As 2017 comes to a close, we reflect on a year of headlines and events in travel — the good, the bad and the ugly.

It was a stormy year for the industry — literally, politically and in business — but like all storms, the skies clear and the future is bright.

On the weather side …

The fall demonstrated the destructive power of wind, rain and fire, as hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria devastated Texas, the Florida Keys and several Caribbean destinations, including St. Maarten, Puerto Rico and Anguilla; wide-reaching wildfires caused significant damage on the West Coast, including Oregon and California; and the eruption of Mount Agung volcano in Bali forced evacuation of more than 100,000 people and left thousands of tourists stranded.

On the business side …

© Frank Gärtner | Dreamstime

Airberlin went out of business in October, and airlines and airports scramble to acquire the airline’s holdings, with EasyJet taking over operations at Tegel Airport (TXL) and 25 aircraft.

A long-brewing dispute between U.S. legacy carriers and Gulf carriers including Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways led to American Airlines ending its codeshare relationship with Middle East-based airlines. Delta Air Lines also ramped up rhetoric against Gulf carriers, claiming they’re running U.S. airlines out of the market.

United Airlines rolled out its no-frills basic-economy fare nationwide this year, and while United was not the first airline to introduce a basic-economy fare, it was the first to disallow large carry-on luggage — a move not well received despite the affordable prices.

Speaking of unpopular policies, Marriott, Hilton and InterContinental Hotels Group rolled out new, pricier cancellation fees when cancellations are made within 24–48 hours of a stay.

The rideshare market also crowded headlines this year for good and bad reasons. Uber and Lyft make moves to expand self-driving fleets and improve business travel platforms, while Uber covers up a massive data breach and attempts to repair company reputation following allegations of sexual harassment and corruption on the part of the company’s previous management.

On the political side …

Protest again President Trump’s proposed travel ban © Erica Schroeder | Dreamstime

It was a year of bans. In January, the U.S. government called for a ban on entry into the United States from several majority-Muslim countries for 90 days, citing security as its reason for doing so. After receiving significant pushback, a new ban was instated in March, causing confusion at airports nationwide.

The travel ban was blocked and challenged by several federal judges including those in New York, Massachusetts, Hawai’i and Maryland. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court allowed President Trump to put his full travel ban into effect while legal appeals are weighed in lower courts.

In March, the U.S. government banned electronics beyond the size of a mobile phone on carry-on luggage for direct flights departing 10 airports in the Middle East to the United States. The controversial ban caused headaches for travelers, especially business travelers, and lifted in July.

The U.S. government also banned travel to North Korea and cracked down on travel to Cuba this year.

Large bans such as these of course have repercussions, and the term “Trump Slump” came into play, as international arrivals to the United States fell 3.9 percent in the first six months of 2017 compared to 2016.

Protest for Catalonia independence © Natursports | Dreamstime

The United States isn’t the only country whose tourism was impacted by political tensions in 2017. In March, the Chinese government ordered travel agencies to stop selling itineraries in South Korea amid tensions between the United States and North Korea. In Barcelona, protests erupted against over-tourism, coinciding with a new law enacted to regulate tourist accommodations. Also, in October, Catalonia voted for secession from Spain, causing a split in not only Spain but in Europe as a whole regarding geopolitical secessions.

A diplomatic crisis erupted between Qatar and several countries including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Egypt, which led to travel nightmares as large airlines including Emirates and Etihad Airways were forced to suspend service to Qatar.

It wasn’t all bad news for travel in 2017, though.

On the bright side … 

© Carnival Cruises

Carnival Cruises kicked off the year with the unveiling of its industry-first wearable tech device, which functions as a room key, credit card, navigation and customer service tool. While the rollout has been slower than expected, the device is an indication of the evolution ahead for the cruise industry.

Royal Caribbean followed suit with technology inspired by Disney’s MagicBand, and Hurtigruten made significant progress this year toward an all-electric cruise ship — the first in the world.

Airbnb purchased Luxury Retreats — a testament to the company’s growth and versatility — and InterContinental Hotels Group revealed details of its new high-quality midscale brand, avid, to launch in early 2018.

New tech perks came onto the travel scene this year, including on-demand service apps, customer service hotel robots and improved airport security screening machines.

Exciting cultural experiences were introduced around the world including 21 new UNESCO World Heritage sites and the opening of several new museums including Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town, the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, The Louvre Abu Dhabi in the U.A.E., and the Musée Yves Saint Laurent in Paris and Marrakech.

Looking ahead to travel in 2018, we have a good feeling “the best is yet to be.”