The Hotel as Cultural Diplomacy: More Important Than Ever Going Forward

The Royal Mansour Hotel

The lobby of the Royal Mansour Hotel in Marrakech, Morocco. The Royal Mansour Hotel

Skift Take: Cultural diplomacy is often found in museums and cultural initiatives. It is seldom found in hotels. The Royal Mansour in Marrakech was a statement of intent from the king to show the best of the country’s craft and service. The result is impactful, especially in these times — perhaps more so than other means of country branding.

— Colin Nagy

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China Tourism Leans on Cross-Province Group Tours as Bellwether of Recovery

Photo courtesy of Abercrombie and Kent

Domestic travelers at Yu Gardens in Shanghai before Covid-19. Will there be as many? Photo courtesy of Abercrombie and Kent

Skift Take: China has allowed cross-province group tours to resume, with conditions. Sold in a flash is an understatement. But will all go well? This will be the test towards full recovery of its travel market.

— Raini Hamdi

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Finding the Right Formula for Promoting Luxury Pandemic Staycations in Asia

Capella Singapore

Capella Singapore: Who says locals won’t holiday at home? Capella Singapore

Skift Take: Asia’s luxury hotels are competing for staycations with ideas, not price. A valuable outcome will be a rise in partnerships as hotels tie up with various local companies to curate new experiences to entice locals.

— Raini Hamdi

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U.S. Hospitality Jobs Rose Sharply in June But Hotels Still Operating With Half the Staff

Andrewrabbott  / Wikimedia

While the overall U.S. leisure and hospitality unemployment rate fell to 29 percent in June, the hotel sector still faces 43 percent unemployment. Andrewrabbott / Wikimedia

Skift Take: A strong jobs report is a good sign for the U.S. economy but may hinder hotel organizations in their push for further government stimulus.

— Cameron Sperance

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Second Half Blues and 12 Other Coronavirus Travel Stories This Week

Adobe Stock

Photo of an empty plane. Adobe Stock

Skift Take: In coronavirus travel stories this week, Skift covered the prospect of a disappointing second half of 2020, travel managers assessing the worth of sending employees on trips, whether hostels in Singapore are doomed, and how under-visited destinations may get a boost in the recovery.

— Dennis Schaal

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