Skift Daily Travel Briefing

Will Las Vegas' Sphere Be a Big Zero?


Listen Later

Episode Notes

Airbnb released its latest set of product enhancements on Wednesday — including Guest Favorites, new badges that identify customers’ favorite homes, reports Executive Editor Dennis Schaal.

Schaal writes that Airbnb will place a Guest Favorites badge on 2 million of its properties. Those badges will help travelers pick stays based on homes’ ratings. Schaal notes that hosts will benefit from several other features as well. Airbnb said hosts will be able to create AI-powered photo tours of their homes in seconds. 

In addition, Airbnb said it’s overhauling ratings and reviews to make them more guest-friendly. Guests will be able to sort reviews by when they were written and their rating scores.  

Next, Las Vegas’ Sphere arena opened to much fanfare in September, headlined by a U2 concert. But will it be a profitable venue? Newly released data highlighted the risks and rewards of the $2.3 billion structure, writes Travel Experiences Reporter Selene Brophy.  

While Sphere Entertainment CEO James Dolan expressed optimism about the Sphere’s potential, Brophy notes analysts are uncertain if it will generate enough revenue to offset the enormous initial investments. Revenue from the Sphere’s opening didn’t cover its first quarter direct operating expenses.

However, one media executive said the Sphere was on its way to becoming a global landmark due to the publicity it’s already received. Brophy adds its owners are hopeful upcoming major events in Las Vegas will help expose visitors to the venue. 

Finally, Singapore Airlines is coming off a strong September quarter. But the company is not resting on its laurels as its rivals continue their recoveries, reports Edward Russell, editor of Skift publication Airline Weekly.

Singapore Airlines posted a $589 million operating profit during the quarter. Company executives attributed the success to strong peak summer travel demand and lower fuel prices. And Russell writes the carrier is developing a multi-part strategy to maintain a competitive advantage, including extending its network of airline partnerships around the world. 

Russell adds that Singapore Airlines is working to increase connectivity over the city-state’s Changi Airport. Singapore Airlines and budget subsidiary Scoot plan to serve 23 destinations in China by December. 

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Skift Daily Travel BriefingBy Skift

  • 4
  • 4
  • 4
  • 4
  • 4

4

34 ratings


More shows like Skift Daily Travel Briefing

View all
WSJ What’s News by The Wall Street Journal

WSJ What’s News

4,324 Listeners

WSJ Your Money Briefing by The Wall Street Journal

WSJ Your Money Briefing

1,714 Listeners

The Skift Travel Podcast by Skift

The Skift Travel Podcast

39 Listeners

Airline Weekly Lounge Podcast by Skift

Airline Weekly Lounge Podcast

137 Listeners

How I Built This with Guy Raz by Guy Raz | Wondery

How I Built This with Guy Raz

30,229 Listeners

Masters of Scale by WaitWhat

Masters of Scale

3,986 Listeners

Bold Names by The Wall Street Journal

Bold Names

1,448 Listeners

Bloomberg Business of Sports by Bloomberg

Bloomberg Business of Sports

148 Listeners

Wisdom From The Top with Guy Raz by Guy Raz | Luminary

Wisdom From The Top with Guy Raz

499 Listeners

The Journal. by The Wall Street Journal & Spotify Studios

The Journal.

5,949 Listeners

Squawk Pod by CNBC

Squawk Pod

549 Listeners

Airlines Confidential Podcast by Scott McCartney

Airlines Confidential Podcast

137 Listeners

Simple Flying Aviation News Podcast by Simple Flying

Simple Flying Aviation News Podcast

134 Listeners

The Air Show by Shayr Media

The Air Show

199 Listeners

Daily Departure by Skift

Daily Departure

0 Listeners

Everybody's Business by Bloomberg and iHeartPodcasts

Everybody's Business

60 Listeners

GreenShift by Skift

GreenShift

0 Listeners

Good Morning Hospitality by Skift

Good Morning Hospitality

1 Listeners

Slick Talk: The Hospitality Podcast by Skift

Slick Talk: The Hospitality Podcast

71 Listeners

Suite Success: Masters of Hospitality by Skift

Suite Success: Masters of Hospitality

77 Listeners