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It's an old business axiom that 20 percent of customers are responsible for 80 percent of one's business. Top travel companies are recognizing this is certainly the case in the world of luxury travel agents. That's why more and more of them are starting to create novel programs for their best sellers.

What appear to be simple marketing schemes are in fact thoughtful curations that have the double effect of attracting new customers and, if executed correctly, their return. Happy children mean happy parents and there's no better way to secure another booking.

If independent hotel collections like Small Luxury Hotels of the World and its peers want to thrive, pursuing more loyalty tie-ins seems likely, but they have to be careful to stress the additional value they can bring for independent hotels. Otherwise, what's stopping independents from flocking to the hotel soft brands?

It's probably good news that the first move Royal Caribbean made after closing its majority stake in Silversea was announcing improvements to its fleet. We'll be curious to see what those upgrades include — and how the experience changes for passengers.

This ship-within-a-ship concept isn't new, but it does appear to be gaining in popularity. Sometimes cruise passengers want a ton of amenities, and sometimes — especially if they can afford it — they want a break from crowds and more personal service. It makes sense for big-ship lines to offer a hybrid.