Delta’s Use of AI for Setting Fares Sparks Concern in Washington
Some are concerned that Delta’s use of AI could lead some customers to pay more airfares given the pricing system’s individualized approach.
All Categories
Airlines
U.S. Tariff Threat Puts Airline Industry on Edge Ahead of August 1 ‘Hard Deadline’
A looming EU trade clash has the potential to disrupt aircraft deliveries and spike costs, but the impact of blanket U.S. tariffs could make waves far beyond the Atlantic.
India Increases Air Seat Capacity to Kuwait for First Time Since 2006
India’s decision to grant Kuwait a 50% increase in flying rights, the first such expansion in nearly two decades, seems to signal a softening stance on its traditionally cautious bilateral air agreements.
Business Travel
Business Travel Spending Forecast to Hit Record in 2025
Zoom works fine. But it turns out there's something irreplaceable about looking someone in the eye while discussing revenue projections in a beige conference room in Dallas, Sao Paulo, or Mumbai.
BizTrip.AI Launches With Bold Goal: Corporate Travel Without the Search Bar
Startup BizTrip.AI is betting that agentic AI will do for corporate travel what search once did for the internet: turn complexity into simplicity.
U.S. Corporations Pause Business Travel as Economic Headwinds Trigger a Reassessment
Corporate America is no longer traveling just because it can. With tariffs and budget pressures mounting, domestic business travel is now being scrutinized trip by trip, and there’s no guarantee it will come back in full.
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
Barcelona to Close 2 Cruise Terminals to Tackle Overtourism
Barcelona's ongoing battle against mass tourism isn't slowing down. The city is emphasizing quality instead of quantity.
MSC Cruises Targets U.S. Market With New Ships and Port
MSC Cruises is big outside the U.S. but remains small in North America's lucrative waters. To fix that, it has debuted a ship for American tastes, a new Texas terminal, new Alaska cruises, and has another ship coming in 2027.
Cannes to Ban Large Cruise Ships to Tackle Overtourism
Cannes is part of the growing list of destinations that are imposing restrictions on the cruise industry.
Experiences
‘Let Loose the Goose’: Klook Launches Viral AI-Powered Travel Campaign
Klook’s goose might not have wings, but the idea behind it clearly does.
Elite Chefs. Real Talk. Luxury Hotels Are Bringing Back the Dinner Party
Luxury hotels are using dinner parties to build loyalty among high-spending guests. The ROI looks a little ugly at first, but they're a long-term bet.
MSC Cruises Is Reimagining the Private Island Experience Through Conservation
Cruise lines are rethinking what drives guest interest in a destination. Conservation-led private islands investing in ocean health and local communities are creating the kind of differentiation guests increasingly expect and value.
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.
24×7 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
Uber’s New Way to Reach Chinese Travelers Runs Through WeChat
Uber has found its way back to users in China, just not on Chinese roads. It's targeting Chinese outbound travelers by partnering with the app nearly everyone in China uses: WeChat.
Zohran Mamdani Says New York Needs Infrastructure Upgrade for ‘New Climate Reality’ as Flash Floods Disrupt Travel
New York’s latest flash flood shows how infrastructure can struggle to match climate extremes and raises urgent questions about whether one of the world’s top travel hubs can stay afloat in the future.
Carey Hires New CEO, Pushes Strategy Shift for Elite Limo Service – Exclusive
New top boss Alex Mirza aims to modernize luxury ground transportation company amid pressure from ride-sharing apps.
Hotels
Hilton’s Sustainability Chief: Clean Energy Push, Hotel Upgrades Behind Emissions Drop
When clean energy starts to make business sense – not just climate sense – that’s where real traction begins. Hilton’s experience shows that in markets where renewables are cost-neutral, owners buy in.
Where Hotels Can Find Growth: Live Events, Social Commerce, Smarter Loyalty
The hotel industry in 2025 faces a complex economic landscape, but forward-thinking brands that lean into loyalty, luxury, and live tourism are finding opportunity amid disruption.
Luxury, Credit Cards, Deals: What We’re Watching in Hotel Earnings
Government travel headwinds and tariff uncertainties may be temporary. Luxury resilience and growing credit card fees may be enduring.
Luxury
Club Med Boss Says He’s Been Ousted by Owner Fosun UPDATED
Henri Giscard d’Estaing has led the French tourism group since 2002 and through its sale to Chinese owners Fosun International in 2015.
How Raffles and Fairmont Are Reimagining Legacy Luxury for a New Generation
Raffles and Fairmont, two of Accor's flagship luxury brands, are undergoing thoughtful changes that go beyond marketing. Under Claudia Kozma Kaplan’s leadership, the focus is on preserving each brand’s legacy while embracing a new chapter of storytelling, service, and growth.
Minor Hotels Unveils 4 New Brands in Global Expansion Push
The Bangkok-based company is betting on diversification across price segments, from luxury to budget accommodations, including its first foray into the fast-growing soft-brand category.
Media and PR
Why Jet2’s Jingle Became TikTok’s Surprise Summer Travel Meme
Jet2’s viral TikTok moment highlights the unpredictable power of nostalgia and remix culture, where even the most mundane creative assets can supercharge brand awareness.
Extreme Loyalty: The Airlines Turning Travel Into a Competitive Sport
In a drive for loyalty and attention, high-stakes travel challenges are growing in popularity. These airline campaigns generate buzz, but they also raise thorny questions around ethics, sustainability, and long-term brand impact.
Ritz-Carlton Ad Gamble Pays Off at Cannes Awards: ‘Late Checkout’ Takes Gold
The Ritz-Carlton beat 181 other luxury brands to win advertising's top prize by doing something hotel marketers rarely attempt: ditching brief poolside glamour shots for a quirky four-minute movie.
Meetings
Inside India’s Events and Meetings Aspirations
India upped its convention center game for the G20 Summit last year. Now, it is trying to drum up the marketing for these spaces across the country. But is India really MICE ready?
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.
Online Travel
California Sues Airbnb for Alleged Price Gouging and Bogus Host Identities Following Wildfires
With 8 million listings and around 5,000 hosts, verifying them has been an oft-stated Airbnb ambition, but it has fallen short on completing this ever-growing and gargantuan task.
MakeMyTrip Raises $3.1 Billion to Shrink Trip.com Group’s Stake
MakeMyTrip is decisively paring its long‑time investor’s stake on the business. And as more buybacks could come before year‑end, Trip.com Group’s influence looks set to keep shrinking.
We Asked 5 Online Travel Agencies in India How They’re Really Using AI
AI is here to stay in the travel industry, but for now it’s as an assistant, not a replacement. Travel has too many moving parts, so when things go wrong, or a big trip is on the line, travelers still tend to trust a specialist.
Podcasts
Southwest’s Seating Revolution, Barcelona’s Cruise Crackdown and Biz Travel’s New High
For today’s pod we look at Southwest’s big break with the past, Barcelona’s attempts to control cruise passengers, and a business travel resurgence.
Why This Summer Is Breaking Flight Crews and the System
The summer's busiest-ever travel season is posing enormous challenges for flight attendants, but union leader Sara Nelson is optimistic about rallying support for flight crews.
AI’s Travel Jobs Impact, NYC’s Transit Mess and Uber’s Unique Saudi Feature
In today's pod we look at travel talent and AI, New York City's climate challenges, and Uber's female-friendly update.
Short-Term Rentals
Airbnb to Introduce More Guest-Friendly Cancellation Policies
Airbnb guests will welcome these policy changes, for sure. Many hosts, on the other hand, undoubtably will think that Airbnb's policies are once again leaning too heavily against their interests.
Oyo Expands Vacation Rental Business in India
DanCenter's expansion in India is a reflection of Oyo's developing strategy in the country - more diverse options in the premium segment for a more discerning traveler.
Airbnb Tests ‘Reserve Now, Pay Later’
With Reserve Now, Pay Later, Airbnb doesn’t go as far as some hotels where you pay when you arrive. But it is more hotel-like.
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
Selina and Sonder: Lessons From the Downfall of 2 Innovative Brands
Sonder showed us how far you can push tech and design in urban hospitality. Selina pioneered community-driven, affordable stays for new generations of travelers. Both deserve more than a footnote on innovation in travel.
Regional Air Travel Startups Raise Over $85 Million: Funding Roundup
The biggest airlines are behind on updating their tech systems and operations; regional airlines are even further behind.
Ramp Raises $200 Million for Expense and Biz Travel Management: Startup Funding Roundup
Startups for business travel management and flying taxis are still raising a lot of money.
Thought Leadership
Brad Gerstner on ‘Trump Accounts’ and the Travel Leaders He Still Calls First
Brad Gerstner's Invest America, which turned into Trump Accounts, could be a game-changer for tens of millions of American kids.
Tour Operators
What AI and Tech Disruption Means for Travel Jobs
AI won’t replace frontline travel roles, but by supercharging developer productivity, it’s reshaping how the entire industry hires, innovates, and grows.
What’s Next for Tripadvisor Now That it Has an Activist Investor?
An activist investor might be just what Tripadvisor needs now that its corporate structure has changed. Analysts have plenty of ideas on what that investor might advocate for, although so far Starboard Value hasn't publicly discussed a game plan.
Hotels Shrug Off Airbnb’s Push Into Experiences – But They Still Need to Compete
Airbnb’s relaunch of its Experiences platform and new offering of hotel-style à la carte services might pressure hoteliers. But so far, many hotel execs seem unfazed.
Tourism
State of Travel 2025: Our 7 Favorite Charts
The future of travel is unfolding now; you just need the right data and insights to see it. Here are our favorite insights from the State of Travel 2025 report.
U.S. Passport Power Slips: See Which Countries Are Gaining Ground
The 2025 Henley Passport Index makes one thing clear: travel freedom isn’t just a Western advantage anymore. And that shift isn’t just about where people go on a holiday, it matters for companies, governments, and industries that rely on people being able to move easily across borders.
U.S. Visa Sticker Shock: New $250 ‘Integrity Fee’
At a time when international arrivals to the U.S. are already slumping, these hefty additional fees will be one more reason not to visit. There are cheaper places to travel to with less hassle.
Travel Agents
Travelport’s New Tech Chief Aims to Modernize How Agencies Book Trips
Andrew Jordan arrived at Travelport six months ago with a mission to reduce the frustrations travel management companies have with the software their agents use.
Los Angeles Immigration Protests Spur Some Travelers to Change Plans
International tourists viewing the headlines from Los Angeles and other big U.S. cities may decide to skip the hassle and vacation elsewhere. The U.S. keeps giving tourists reasons to not visit.
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.
Travel Technology
OpenAI Launches ChatGPT Agent Mode: What It Could Mean for the Travel Industry
ChatGPT Agent could be a game changer for travel. It can make real bookings. But will people trust AI with their money, logins and bank details?
Wyndham’s Grubhub Deal Highlights the ‘Uberization’ of Hotels
Forget overpriced minibars and club sandwiches. Wyndham is one of a few hotel groups looking to monetize today's on-demand culture.
The Oyo Connection You Didn’t Know Shah Rukh Khan’s Family Has
It’s not every day that the cap table of a hospitality tech startup reads like a Bollywood afterparty guest list. But Oyo seems to be pulling that off. If the company ever does IPO, red carpets at the listing ceremony won’t be metaphorical.
Venture Capital
Lodging Tech and Jet Fuel: Travel Startups Raise $560 Million
Funding has been slow this year, but B2B travel tech startups are still leading the way these days.
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.
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.