Airbnb Beyond: It’s not just the homesharing platform’s new luxury-tier product, but also its new business philosophy. Airbnb has been trying to take its business beyond simply helping customers book travel accommodations — it wants to help them book vacation experiences, too. While it remains to be seen how the new luxury tier will perform, the Experiences feature has certainly shown its true colors, as have other Airbnb innovations in recent years. Which, if any of them, will stick?  Read More...

Giving a good gift is difficult. Giving a gift card is easy and often exactly what the recipient actually wants — but it doesn’t feel very personal. For years, digital gifting has endeavored to close this gap, but now, it may need to go one step further and follow the retail space into the omnichannel realm. Online gifting solutions firm Jifiti co-founder Yaacov Martin examines the evolving mindset around gifting and what retailers must do to keep up.  Read More...

The battle is on to win the hearts and stomachs of quick-service restaurant (QSR) consumers. It’s not good enough to produce a fast and convenient meal: To woo customers to their chains, restaurants like Burger King, Subway, Starbucks, McDonald’s and Taco Bell are expanding their digital offerings through mobile payments and delivery options. Some are introducing new menu options, such as Taco Bell’s $1 nacho fries, to draw diners into their stores. Here’s how QSR restaurants stack up in U.S. sales, and how they are reaching consumers in the digital age.  Read More...