans.

However, the precipitous drop in tourism will have an outsized impact on countries that rely on foreign travelers—with potentially large-scale effects on their economies’ national accounts.

Costa Rica, Greece, Morocco, Portugal, and Thailand could be among the hardest hit with losses in tourism proceeds exceeding 3 percent of GDP, according to the IMF >>

In Age of Scarcity, Traveloka Goes From 'Hunting' to 'Harvesting' in its Marketing Rethink
Even though product has taken centre stage during Covid-19, Traveloka’s Christian Suwarna believes that marketing is also having its breakout moment in terms of how the Indonesian travel unicorn is rethinking its marketing strategy >>

These Times, More Than Ever, Call For Heartfelt Hospitality
Based on what I hear, working in the lodging industry during the current COVID-19 pandemic can be especially stressful, not that it has ever been an easy profession, while today’s guests threaten to write a bad review, guests of yesteryear similarly threatened to write a letter to JW Marriott or Conrad Hilton >>

In case you've missed it: Global eNew of August 21, 2020
Chinese tourists welcomed without need for quarantine, travelers seek the road less traveled and guest feedback after crisis – what’s new, what’s different? >>