Just because summer is officially over, it doesn’t mean that the travel industry has stopped sizzling

From getting the plumbing right to telling a great brand story and connecting the traveller at all points of the journey, these were the top stories that piqued the interst of our readers in September.

1. Tours and activities: the money is in the plumbing

With TripAdvisor’s $200 million acquisition of Viator last September, followed by the launch of the first self-service platform for suppliers to load their products, the market for tours and activities is gathering momentum. With increasing numbers of people looking to book cultural leisure experiences online, there are real opportunities in what is a very fragmented space. The biggest ones will be in the back-end plumbing and will allow suppliers to effectively distribute their products through third parties – something that is still fairly lacking.

2. 7 basics for telling an authentic, effective travel brand story

Here Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Celebrity Cruises and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) share story-telling techniques. Among these: to get the message out across all channels, to use professional photographers, make social content channel specific, and use colour to add charisma. More insights into how Kimpton is doing things differently here.

3. Hyperbole vs actual business fact: what is the reality of predictive analytics?

In a detailed interview with EyeforTravel, CitizenM commercial Director Lennert De Jong sheds light on the reality ofpredictive analytics. Among his nuggets of wisdom:

• Data aggregation is moving from Excel into the cloud
• Hotels need to adapt and challenge themselves to embrace operational change
• Independents are doing a much better job than the chains
• If you can’t find what you need, create it.

4. Why the connected air travel experience is not all it’s cracked up to be

A lot has been said about connecting the dots for the traveller with big data and while there is still a way to go, progress is being made. In this article, we consider some of the challenges, not least the ‘biggest long term issue’ – that of integration. We hear how brands like Heathrow Airport are working to overcome the hurdles that could lead to unwanted operational issues. Today there are more commercial opportunities than not from sharing data with third parties but it’s crucial to get those partnerships right.

5. Why ‘disruptive’ firms like Uber and Airbnb also need friends in high places

Sally White takes a look at how Uber and Airbnb are beginning to toe the line as their IPOs draw closer. Uber, for one, is working on the environmentally conscious Indian government in its bid to continue with plans for some “hefty growth”. Meanwhile Airbnb offers to collect and remit tax on Paris rentals. Could their disruptive days be over? In other Uber news, we look at how the firm is working its magic in South Africa.

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