Inside cruise, part 4: The Marketing mix / Airbnb buys Gaest / Intelity's $44M haul

Today's news on travel technology, distribution and the digital economy Email not displaying correctly: [View it in your browser]( We are updating our PhocusWire eNewsletter sending technology including a change to the domain. To ensure you continue to receive your copy without interruption, please whitelist: @news.phocuswire.com Please [click here]( for additional instructions on how to whitelist our new domain. Top Stories from the past 24 hours January 28, 2019 Today we conclude our four-part series on cruise with a deep dive into one cruise line’s marketing strategy. Senior reporter Mitra Sorrells does an [extensive Q&A]( with Norwegian Cruise Line’s Meg Lee to learn about Norwegian’s digital efforts, the three pillars of social, search and content and how technology is enabling marketers to sell their products in new ways. (If you’ve missed past entries in the series, now’s the time to catch up on [part 1]( [part 2]( and [part 3](. Airbnb is beefing up its Airbnb For Work division by [acquiring Gaest]( a Danish startup that lets companies book meeting and event spaces. Another in case you missed it: We’ve compiled every Summit and Launch innovator pitch from The Phocuswright Conference 2018 in one handy place, [right here](. - Jill Menze, news editor Today's Top Story News I Online [Inside cruise, part 4: The marketing mix]( More Headlines [Gaest acquired as Airbnb bolsters unit for meetings and company services]( News | Online Danish startup Gaest is a booking tool for interview rooms, teambuilding spaces, corporate events - an area that Airbnb has been concentrating on during 2018. [READ MORE]( [Intelity raises $44M to fuel global expansion of guest management platform]( News The investment in the back-of-house software suite from private equity firm LLR Partners follows Intelity's merger with Keypr in 2018. [READ MORE]( [Busting a billion-dollar digital myth for cruise lines]( From Our Partners | Technology Major cruise lines are undergoing unprecedented digital transformation, committing billions of dollars in the journey, which seems to be both time-consuming and disruptive. The same rules do not apply to every digital journey, so how can cruise lines win quickly? [READ MORE]( [Every innovator pitch from The Phocuswright Conference 2018 - all in one place]( News | Startups Every pitch was recorded on video and almost every innovator later joined PhocusWire in our studio for a follow-up interview. [READ MORE]( [Airline distribution in 2030, part 2: Four scenarios for the future]( Opinion | Distribution Who wins - the tech giants, existing intermediaries, airlines, lawmakers or something else? Four possible patterns are analyzed here in part two. [READ MORE]( [MORE STORIES]( WEBINAR REPLAY! [How well are independent hoteliers adapting to the digital age?]( Independent hotels are performing better in the online environment — but challenges remain. In case you missed it, tune in to learn: - To what extent independent properties have shifted their marketing and distribution online - Through which channels they receive the most sales - What are the core challenges hoteliers are up against and why they’re proving difficult to overcome [LISTEN NOW]( Trending Stories [Ctrip co-founder outlines ambitious plans for future]( News | Online At Ctrip's recent annual meeting, chairman and co-founder James Liang outlined plans to be "strongest and the best" company in the travel industry. [READ MORE]( [Consumers want companionship - but not from humans - while traveling]( News | Technology According to a new study from Sabre, a desire to avoid humans, virtual companions and new points-of-sale are among the consumer trends shaping the hospitality industry this year. [READ MORE]( [QOTW: Something about an ethical dilemma]( News | Online Quote from Valerie Castillo, vice president of marketing for TrustYou, in an article on PhocusWire this week. [READ MORE]( [Are hotels on the verge of a parity nightmare?]( Opinion | Distribution Booking.com has rolled out its Booking.Basic feature to European hotel listings, which could spell a serious parity problem for hoteliers. [READ MORE]( [Privacy]( | [Subscribe]( | [Unsubscribe]( Northstar Travel Group LLC. 116 West 32nd Street New York, New York 10001