Travel’s New Cadence and 9 Other Top Travel Stories This Week

Dennis Schaal

January 16th, 2021 at 10:30 AM EST

Photo Credit: Travelers will be more destination-decisive in 2025. Illustration by Nadia Sgaramella. Nadia Sgaramella

Skift Take

In Skift's top travel stories this week, our Megatrends 2025 discussed travel becoming more soulful and a comeback for the hotel industry. In other stories, Norwegian scuttled its long-haul operation, and Hilton ceased making political contributions.

Throughout the week we are posting original stories night and day covering news and travel trends, including on the impact of coronavirus. Every weekend we will offer you a chance to read the most essential stories again in case you missed them earlier. Travel Megatrends 2025: Travel’s New Cadence Is More Deliberate, Introspective and Soulful: With prospects for winning the planet’s climate change confrontation after the horrific pandemic not appreciably improved in 2025, the travel industry and travelers rethink their operations and the way they wander the globe, respectively. Fear is a fantastic motivator. Delta Forecasts Return to Profits This Year But With Little Help From Corp Travele

Cruises

The Alaska Experiment That Could Reshape How Cruise Lines Navigate Wildlife

Alaska’s reputation as a bucket list cruise destination rests largely on its wildlife encounters, especially whale sightings. MSC Cruises is treating its first season in the region as a research opportunity, exploring how marine science can guide operations in high-density wildlife corridors.

MSC Cruises + Skift | 1 week ago

The U.S.’ Own Goal: Why World Cup Expectations Deflated

World Cup host cities were promised a once-in-a-generation tourism surge. The lift is real, but some cities’ results are well below expectations.

Bailey Schulz | 3 hours ago

Hotels

Why Hotel AI Keeps Cutting Costs Instead of Making Money

AI can't sell what hotel systems can't see. Until room-level data, guest behavior, and service pricing live in one connected system, the industry's AI gains will stay stuck on the cost efficiency side of the ledger.

Adriana Lee | 4 hours ago

Tourism

Canada Is Looking for a New Caribbean. Most Destinations Are Not Ready to Be Found

Canada's three winter sun standbys — the U.S., Cuba, and Mexico — are all in trouble at the same time. The Caribbean has never had a better opening. Most destinations are not ready to walk through it.

Oliver Martin and Emilie Ehrman | 4 hours ago

Airlines

Delta Expands Travel Benefits on Amex Cards, Holds Fees Steady

Delta is not hiking fees on its credit cards even as its competitors continue to increase annual fees and roll out premium travel credit cards in an increasingly saturated market.

Meghna Maharishi | 6 hours ago

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Travel’s New Cadence and 9 Other Top Travel Stories This Week

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