Skift grip
Today’s edition of Skift’s daily podcast looks at changes Airbnb has made to reduce discrimination, United’s big bet on big planes and the expansion of food tours.
Rashaad Jordan
Hello from Skift. Today is Wednesday, December 14, and we are live in Dubai for the next two days. Here’s what you need to know about the travel industry today.
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Episode Notes
United Airlines is making a huge bet that long-haul international travel will continue to thrive. The company announced on Tuesday that it will pay more than $29 billion for up to 200 Boeing planes that will operate intercontinental flights, reports Edward Russell, editor of Airline Weekly, a Skift brand.
Russell writes that the 200 Boeing 787s ordered by United will be the backbone of its long-haul fleet for decades to come, with all new aircraft expected to arrive by 2032. He adds that United’s aircraft deal is coming at a good time for an airline industry. Optimistic about a strong 2023. Helane Becker, an analyst at banking firm Cowen & Company, said United would have the most exposure among US airlines to the ongoing recovery in international travel.
We turn next to a food tour company keen to tap into the growing number of travelers exploring destinations through food. Secret Food Tours is looking to grow by acquiring smaller, niche tour operators, reports journalist Selene Brophy.
Oliver Mernick-Levene, co-founder of UK-based Secret Food Tours, said he sees buying smaller tour operators as a way to expand his brand presence. He recently acquired two local food tour companies, Miami-based Little Havana Tours and Seattle Bites Food Tours. Mernick-Levene added that Secret Food Tours prides itself on being able to put destinations on the map from a culinary perspective, citing London Bridge as an example. The region was featured on the Food Network after Secret Food Tours’ excursions there.
Mernick-Levene also said Secret Food Tours is considering partnering with Marriott and cruise line Celebrity Cruises.
Travelers perceived as black are seeing their Airbnb booking requests rejected by hosts at higher rates than any other racial group. So the company recently changed its Instant Book setting to reduce black customer rejection ratesreports editor Dennis Schaal.
Airbnb said Tuesday it has updated its Instant Book setting options for hosts. Hosts can now allow guests to take advantage of these instant confirmations even if no host has already submitted reviews of guests and their stays. In the past, the company recommended that hosts turn on instant booking for guests who have received positive reviews on all of their stays from hosts.
Airbnb found that customers perceived to be black had, on average, nearly 3 percentage points less success with instant booking than customers perceived to be white. The short-term rental giant said the disparity occurs in part because many perceived black customers often don’t meet the host’s selected criteria to use Instant Book.
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