Airlines Prepare for Another Busy Memorial Day Weekend — and Summer
After reports that domestic demand and consumer confidence was on the decline, airlines are gearing up for what might be one of their busiest summers yet.
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Airlines
Sweeping U.S. Tax Bill Would Roll Back Grants for Green Jet Fuel
The bill sends mixed messages about the future of sustainable aviation fuel in the U.S. While some funding channels remain, others could be axed.
House Passes Trump’s 'Big, Beautiful Bill': Here’s How It Impacts Aviation
The bill, which will now go to the Senate for a vote, includes provisions on reforming air traffic control and axing sustainable aviation fuel grants.
Business Travel
Navan Takes a Step Towards an IPO
U.S. stock markets are definitely not cooperating with Navan's long-held plans to IPO.
Open Bookings vs. Managed Travel: What Corporate Travel Leaders Should Know
Corporate travel buyers and financial leaders are under pressure to optimize business travel logistics and costs while providing duty of care for their employees. Achieving this combination is no small task. When it comes to choosing between open bookings and managed travel, here’s what they need to consider.
IAG Looks Beyond Market Volatility with Massive Widebody Orders
IAG has its eyes on the long-game with more than 70 new widebody planes on the way. With deliveries not starting until 2028, there’s plenty of time for the current turbulence to pass, or perhaps intensify.
Coronavirus
The Travel Industry's Immense Potential for Growth
Despite the pandemic’s unprecedented challenges, the travel industry’s recovery is proving to be remarkable.
The Travel Industry Surpasses 2019
Today's edition of Skift's daily podcast looks closer at the recovery of the travel industry that have allowed it to surpass spring 2019 benchmarks.
Travel Makes a Complete Recovery
Today's edition of Skift's daily podcast looks closer at travel's coronavirus recovery, Airbnb's optimism, and Hilton's extended-stay moves.
Cruises
How MSC Cruises Is Redefining the Future of Cruising with North America’s Largest Terminal
The guest journey begins at the terminal, and cruise lines are upgrading infrastructure to match that reality. MSC Cruises is shaping the industry's future with North America’s largest and most technically advanced cruise terminal located at PortMiami.
India Wants 1 Million Cruise Tourists by 2029
Cruise tourism in India has long had a loyal following, but it’s the growing integration with the MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) segment that’s giving it an extra push.
New Global Rules to Force Cruise Ships to Pay for Carbon Emissions
The shipping industry just became the first to adopt a global system that charges companies for emissions — a landmark moment for climate accountability. If cruise ships can pay for their pollution, which industry is next?
Experiences
5 Challenges for Airbnb Experiences
The latest version of Airbnb Experiences won't be a slam dunk even with a $250 million investment, and Airbnb hiring staff with experiences on their resumes.
Can Airbnb Experiences Stand Out? It’s Betting on Quality
The platform is offering experiences only available with Airbnb, like classes with Michelin star chefs and hang-out with singers, to differentiate itself from competitors.
UAE Theme Parks Often Fail. Can Disneyland Abu Dhabi Succeed?
Massive theme parks get announced in the UAE every decade or so, but what sets Disneyland apart is an operator with a track record for building busy parks in the desert.
Food and Drink
How Tourism Homogenizes Cuisines and What Are Possible Solutions
There is a lot that can be done, both from an awareness and, even more importantly, from a policy perspective. Most of it requires changes that the travelers of today, seeking more authentic experiences, would welcome.
Magic Mushrooms in the Minibar
Some will always love a luxury spa. But psychedelics (think psilocybin soundbaths and mushrooms) are the phase in high-end wellness.
24x7 Food at Delhi's Aerocity - India Report
Delhi Aerocity, with a heavy presence of branded hotels, is a convenient hub for business and leisure travelers alike.
Ground Transport
Exclusive: U.S. Outbound Travel is 'Booming,' Says Eurostar CEO
Shaking off speculation that U.S. consumers are traveling less, Eurostar CEO Gwendoline Cazenave shares exclusive data pointing to a strong summer for overseas spending.
3 Ways Ground Transportation Can Benefit From AI
Ground transportation stands to gain significantly from AI adoption as a means to free itself from legacy tech constraints. AI enhances efficiency by optimizing routes, managing fleets, and reducing fuel consumption, while also boosting customer satisfaction.
AI-Powered Revenue Management Transforms Ground Transportation
The integration of AI-powered revenue management by ground transportation operators is transforming the industry, introducing dynamic pricing and demand forecasting. Traditionally reliant on static pricing, the bus industry is now embracing more granular control over pricing strategies, allowing operators to adjust fares based on specific departure days and demand fluctuations.
Hotels
The Leela’s $400 Million IPO to Fund Luxury Expansion in India
The Leela plans to pay down debt and expand its luxury footprint across spiritual, heritage, and wildlife destinations.
Tax-Free Tips? Hotels Hope Proposed Bill Will Help Fill Jobs
Hotel companies are betting that a potential federal tax break on tips could be a helpful recruitment tool to fill thousands of open positions and keep experienced workers from leaving the industry.
How GDS Commission Shares Impact Global Hotel and Agency Revenue
Part one of this two-part series explores the global landscape for GDS commission shares, which represent tens of millions of dollars in revenue for travel management companies and agencies. A better understanding of gaps by region, country, and hotel class can lead to competitive advantages in global distribution.
Luxury
First Class Is Back and Bigger than Ever — But Sometimes in Disguise
First class isn’t dead — it’s just evolving. As airlines chase high-margin passengers, luxe cabins are back, but often rebranded or reimagined as ‘business plus’ instead.
Can First Class Be Profitable? Etihad Says Yes — and It's Doubling Down
Speaking to Skift, Arik De, Etihad's Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer, says the airline is working to rewrite the rulebook on first class, proving that ultra-premium doesn’t have to mean unprofitable.
Hyatt CEO: 'Softer Booking Trends' and 'Choppy Environment'
Hyatt says its luxury hotels are still packed, and so are its all-inclusive resorts. But business travelers have been cutting back.
Media and PR
Virgin Atlantic Expands Diversity Focus in New Global Ad Campaign
The diversity is still there, not least in Angelou's powerful prose, but it's also about the diverse destinations served by the airline – arguably a much safer corporate position amid intense culture wars.
Marriott Unveils New Ad Campaign: 'Travel Shapes Us'
Marriott ditches mundane advertising tropes in its new marketing campaign. Instead, it tries to tap into the emotional alchemy of travel itself.
Social Media Agency Launches Gamified Travel Marketing in Singapore Test
Gone are the days of old-school pitch meetings with traditional agencies — tourism marketing has entered the age of storytelling, captivating content, and instant booking options.
Meetings
How Fontainebleau Las Vegas Is Unlocking New Possibilities for Meetings and Events
From world-class dining and versatile meeting spaces to high-touch service standards and one-of-a-kind offerings, Fontainebleau Las Vegas offers everything planners need to craft exceptional events.
Rajasthan Focuses on Weddings, Conferences to Boost Tourism - India Report
Rajasthan, a premier wedding destination in India, has much to offer including wildlife, museums, temples, and lakes. While the state is seeking to promote its various offerings, it does not want to lose out on the significant revenue from weddings and business meetings.
Behind Fontainebleau Las Vegas’ Vision to Transform Luxury Meetings: Watch Video
Today’s meeting planners face unique challenges driven by evolving attendee expectations, technological advancements, and the ongoing need for flexibility. This video explores how Fontainebleau Las Vegas is redefining luxury meetings to meet these challenges.
Online Travel
Booking Holdings' Hotel Commissions 'Too High' – Swiss Watchdog Orders 25% Cut
Swiss authorities believe ordering Booking.com to cut commission fees will boost the country's hotel industry — but the online travel agency said it would appeal.
Hotels.com Has a New Chatbot Trip Planner. Here's How it Works
The Hotels.com app is integrated with the chatbot in a simplistic way that makes it easy to use, but the errors don't help to set it apart.
Trip.com Group Rides AI, Inbound Boom, and Older Travelers to Strong Quarter
Trip.com’s inbound bookings soared 100% as China’s visa-free policies lured more tourists. With AI and senior travelers fueling growth, the company’s global comeback looks sharp and well-targeted.
Podcasts
Rewiring Hotel Tech for Humans – Skift Travel Podcast
Mews founder Richard Valtr argues hospitality needs to embrace technology more, a point he made during this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast.
Aviation Politics, World Cup Visa Backlog and Marriott’s New Brand
For this Friday pod we look at potential aviation funding changes in the U.S., efforts to streamline World Cup visas, and Marriott’s new brand debut in India.
Google's Smart Glasses, Newark's Flight Cuts and Wyndham's Live Tourism Perks
On today's pod we discuss Google's four-eyed tools for travelers, flight cuts at Newark airport, and Wyndham's new live tourism benefits for its loyalty members.
Short-Term Rentals
Spain Orders Airbnb to Block More Than 65,000 Holiday Rentals
The Spanish's government order is the latest move to crack down on short-term rentals in response to the shortage of affordable housing.
Airbnb Experiences Doesn’t Address Climate Change
Questions remain about how the indirect emissions from Airbnb’s expansion into new experiences will be addressed.
User Profiles Power Airbnb’s Push Into Experiences and Services
Airbnb has been collecting user data to lay the groundwork for the future of the app: A digital travel concierge that learns and adapts to each individual user.
Skift Originals
Marriott Bonvoy's New AI Search Tool: 4 Tests Show How It Works — and Doesn't
Marriott Bonvoy's new AI tool probably isn’t sharp enough yet to be reliable. But as one of the first tools like it by a major hotel brand, it offers an early glimpse at how lodging search could look in the future.
Don't Create Company Culture: Lessons on Meaning of Work
Culture stems from the meaningful work we do, and each of us seeing the tangible in-situ effects of that work for the people for whom we create everything.
Celebrating 10 Years of Skift Deep Dives
Our Deep Dive stories are the cornerstone of Skift's journalism. Meticulous reporting. Smart analysis. Great writing. All packaged and designed in ways to keep you glued to the story. Here's a few of our favorites over the past 10 years.
Startups
Electric Planes and Travel Advisor Tech: 10 Startups Raise $245 Million
There hasn't been as much travel startup funding this year. But there are certain areas, particularly hotel tech and business travel, continuing to see investor interest.
Behind Numa Group's Profitable European Expansion
While others folded under costly master leases and rapid expansion, Numa aims to prove that measured growth, careful deal-making, and automation can deliver profits for apartment-style hotels.
Fora Travel Raises $40 Million to Expand Offering for Newbie Advisors
This $40 million investment should expand Fora Travel's reach and help further develop its tech platform.
Tour Operators
Make Alcatraz a Prison Again? The Impact on San Francisco’s Iconic Tour
Trips to Alcatraz represent big business for San Francisco-based tour operators, so they're paying close attention to President Trump's plan.
Cox & Kings 2.0: Old-World Service, New-Age Tech
The Cox & Kings brand has re-entered India at a time when competition is intense. Can the brand recall value and loyalty help it thrive?
YouTube Is Adding AI Summaries for Things to Do
YouTube is obviously a major marketing channel for travel brands. Adding AI Overview in 'things to do' first, with other travel verticals to come, may keep users engaged within the Google ecosystem.
Tourism
Rubio Explores 'Double Shifts' and AI to Clear World Cup Visa Backlog
Fans in some countries may already have run out of time to secure a visa, and a lot of tourism revenue is at stake.
Qatar Wants Tourists Who Stay Longer – and Spend More
Qatar's tourism numbers grew by around 25% last year, but the real focus is on increasing how long people stay and how much they spend.
International Travel to the U.S. Remains Soft – Can Domestic Demand Fill the Gap?
The softening in inbound travel demand – especially from Canada – is being partially offset by domestic travel, which continues to show resilience.
Travel Agents
How Commission Yields Affect Hotel Profits: A European Case Study
In the competitive hotel market, commission yields quietly shape profits, and small percentage shifts can mean big revenue swings. In Europe, higher proportions of independent hotels and third-party booking transactions require nuanced strategy and sharp data analysis for optimizing revenue from hotel room sales.
Booking Platform Mondee Files for Bankruptcy
The bankruptcy comes after Mondee was delisted in December.
Travelers Are Taking Longer to Plan Trips, Despite Faster Tools to Book Them
The trend toward increased research time reflects a more deliberate and empowered traveler who prioritizes control, trust, and value in their planning process.
Travel Technology
Google’s New Smart Glasses. For Travelers: Live Translation, Navigation
Google's smart glasses will be a direct competitor to the Ray-Ban Meta glasses, both attempts at building hardware especially for the latest AI.
Sabre’s India Exec on Finding Talent, Tech Shifts, and What Travelers Want Now
As India adds airports, links more towns, and packs hotel rooms, the real question isn’t if travel will boom, it’s whether the industry can keep up.
Google’s New 'AI Mode' for Search: The Impact on Trip Planning
This was Google's biggest group of AI announcements yet. With all the of the travel-related demos, the industry is clearly top-of-mind during development.
Venture Capital
JetBlue Ventures CEO: Investment Focus and What's Next After Sale
JetBlue Ventures is still focused on investing in startups for the airline industry, but its funding is not coming from JetBlue anymore.
Biz Travel and Hotel Tech: 5 Startups Raised $53 Million Over 2 Weeks
Startup funding is slow so far this year, but tech for business travel and hotels is pushing forward.
Travel Startup Funding Is Slowing: Companies that Raised in the Past 3 Weeks
The companies that got the most funding fall in line with trends we've seen: Hotel tech, business travel tech, and anything focused on the burgeoning Indian travel economy.