The U.S. travel industry has a Washington influence problem, and it's not going away any time soon. Marriott has made a deal to bring on a 39th brand: a luxury wellness group from Italy. And India’s largest airline just turned to a veteran aviation leader for its next CEO.
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The U.S. Travel Industry’s Advocacy Infrastructure Is Obsolete
by Rafat Ali
The travel industry’s advocacy groups were built to lobby Congress, but the executive branch has all the power. The mismatch was undeniable this past week.
IndiGo Picks IATA Chief Willie Walsh for CEO
by Peden Doma Bhutia
For a carrier that controls more than 60% of India's domestic air traffic, the choice of successor carries weight well beyond the boardroom. And in Walsh, the IndiGo board has reached for one of the most battle-tested names in global aviation.
Marriott’s 39th Brand: A Two-Property Italian Wellness Resort
by Sean O'Neill
With Lefay, Marriott aims to convince developers that a wellness-themed resort can command enough of a rate premium to justify a separate brand.
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The Ascott Limited is betting on a more fluid future of lodging with a strategy that stretches its strongest brands across property types to keep guests inside a single ecosystem.
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CHART OF THE DAY
Soft brands, in particular, created a turning point. They allowed hotel groups to grow their systems without making strong promises about standardization, experience, or identity. By design, these brands emphasized individuality over uniformity — a feature that appealed to owners and developers, but also blurred traditional brand boundaries. As a result, soft brand growth has expanded around 10 times faster than traditional brands.
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