Editor's NoteInterContinental Hotels Group wants to add to its brand portfolio, but the hotel chain doesn't want a heavy load. As Europe Editor Patrick Whyte reports, one of CEO Keith Barr's criteria in adding a luxury brand or two is that they be asset light. So that's why Belmond is out of the question while possibilities include Mandarin Oriental, Four Seasons, Shangri-La and Kempinski. A deal could be close.
Speaking of hotels, Travel Tech Editor Sean O'Neill dug up an interesting trend in the way Google is displaying room rates. He found that sometimes Google is making consumers click an additional time to access the lowest room prices when they are being offered by smaller online travel agencies. Conversely, Google sometimes gives more sunshine to higher rates from the bigger players. In other words, follow the money. — Dennis Schaal, Executive Editor |