The living room of the Presidential Suite at the Viceroy L'Ermitage Beverly Hills. Viceroy and other luxury hotel brands see opportunity for innovation in hotel design, as well as guest experiences. Viceroy L'Ermitage Beverly Hills Skift Take: We spoke to hoteliers from Viceroy, The Ritz-Carlton, Park Hyatt, Brandmark Collective, and Pendry Hotels to gain a better perspective into where the luxury hospitality market is headed.

A Carnival Corp. ship, Adonia, arrives from Miami in Havana in this photo from May. Carnival's CEO said the company plans a "slow expansion" in Cuba. Ramon Espinosa / Associated PressSkift Take: Cruise operators are counting on Cuba to stir up new interest in long-established Caribbean sailings. That could ultimately increase demand and prices for cruises that are typically budget-friendly. But as Carnival's CEO said, adding Cuba as a destination may not do much for the bottom line at first.

The Airbnb homepage. The home-sharing company has attracted billions of dollars of investment. Skift Take: As a private company Airbnb isn't required to publicly disclose much when it comes to its finances. What is clear from analysing the accounts of Airbnb Payments UK Ltd., however, is just how much money is swilling about the company. — Patrick WhyteLike so many of the other fast-growing tech businesses, Airbnb does its best to hide its performance from the public and competitors.

Lodging rates in Washington D.C. are inflated the week of Donald Trump's upcoming inauguration. Storm clouds hang over Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, Sept. 27, 2013. J. Scott Applewhite / Associated PressSkift Take: Prices now are certainly high, especially if you want to book a stay on Airbnb. Whether or not consumers pay an exorbitant rate to stay at someone else's apartment is another matter. Because as the president elect's campaign song told us, you can't always get what you want.

A guest room at the Renaissance Paris Republique. Parent company Marriott International is embarking on a massive integration process following the close of its Starwood purchase, and seeking the benefits of increased scale. Marriott InternationalSkift Take: Sometimes, being bigger really can be better. Or at least that's what Marriott is telling itself.

After a strong few years, Brand USA is starting to see its international travel intent metrics slip back down to 2013 levels. Here, a group of tourists hang out in downtown Chicago. Jonathan / FlickrSkift Take: Travelers from both Mexico and Germany are beginning to rethink potential travel to the U.S. after last month's election, according to Brand USA officials. The xenophobic tenor of the new administration is creating an global image problem for the U.S. as a travel destination.

A promotional image of one of Airbnb's new Trip experiences. This social impact experience lets travelers give back to the local community in San Francisco. AirbnbSkift Take: Here's our deep dive into all the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead as Airbnb transforms itself into a super brand of travel. — Deanna TingWe already know why Airbnb is doing what it’s doingwith its newest product, Trips, and more — at least from Airbnb’s point of view.

Skift Take: These five startups take problems that reduce the convenience factor and show how simplifying small details of a trip goes a long way. — Dan PeltierMany seasoned travelers and road warriors who prefer to plan their trips and set their own itineraries wonder why millions of people take cruises or escorted tours each year, for example. Think cruises or bus tours — all the details are handled and someone is responsible for ensuring everything goes well.

If Airbus can make modular cabins possible, an airline might be able to install sleeping pods on some longer flights, and remove them for shorter ones. AirbusSkift Take: The basic aircraft cabin has not changed in decades. Airbus wants to give airlines flexibility to innovate, and that's impressive. But let's be honest. It is unlikely carriers will ever adopt Airbus' new platform. And if they do, it's even less likely they use the new functionality to install coffee shops or onboard gyms.

Mark Schwab is retiring as the CEO of Star Alliance, one of the three leading airline alliance groups.. Star AllianceSkift Take: For the past five years, Mark Schwab has tried to manage a complex alliance of nearly 30 airlines. Given the number of differing opinions involved, Schwab has had one of the more difficult jobs in the airline industry.