Mobile usage among U.S. travelers is nearly ubiquitous, but there are clear gaps between different parts of the in-destination journey. Travel brands that can add value to the mobile journey have a lot to gain. Skift Research dives into the details.

This is the oral history of Priceline's two deals — the acquisitions of Active Hotels and Bookings B.V. — that created Booking.com, and continue to shape the course of online travel and the competitive landscape today. The twin transactions were among the greatest Internet deals of all time, and their lessons are relevant to startups and dealmakers in any industry.

Booking.com is Booking Holdings' favored child, but with the addition of HotelsCombined, it is apparent that the parent company still sees plenty of opportunity for its Kayak unit in metasearch worldwide. This deal will help Kayak expand in Asia Pacific, and will give HotelsCombined additional resources as well.

The deal surprised analysts, some of whom didn't see an obvious logic for it. Yet one thing is sure: Online hotel sales are a bit like an old-fashioned butter market. A big chunk of butter changes hands multiple times and everyone gets their hands greasy.

U.S. airline consumers hate to admit it — they love bashing airlines, after all — but the competitive environment is strong right now, and considering rising fuel prices, fares are decent. But if there's a new entrant into the marketplace, like David Neeleman's proposed new carrier, things could get even better for customers.

The luxury goods market is going to be worth more than $450 billion by 2025 and many of its trends are relevant to travel as well. Younger consumers see brands in a different way than previous generations — and for them consistency is key.

For more than a century, Puerto Rico has been divided along two identities – Puerto Rican and American. But Hurricane Maria has forced it to reach a point where its tourism industry must merge the two, and market the destination in a way like many others on the mainland have done for decades if it hopes to become a global success story.

Norwegian Air reported earnings Thursday, and a lot of analysts expected it to feel like a funeral. But something funny happened. The airline reported a profit. Does this mean it's in good shape? Probably not, but at least it's better than a loss.

For all its imperfections, Valencia still has its spirit and a sense of authenticity that other destinations have lost in some ways in the age of overtourism. As the city fights to maintain equilibrium, it has a unique opportunity to set an example via the proper management of tourism. Don't put doors in the field. Set up bike lanes instead.

The big global travel management companies have pivoted to become more like technology companies in recent years. Despite the usual bromides about innovation and user experience, they're unlikely to invest in voice-powered automation right now. Personalization needs to come first.

At least Mexico's president-elect, López Obrador, has tapped someone intimately familiar with the travel industry and how it operates locally and internationally. It's more than the United States can say it's done for travel in the past year and a half.

The issue is confusing and contentious, and there are good arguments being made on both sides. Here, we look at how much money the tip credit is worth in New York, and why restaurateurs are so afraid to lose it.

Restaurants: I promise I will order lots of food and drinks if you just let me sit down at my table even if the rest of my party isn't here. Also, I will come back and eat again.

In the year after Maria, restaurateurs are building new relationships with local farmers and seeing more interest from customers in supporting local agriculture and celebrating food that is grown entirely on the island.

One of truest expressions of living like a local is to eat like one, and it's a shame that more Airbnb guests don't appear to be doing that.