Beyonce Boosts Hotel Bookings

Good morning from Skift. It’s Wednesday, October 25. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

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Episode Notes

Taylor Swift wasn’t the only major pop star responsible for a tourism boom this summer. Beyonce’s Renaissance Tour helped lift hotel bookings across the U.S. and Europe, writes Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill.

O’Neill cites Cardiff, Wales, Cologne, Germany and Houston, Texas, as cities where hotel bookings surged during stops on Beyonce’s tour. Hotels in her hometown of Houston generated $18 million in revenue on the nights of her concerts, a 45% jump from the same weekend last year.  

However, O’Neill notes some cities — including London, Boston, and Las Vegas — didn’t register a noticeable bump. He adds shows on weeknights during the school year were much less likely to drive travel demand.  

Next, Airbnb has been accused of violating a temporary restraining order in a New York City building, reports Executive Editor Dennis Schaal. 

The owner had placed the building on New York City’s so-called banned building list, which blocks short-term rentals. 

However, the contempt motion alleges that guests were seen in the apartment on October 17 and that the listing was still on Airbnb. Schaal writes the building owner asked the judge to impose penalties for an alleged violation related to a short-term rental listing.  A hearing is scheduled for October 30 in a New York State court. 

Finally, prominent airline industry executives will gather for the Skift Aviation Forum in Fort Worth, Texas on November 1. Edward Russell, editor of Skift publication Airline Weekly, lists five topics he’s looking forward to discussing at the Forum.  

Russell writes that, despite constant warnings about economic downturns, the global airline industry is continuing to make progress in its recovery. While he notes that corporate travel in the U.S. has plateaued in its rebound, international travel has continued to boom. Transatlantic demand set records this summer, and many industry figures expect transpacific to surge as well.