TUI Chief Marketing Officer Erik Friemuth, left, believes in the power of retail stores in the Internet age. He was interviewed by Skift UK editor Patrick Whyte, right. SkiftSkift Take: The Internet has more information about destinations than any traveler could possibly need. Do consumers really need tour operators to have retail stores? It seems unnecessary, but travelers in some markets still like the model.

The airfare metasearch brand is the most under-leveraged Internet domain out there. Fly.comSkift Take: Travelzoo has sold Fly.com, the most under-leveraged internet domain name in travel. We hope the mystery buyer has better luck with it than the deals publisher did. — Sean O'NeillMetasearch isn’t the sure path to riches that companies like Kayak, Skyscanner, and Momondo have made it seem — as deals publisher Travelzoo has learned the hard way.

Frontier, which operates an all-Airbus fleet, is preparing for an initial public offering. A Doumenjou / AirbusSkift Take: It's hard to consistently make money in the airline industry. But Indigo Partners, led by former America West Airlines CEO Bill Franke, has an excellent track record. Once again, he is poised to make a big profit after buying an airline cheaply and taking it public.

It's been six months since Airbnb launched Trips. Skift spoke to several Trips hosts to ask them for their takes on what it's like to be a tour operator. Airbnb Skift Take: Overall, the reviews are positive, but some have found the app to be glitchy at times.

Business class on Etihad Airways. The carrier will offer electronic devices to first- and business-class passengers on U.S. direct flights. EtihadSkift Take: This is a smart move to ensure Etihad's most valuable customers are able to stay connected on its lengthy flights direct to U.S. destinations. — Andrew SheivachmanIn a move to circumvent the impact of banned laptops and tablets on some direct flights to the U.S.

With its new long haul low cost airline called Level, International Airlines Group hopes to stimulate new demand while protecting its core airlines — British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus. International Airlines GroupSkift Take: Is Level a legitimate attempt by International Airlines Group to build a long-haul, low-cost carrier? Or is it a "fighting brand" designed to make Norwegian Air's expansion more challenging. Time will tell.

Richard Branson with a companion in a promotional image for Virgin Voyages. Virgin VoyagesSkift Take: We are fans of Virgin products and we think that the brand's founder does good work. But we'd also like to see a workplace relatively free of the type of sexist images it promotes at launch events and anywhere else the founder shows up.

The Ace Hotels co-founders, from left to right: Doug Herrick, Wade Weigel, and Alex Calderwood. Calderwood, who died in 2013, is remembered as a visionary by colleagues. Ace Hotels Group Skift Take: It’s hard to imagine Ace Hotels becoming what it is today without the visionary drive of its late co-founder, Alex Calderwood.

Dubai's main international airport has spent considerable sums on infrastructure, including security. But flights from Dubai still will be subject to the U.S. electronics ban. Jumana El Heloueh / ReutersSkift Take: Many industry insiders are surprised the U.S. electronics ban includes flights from Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi.

Bill Kimpton, who pioneered the boutique hotel movement in the U.S. was known by colleagues as a visionary boss. Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants Skift Take: If there were ever someone who truly influenced and mentored an entire generation of hotel leaders, Bill Kimpton would be at the very top of that list.