Why Japan’s Vacation Rentals Are Hiring Tech-Savvy Management Companies

It's a U.S. bias to assume that the answer to every hotel or vacation rental problem is to have a nationally branded management company take over operations. But in Japan and elsewhere, many owners of travel accommodation prefer an unbranded, behind-the-scenes management partner. -Sean O'Neill

10 of the UK’s best outdoor theatre shows this summer

From The Wolves of Willoughby Chase on a Cornish clifftop to Shakespeare in Regent’s Park, here are some of the summer’s best productions Make the most of the return of live performance this summer – without the anxiety of spending time indoors with a crowd of strangers – with an outdoor theatre show. These venues don’t require negative Covid tests because they’re fully outside, but most have significantly reduced capacities (at least until social distancing restrictions are eased), so don’t dally – tickets are likely to sell out quicker than usual. Continue reading...

37 Million Americans Out for Long Road Trips on Memorial Day Weekend

Hopes for an endless summer by Americans began in earnest on Memorial Day, as travelers took to the road by venturing 50 miles or more from home. That wanderlust should account for a 60 percent spike in travel versus last year's depressing summer kickoff. -Tom Lowry

Getting away from it all: Orkney island hopping

The Orkneys – just voted Scotland’s ‘best island’ – are home to archaeological riches, lunar landscapes and silver-white sands. It’s a place to get away from it all – even if you live there This morning, before breakfast, I was out on the water: silk-smooth in front, and streaming away behind, the ferry cutting a path from the island of Hoy, via the island of Graemsay, to the island where I live, confusingly called Mainland. Though this name creates some conversational ambiguity (are they referring to mainland Orkney, or the Scottish mainland, seven miles to the south across the Pentland Firth?), I’ve always admired the way it subtly shifts the centre of gravity closer to home. By considering all else relative to our own largest island, it resets the dial on what it means to be remote. Remote, us? Hardly. We’re at the heart of the action. Continue reading...

England’s Tourism Prospects Set to Be Boosted by Data-Driven Lockdown Lifting

People in England might very well be able to full enjoy their summer as the British government will decide in mid-June whether to remove remaining lockdown restrictions. -Rashaad Jorden

10 of Britain’s best places to stay that offer activity holidays

From yoga in Cornwall to surfing in Yorkshire, these outdoor adventure breaks have great places to stay on-site or on the doorstep The Stables, part of the Torridon Hotel in spectacular Wester Ross, is the ideal base for a water adventure break with Wilderness Scotland. Starting with the beautifully clear Loch Shieldaig, the first part of the adventure includes the golden-sand beaches of the Applecross peninsula. Mixing tuition with exploration, the final part of the journey is spent at beautiful Plockton village in the Highlands. • A five-night trip starts at £1,395pp, wildernessscotland.com Continue reading...

These double-decker airplane cabin concepts could be the future of flying

Nominees have been announced for the 2021 Crystal Cabin Awards' Judges' Choice and Clean and Safe Air Travel categories. The shortlist includes some striking concepts that could revolutionize the airplane economy cabin.

Spain Slated to Drop Ban on Cruises to Its Ports in Early June

The cruise industry gets a major lift with Spain, home to several popular destinations, dropping its cruise ban early next month. The biggest uncertainty is how much of a long-term impact the pandemic had to the industry's reputation and ability to win over returning travelers. -Cameron Sperance

Crafty breaks: 15 of the UK’s best creative retreats

From pottery throwing to furniture upcycling, these arty breaks are all about learning new skills – or improving old ones – in lovely surroundings Spend a week in National Forest woodlands learning to craft your very own chair to take home with you, with Greenwood Days, experts in all greenwood crafts. All levels of experience are catered for – beginners will make a single bow Windsor or a continuous arm Windsor, while the more advanced can design their own or try a child’s chair or Welsh Windsor. All materials are included, as well as lunch and hot drinks. The site is on the Leicestershire/Derbyshire border and accommodation is not included – try The Boot Inn in Repton, a 17th-century coaching inn with microbrewery. Shorter courses include two-day stool making or basketry weaving. • Windsor chair-making courses are £650, next available dates are 21-27 June, 31 July-6 Aug, 25-29 Aug, 4-10 Oct, greenwooddays.co.uk Continue reading...

Dream of supersonic passenger flight hits turbulence

With the news that supersonic planemaker Aerion has unexpectedly folded, is the dream of a successor to Concorde running out of fuel?

RVezy Raises $19 Million for RV Rentals: Travel Startup Funding This Week

The RVezy funding is yet another sign that the outdoor sector is booming. Other startups to announce funding this week include a Saudi version of Airbnb and an American version of BlaBlaCar. -Sean O'Neill

Rising Gas Prices to Hit U.S. Road Trippers This Memorial Day Weekend

Americans in large numbers are excited to hit the road over this year's Memorial Day weekend. But those drivers won't find that weekend fun cheap, that's for sure. -Rashaad Jorden

Portugal Hopes Champions League Final Will Be the Tourism Boost to Kick Off a Busy Summer Season

English football fans have probably never had a warmer welcome. Who knew the beautiful game could have such healing powers? -Matthew Parsons

10 of the UK’s best half-term day trips, chosen by readers

From a Yorkshire pig sanctuary to shingle racing in Dungeness, tipsters pick their favourite family adventures for next week Top of my family’s list for a half-term outing is Pigs in the Wood – a non-profit sanctuary for rescue pigs near Huddersfield in West Yorkshire set in 10 acres of woodland. We can see the pigs roaming freely and even cuddle them. The sanctuary is currently caring for 20 pigs with wonderful names such as William, Charlotte, Dougal, George, Fred, Plum and Hugo. There’s a minimum donation of £5pp to visit, which is used for their food, water, straw, shelter repairs and maintenance. We’re also going to sponsor a pig for £20 a year. Can’t wait! • 10.30-1.30pm Saturday and Sunday, booking essential, pigsinthewood.com Marc Neal Continue reading...

How One Cape Cod Cafe Owner Is Tackling Worker Shortages Ahead of Summer’s Tourism Rush

Spoon and Seed's owner says tough times pushed him to wear his business hat first, and the chef one second. The result —resilience amid a major tourism downturn, with a reimagined menu and a new staff management model built to face the upcoming summer visitor surge. -Lebawit Lily Girma

How this micro airline has made it to its 75th anniversary

Think of Seattle, and what springs to mind? The Space Needle, for sure. Pike Place Market, almost certainly. For many, there's another classic sight in the Emerald City: the tiny seaplanes darting up and down, making a runway out of the water that surrounds the city.

Brave front: thought-provoking art on England’s south-east coast

The new Waterfronts exhibition – part of the England’s Creative Coast project – brings contemporary sculpture to seaside towns to attract, and challenge, visitors I’m escaping a downpour in the Margate shelter where TS Eliot sat in 1921 scribbling The Waste Land. I’m not the only one: holidaying families huddle in waterproofs, wet dogs shake, tinny music emanates from smartphones, and a boy skips rhythmically with a rope. All the while the rain lashes the low-tide sand beyond. I’m here to see the town’s newest public artwork, April is the Cruellest Month, its title inspired by Eliot’s poem. Positioned next to the shelter, it’s a lifesize sculpture of Daniel Taylor, a soldier who served in Iraq, by Chicago-based artist Michael Rakowitz. Continue reading...

The Professionalization of Short-Term Rentals at Apartment Complexes Is Speeding Up

When residents of an apartment complex are away, Orion Haus lists and rents the units on their behalf as short-term rentals. A major new deal makes Orion Haus the largest of the apartment management companies, such as Daydream and Natiivo, that are professionalizing the short-term rental sector. -Sean O'Neill

Road to Recovery: The 2021 Guide to Safer Meetings for Hotels and Venues

Traditional in-person meetings were paused in 2020, but innovation within the industry flourished out of necessity. Now is the time to use those lessons developed over the last year to rebuild even stronger. Cvent’s new eBook details everything you need to know about conducting safer meetings as hotels and venues begin to recover. -

Bankers Dive Back Into In-Person Meetings as Travel Restrictions Ease

Don't underestimate the fear of missing out, in the investing space at least, as dealmakers jostle for those all-important first meetings in the flesh. -Matthew Parsons

Berliners feel ‘the warm glow of our freedoms returning’

When Berlin’s cafe terraces reopened at the weekend, our writer joined the ‘amazing’ scenes in Kreuzberg, where people gathered to celebrate the relaxation of lockdown – even in the rain It’s Friday night in Berlin and I’m roaming along Kreuzberg’s Oranienstrasse with a friend. We can hardly believe the palpable buzz and sight of dining tables stacked with wine coolers, large white plates laden with schnitzel and asparagus, and people mingling on pavements that have, since November 2020, been almost supernaturally quiet. It all happened quite suddenly. One minute I was at home, feeling uncertain about exploring the city over the Great Reopening Weekend, and the next – after an excited phone call from a friend – I was on a U-Bahn to Kottbusser Tor, umbrella in hand to fend off the ominous weather, ready to enjoy the experience. Continue reading...

Hilton Shows Investing in Lifestyle Hotels Isn’t Solely About the Trendy 🔒

Lifestyle hotels come in many forms, with some focused more on the hip and trendy while, others like Hilton see it as an opportunity to scale up more experiential and food-focused properties around the world. Long story short: we still don't have a textbook definition for what a lifestyle hotel actually is. -Cameron Sperance

Travel’s Rebound Is Becoming Even More Unequal: New Skift Recovery Index

The travel recovery continues, but the strong performance of a few standout countries, including the U.S., Mexico, and China, disguises continuing weakness in especially Europe and Asia. -Wouter Geerts

The rise of modern Chinese cuisine

In 1997, restaurateur Danny Yip moved back to Hong Kong from Australia.

10 of Britain’s best family-friendly hotels – for you and the kids

There are kids’ activities and food options galore at these hotels, where the emphasis is on fun, and relaxation, for all Passed down through four generations, the Trefeddian has a warm, relaxed feel and a great location between mountains and sea. There’s plenty to keep kids occupied, too, from tennis and golf to board games and an outdoor play area – with pony trekking, watersports, crabbing and candyfloss on offer nearby. Early children’s suppers offer the chance of a quiet adults-only meal, but there are also child-friendly options on the restaurant menu, ideal for whole-family dinners. • Family rooms from £110pp a night half-board (kids under 9 free), trefwales.com Continue reading...

Yes but no but yes: flight bookings soar despite baffling travel rules

Rapidly changing government advice means choosing the wrong holiday destination could be very costly * Coronavirus – latest updates * See all our coronavirus coverage Airlines have dramatically increased the number of flights to “amber list” holiday destinations amid growing confusion over the government’s traffic light strategy. A total of 1,841 flights have been scheduled from UK airports to France, Spain, Italy and Greece for the two weeks after last Monday – a rise of more than 300% compared with the previous fortnight – despite warnings from the prime minister, Boris Johnson, not to go on holiday to amber list countries. Continue reading...

U.S. Emerges as Unlikely Growth Hub for These Travel Sectors

The relative stability found in the U.S. will help companies in the online travel agency and vacation rental orbit fuel growth for the next few years — but don’t completely write off Asia and Europe. Most major hotel companies see those regions as the way to continue adding thousands of hotels to their portfolios. -Cameron Sperance

10 UK self-catering places to stay still available for the half-term holiday

Demand has never been greater – or prices higher – but we’ve found 10 last-minute stays with adventure on the doorstep Alrewas is the kind of village where roses grow over whitewashed walls and candlelit pubs serve good old-fashioned pints. This half-timbered cottage, just steps from the canal, has a patio with wrought-iron chairs. There are 150 acres to explore in the National Memorial Aboretum, just a walk away, with a sensory play garden, Children’s Wood and Stick Man trail, not to mention poignant history. The arboretum launched a new free augmented reality app in March and an Outdoor Escape challenge opens on 29 May. Drayton Manor theme park and Tamworth Snowdome are both within 20 minutes’ drive and it is half an hour to Boscobel House, which has just reopened after a major upgrade. Besides a Victorian farm, an interactive trail and the oak tree where Charles II hid, there’s a new hide-and-seek themed playground. • Sleeps 4, £969 for 7 nights from 28 May, welcomecottages.com Continue reading...

10 great British city breaks for both culture and outdoor fun

Rural cottages may be heavily booked, but these cities offer places to stay, accessible open spaces and lots to do in town How about a city with two medieval colleges and castles, two picturesque rivers and miles of sandy beach? Continue reading...

Travel Helps to Fuel the Record-Setting $100 Billion in SPAC Deals Announced This Year

Travel companies increasingly looked to go public via SPACs this year, but the exuberance might be short-lived as a slowdown is likely in the U.S. Regulators are already looking into the explosion of activity. -Cameron Sperance

Airlines Notch Early Win in Green Push With Proposed Tax Break for Biofuels

U.S. airlines may get the incentives they want for sustainable aviation fuels if Congressional Democrats get their way. But as always, the question is whether it can pass in the narrowly divided legislature. -Edward Russell

U.S. Land Border Closures With Canada and Mexico Extend to June 21

Land border closures between the U.S. and Canada are likely to continue stretching for as long as vaccinations lag in Canada. -Lebawit Lily Girma

13 sites that tell the stories of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the US

Anti-Asian hate crimes have spiked in the United States this past year, highlighting the need for Asian American and Pacific Islander stories to be heard. Here are 13 sites to visit that will provide a deeper understanding of the history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the US.

Titanic replica now under construction in China

For those who have always wondered what it would've been like to be a passenger on the Titanic, a theme park in China is set to offer the closest experience one can get.

What the Maldives looked like before mass tourism

Today it's famous for turquoise waters, luminous white sands, gorgeous technicolor sunsets and, of course, luxury. But 50 years ago, when the first resort appeared, the Maldives offered a considerably more basic vacation experience.

Travel confusion risks letting in more Covid variants, says Starmer

Labour leader says PM has lost control of the messaging after contradictory guidance on amber list travel * Coronavirus – latest updates * See all our coronavirus coverage Ministers have been accused of using “confused and contradictory” language over foreign travel, with Keir Starmer using prime minister’s questions to say this risks allowing more new variants of coronavirus into the country. Amid particular criticism about seemingly contradictory guidance on travel to amber list countries, the Labour leader told Boris Johnson he had “lost control of the messaging”. Continue reading...

Five of Anthony Bourdain’s favourite food destinations

The co-author of World Travel: An Irreverent Guide reveals the places and dishes at the top of the late chef and food presenter’s list From kebabs and sausages devoured after a night of boozing to ease the blow of tomorrow morning’s hangover, to spicy noodles, grilled birds and fish. From complex braises and soups and stews whose particular flavour profiles tell their own stories, to the classics of French cuisine ancienne – Anthony Bourdain ate it all, and made it his mission to share it with the world. Whether you’ve been to every place he explored or never even owned a passport, it remains a joy to see the world through his hysterical and sometimes profane lens. What he left behind, and what you’ll find in World Travel, was a 20-year history and road map of how to be a happy, mindful, curious and well-fed traveller. Continue reading...

‘We’re hoping for a good season’: Italy prepares to welcome back tourists

Industry that accounts for 14% of country’s GDP hopes to bounce back as Covid travel restrictions are relaxed * Coronavirus – latest updates * See all our coronavirus coverage If anyone is strategically placed to take note of the people setting foot on the tiny Italian island of Giglio it’s Rosalba Pellegrini. Her bar and pastry shop, Fausto, faces the port, where ferries arrive from Porto Santo Stefano, a town on the Tuscan peninsula of Monte Argentario. A smattering of people, mainly hikers and cyclists, descended from the midday boat on Monday. “We’ve seen a few new faces coming over the last couple of weekends, but otherwise it is very, very quiet,” she said. Continue reading...

Wyndham Signs on for Next-Gen Technology From Oracle Hospitality

Technology is developing faster than many hotels’ ability to implement it, so some chains turn to tech specialists to stay up to date. Wyndham is tapping Oracle Hospitality for its full-service brands and Sabre for its select-service brands. -Sean O'Neill

Greece’s Banks Are Counting On Tourists This Summer For Bad Loan Relief

Greek financial institutions are still weighed under the stress of the 2009 financial crisis. The threat to tourism businesses here is greater than most other destinations. -Matthew Parsons

U.S. Airlines Brace for Another Lost Summer for Transatlantic Travel

The EU may very well open to vaccinated Americans this summer but airlines and analysts are already writing off 2021 as yet another lost summer travel season on the transatlantic. Better luck in 2022. -Edward Russell

Airfare Data Firm ATPCO Recalibrates for Post-Pandemic Flying

Rather than guessing how people will compare flights and shop in the future, it's going to focus on giving travel agencies and other channels the right airline data via its next generation storefront, and let them figure it out. It makes perfect sense in today's unpredictable world. -Matthew Parsons

Hong Kong and Singapore Call Off Their Travel Bubble — Again

First it was a spike in Hong Kong, now Singapore's rising numbers have derailed plans. The latest blips across Asia mean these travel bubbles will likely be put on hold for a lot longer. -Matthew Parsons

Roadside Hotels Could Draw Investor Interest From a Biden Boost for Infrastructure 🔒

Building better roads and airports across the U.S. will help build hotel profits, but not everyone will see an infrastructure windfall. This is largely a boost to brands like Choice and Wyndham — already profitable and not facing the uncertain recovery hurdles that some competitors face with business travel. -Cameron Sperance

Disney World and Other U.S. Theme Parks Update Mask Rules

Masks off! Visitors to Disney and SeaWorld amusement parks in the U.S. will like the fresh air of relaxed rules under many circumstances. -Sean O'Neill

Australia Sticks by Plan to Reopen Border in the Middle of 2022

Australia has had better fortunes in containing the pandemic than many other countries, partly by closing its international borders in March last year. Yet keeping borders sealed until mid-2022 could hurt many tourism brands. -Sean O'Neill

South African Airways Flights Could Resume This Summer

South African Airways may restart flights this summer if it can reach a deal with its pilots. But even if flights resume, will travelers be there to fill them? -Edward Russell

Italy Eases Travel Restrictions for Europeans and Israelis

Italy is joining the growing list of European countries easing travel restrictions for select travelers with an eye on summer visitors. Brits, Europeans and Israelis can enter the country quarantine-free with a negative Covid-19 test from Sunday. -Edward Russell

Maldives Tests New Tourism Models and 10 Other Top Travel Stories This Week

In Skift's top stories this week, we covered the Maldives' experiment with new tourism models, the blurring of work and travel, Priceline's acquisition of an airline technology startup, and a Skift research analysis of hotel direct booking. -Dennis Schaal

Delta Mandates Covid Vaccines for New Hires

Will other airlines follow Delta's lead on vaccine requirements for new staff as the debate grows louder over these kinds of workplace mandates? -Edward Russell