Trump May Again Pull Out of the Paris Climate Agreement: What Travel Businesses Say
If the world’s second largest polluter walks away from the Paris agreement, it would be a another blow to the global fight to reduce emissions.
All Categories
Airlines
European Airlines Start to Cautiously Resume Service to Israel
Several European carriers are eyeing a return to Tel Aviv after Israel reached a ceasefire agreement with Hamas.
Airlines Call on the EU to Delay Pollution Reporting Rules
The airline industry's push to delay pollution reporting rules could be seen as a delay tactic. But the EU should have the systems in place to support new reporting rules.
Business Travel
Business Travel Emissions Climb at Big Banks Amid Net-Zero Pact Exodus
A rise in business travel emissions at major U.S. banks could show a lack of internal policies to address or offset staff air travel.
2024 Smashed All-Time Airline Industry Records: 4 Key Takeaways
A global shift towards higher capacity aircraft is offering more seats onboard fewer flights – but huge sustainability questions remain.
Amex GBT Labels DOJ Lawsuit to Block CWT Merger a 'Blatant Politicized Effort'
They've had some wins, for sure, but does Amex GBT overstate competition from the likes of Navan, Spotnana, and Kayak for Business?
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
Luxury Cruise Group Ponant Acquires Aqua Expeditions
In an era of overtourism, the model of intimate, carefully orchestrated exploration feels especially set up for growth.
Carnival Heads Into 2025 With Record Bookings at Higher Prices
Carnival Corp. CEO Josh Weinstein is practically throwing confetti from the upper deck about 2025's prospects. For now, all the numbers and forecasts seem to support his optimism.
TUI Pushes Premium Rates for Tours and Plans Climate-Driven Shifts
TUI has emerged from the pandemic leaner and more focused under the steady hand of CEO Sebastian Ebel. But the company's pivot into becoming a digital-first, experience-led business remains tough to execute.
Experiences
The Long Tail of Luxury Travel Rewards
Loyalty programs used to feel cookie-cutter — you had points, but your options were limited to a standard king-size suite or a business-class seat. Today, points let you dream bigger (and more luxe), whether it’s a secluded wellness retreat, a private cultural tour, or a completely custom vacation rental.
The Travel Industry Moments We're Still Thinking About From 2024
From the trends that blindsided us to the cultural shifts we didn’t see coming — these are the travel moments (business or otherwise) that stayed with Skift staffers long after the suitcase was unpacked.
How Gen AI Is Enhancing Guest and Employee Experiences in Hospitality
Generative AI is transforming hospitality with personalized guest experiences, optimized workforce management, and operational efficiency. Through smart rooms, predictive maintenance, and AI-driven tools like chatbots, hotels are elevating service while supporting staff.
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
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.
Amtrak Posts Record Ridership – Can it Double by 2040?
Amtrak runs some very long routes, like the California Zephyr, but most people don't actually use them to go across the country. Instead, they use them for shorter trips, like visiting their aunt in the next state over. Amtrak is planning its growth around this.
Hotels
Coldplay and Weddings to Drive Growth at Indian Hotels Co.
With foreign tourists yet to return, domestic business and leisure travel is fueling IHCL's growth. And anciliary businesses are diversifying its revenue streams.
Bali Won't Go Ahead With Hotel Building Ban
A ban on building may be extreme, but Bali will still have to find ways to deal with overtourism.
Hotelbeds' Parent Plans to IPO in Spain at a $5.1 Billion Valuation
One exciting thing about the IPO, if it takes place, is that we'd inevitably gain a lot more transparency about the world's largest hotel wholesaler, Hotelbeds.
Luxury
Belmond Hotel Group's Anti-TikTok, Slow TV Marketing Push
Belmond believes that true luxury will become having the luxury of time.
Kerzner CEO Explains How to Scale New Brands While Keeping One&Only and Atlantis Exclusive
There's a funny thing about ultra-luxury: You want to grow because growth economies of scale are real. But also, if you grow too much, you're not exclusive anymore. Kerzner aims to thread that needle.
The Pig's Founder Shares the Recipe for the Boutique Hotel Brand
"People think this is some sort of property game," says Robin Hutson, founder of The Pig brand of boutique hotels. "It's not a property game. ... This is a people game."
Media and PR
Choice Hotels' Latest Ad Campaign
Choice Hotels really wants you to use your paid vacation days.
The Slow Fade: Why Consumer Travel Media Is Obsolete
As someone who has devoted all of my life to media, it pains me to say this: consumer travel media, in its current incarnation, is dead. The world has changed, and it’s time for us to move on.
Influencers Are the New Power Brokers in Travel
Leisure travelers increasingly lean on trip inspiration from their favorite influencers. The power of these content creators will only grow as social media platforms eventually add e-commerce functionality, enabling influencers to sell travel (and earn commissions) directly in their posts.
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
Tripadvisor's New Partnership With ChatGPT-Competitor Perplexity
The Tripadvisor brand has been struggling, but there could be value in its huge dataset for AI search engines that want to deliver personalized results.
TikTok Goes to the Supreme Court. Here's What's at Stake For Travel
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments Friday from TikTok's Chinese parent company, which is attempting to block a law banning short-form video apps. What's at stake for the travel industry? Here's a Skift explainer.
MakeMyTrip Dominates Travel Search in India - Can it Hold On to Its Lead?
MakeMyTrip excelled in 2024 with strong growth and Google dominance but faces rising competition in India’s rapidly evolving online travel market.
Podcasts
Airbnb Battles Price Gouging, Airlines Hit New Highs and a Lux Cruise Deal
Today’s podcast explains how Airbnb is stopping price gouging in L.A., why airlines had a good 2024, and what’s behind a luxury cruise deal.
Southwest's Tardy Flights, New U.S. Transport Czar and Hotel Eco Commitments
Today's episode looks at a lawsuit for late flights, the likely new U.S. transportation czar, and hotels and sustainability.
Tripadvisor's New AI Deal, Southwest's Hiring Freeze and Banyan Group's Growth
Today's podcast looks at Tripadvisor's artificial intelligence deal, Southwest's hiring changes, and Banyan's brand expansion outside of Asia.
Short-Term Rentals
Airbnb Cracks Down on Price Gouging During L.A. Fires
Good move, Airbnb.
Spain Looks to Raise Taxes on Holiday Rentals
Raising taxes on short-term rentals in Spain may not slow down the enormous demand for those properties. But it is a sign that the government is listening to those angry about the sector's perceived role in making housing unaffordable.
Sonder Replaced CEO Francis Davidson as Board Chairperson
Having an independent board chairperson is always a good move. Given Sonder's current status, one wonders what took the board so long to make a change.
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
Flying Taxis and Loyalty Tech: 6 Travel Startups Raise $100 Million
It's a slow start to the year, but travel startup funding is sure to pick up.
Travel Startups Shattered Funding Records in 2024. We Tracked Billions in Deals
There were several fundraises in 2024 that topped anything the travel industry has seen in years. Travel startups raised billions more than in 2023 despite the number of deals being roughly the same.
Remote Year Shuts Down Despite New Owners’ Earlier Promises of a Bright Future
Remote Year was a small but pioneering company, innovating on the edges over the years. Sad to see it come to an end.
Tour Operators
Listings Were Never the Answer
We may be at an inflection point where the very nature of how we discover and book travel is being fundamentally reimagined – and listings are increasingly not the best answer.
Outdoor Economy Grows Across U.S., But Urban Giants Like New York Lag
As Americans continue to prioritize outdoor experiences, the opportunity for states to rethink their approach to outdoor recreation remains significant.
Cox & Kings’ India Brand Returns Under New Owner
As Cox & Kings re-enters a competitive, technology-driven market, the brand faces the challenge of regaining customer trust while appealing to a new generation of travelers. The big question: Can Wilson & Hughes breathe new life into a legacy brand?
Tourism
New Budget, Same Old Demands: Will The Indian Travel Sector Finally Be Heard?
Despite tourism's contribution to the Indian economy, the allocations and incentives in recent budgets have done little to foster the sector's growth.
U.S. Supreme Court Upholds TikTok Ban: What it Means for Travel
The U.S. ban represents a significant setback for travel companies that have become increasingly dependent on the platform for customer acquisition.
Discover Puerto Rico CEO Brad Dean Exits for St. Louis Tourism Role
The CEO of Discover Puerto Rico, Brad Dean, is moving on from his current role, after serving 7 years with the organization.
Travel Agents
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.
How the Humble Package Holiday is Fueling EasyJet’s Record Profits
EasyJet’s success in integrating its core airline business with a high-margin holiday subsidiary isn't just a financial play; it’s a redefinition of how low-cost carriers can compete effectively.
Travel Technology
Vail Resorts Looks to Tech Vendors For AI Transformation
Vail Resorts is seeking advanced AI, digital logistics, and enterprise software solutions to enhance guest experiences, expand ancillary offerings, and achieve substantial organizational efficiencies, based on AI's analysis of its latest earnings call transcript.
Creador Acquires Indonesia's MG Group: Targets Big Moves in Europe, Middle East
Creador is banking on MG’s low-cost platform to shake up key markets like North Asia and Europe. The challenge? Scaling globally while keeping MG’s lean and efficient DNA intact.
New Skift Feature: Uncovering Tech Vendor Opportunities Using AI Analysis
Our goal is to use AI for one of its best features today, mixed with our expert editorial insight, and unearth the tech opportunities these documents reveal—whether that’s upcoming system upgrades, emerging RFPs, or digital transformations.
Venture Capital
Airline Tech M&A: The Quiet Evolution in Travel Tech Consolidation
In a market increasingly dominated by efficiency and integration, the long-overlooked airline tech sector might just become the travel industry’s next big story.
Archer Aviation Raises $430 Million for Flying Taxis: Startup Funding Roundup
Archer Aviation has raised $660 million this year alone, while competitor Lilium is going through bankruptcy proceedings after burning through $1 billion. It takes a lot of money to get new planes into the sky.
Small Players Backed by PE Thrive in Travel Tech’s M&A Surge
2025 is expected to be a banner year for travel tech M&A. Add-on acquisitions, particularly of companies with $5M-$50M ARR, are poised to set new records as platforms scale up and prepare for IPOs or acquisition by mega-cap firms.