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Airlines
Upgraded airports and nonstop flights are opening Greenland to more visitors. Managing growth while preserving its unique environment and culture will be critical to long-term success.
Court Rejects Boeing’s 737 Max Plea Deal Over DEI Requirement
A federal judge rejected Boeing’s plea deal, arguing that diversity and inclusion considerations in the agreement limit the court’s ability to enforce compliance with an independent monitor.
Delta’s Marketing Machine Taps Olympic Sponsorship on New Brisbane Route
The Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games are still years away, but who can blame Delta for trying to make the most of its big-budget sponsorship deal?
Business Travel
JetBlue Sees More Post-Election Travel Than Expected
The low-cost carrier said it expected less of an impact to its revenue after bookings for November and December beat prior projections.
First Class on Frontier? Carrier Makes Big Push to Lure More High-Spend Travelers
First class seats will soon be available on Frontier flights as the carrier looks to boost its revenues amid high consumer demand for premium products.
Amex GBT Details Its First AI Projects: ‘An Unlocker of Creativity’
Amex GBT has spent much of the year establishing strategy and working on experiments. Now it's time for deployment.
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
Mexico Looks to Levy Tax on Cruise Passengers
A hefty tax on cruise passengers docking in Mexico could hurt the country's tourism industry, a point cruise executives are hammering home. But is Mexico's government listening to them?
Beyond Large Luxury Cruises: The Rise of Boutique Expeditionary Travel
There is a subset of luxury travelers who are taking to the water to find remote, interesting areas that aren’t mobbed. And increasingly, they aren’t opting for hyper-luxe, large scale cruises.
Royal Caribbean CEO’s Premium Push: Better Pricing, Shorter Cruises, Younger Passengers
Royal Caribbean Group's CEO Jason Liberty has a strategy to push his customer base upmarket. Liberty believes there's more willingness among consumers to pay more for premium leisure travel than previously assumed.
Experiences
Live Tourism, Southwest’s Resilience and Boeing’s Rejection
Today's podcast looks at live tourism, Southwest's positive outlook, and Boeing's setback.
The Rise of Live Tourism: How Shared Experiences Shape Our Future
Traveling for music, sports, natural wonders – the experiences we share with others are a powerful force for connecting the world. We call it Live Tourism.
Taiwan’s KKday Raises $70 Million: What’s Next for This Travel Experiences Platform?
KKday’s latest funding is more than just a financial boost — it is a testament to the growing power of the experiences sector, which is transforming how travelers engage with and enjoy destinations.
Food and Drink
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.
IDEAS: Hamad International Airport Blends Heritage with Hospitality at New Retail Experience
Qatar Duty Free has debuted Souq Al Matar - a new experiential mixed retail and dining concept - at Hamad International Airport in Doha.
IDEAS: Qatar Airways Goes Organic with New Onboard Menu
Qatar Airways is introducing a range of new onboard menu items that have been sourced from organic farms in Qatar, in celebration of EXPO 2023 taking place in Doha.
Ground Transport
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.
Blacklane Raises $65 Million for Luxury Chauffeur App
The fresh funding comes shortly after Uber announced a black-car service for business travelers.
Amtrak Says It’s Time to ‘Retrain Travel’ in New Ad Campaign
Amtrak is taking a lesson from the hotel marketing playbook and focusing on its guest amenities to take on the airlines and other competitors.
Hotels
IHG’s Luxury Brands Tap Multi-Generation Travel for Growth
IHG is revamping its luxury suites and rolling out new training to help cater to a rising trend in multi-generational travel. Who knew family values could be such good business?
Hyatt Exec Explains Soft Brand Strategy With Boutique Luxury Hotels
One of Hyatt's many business models is to take indie luxury hotels that pride themselves on being boutique-y, providing them the benefits of Hyatt (distribution! marketing! operational support!) and then downplaying any sign of corporate involvement in the eyes of guests. So far, it's working.
What Oyo’s ‘Company-Serviced’ Hotels Reveal About Its Brand Reset
Long criticized for mismanagement, Oyo is flipping the script with its company-serviced hotels, focusing on quality and consistency. This shift is a big deal for the brand and could set the stage for its much-anticipated IPO.
Luxury
Marriott Luxury Hotel Push Targets Wealth Transfer to Millennials and Gen Z
Marriott sees an opportunity to tap into luxury travel spending by millennials and Gen Z, expected to inherit tens of trillions of dollars worldwide over the next couple of decades.
What’s Next For Boutique Hotel Pioneer Richard Kessler
Hotel legend Richard Kessler is still willing to take risks when creating hotels. Think putting dinosaur fossils in hotel lobbies, or displaying modern art in a converted power plant. So far, travelers and Marriott like it.
Hilton to Add 35,000 Jobs in Middle East Push, Regional Head Says
Hilton's jobs push comes as the hotel giant sees surging demand in the region, with visits to its Middle East properties doubling to 2.2 million in the first nine months of the year compared to pandemic levels.
Media and PR
Moving Beyond Brands: The Rise of Individual Voices in Travel
The U.S. travel and tourism industry is falling behind others because the leaders that run it operate in the clouds, while the need is to be on the ground level, day in and day out. Time to change and here's why.
Arthur Frommer, Budget Travel Pioneer, Dies at 95
Arthur wrote that "We are the first generation in human history to be able to travel to other continents as easily we once took a trolley to the next town." Thanks to him, we could do this without having a ton of money, and hopefully walked away with a better trip because of that.
The Problem With Travel Brand Marketing – And How To Fix It
An obsession with prestige can obscure the declining value of traditional media. Travel brands need to re-evaluate their comms and marketing strategies.
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
Building Travel Brand Love through Content and Culture
Aligning with major cultural moments can help brands connect with the right audience at the right time. Live sports, music tours, and shopping events like Prime Day can unlock huge opportunities for travel advertisers to build long-term loyalty and drive bookings.
Booking Holdings Laid Off 60 Employees at B2B Arm as It Resets Priorities
As Booking Holdings resets its investment priorities in the AI era, its business-to-business services, which Expedia has far outpaced, won't likely be high on the list. What's next?
How Millennials and Gen Z Are Shaping India’s Travel Trends
Curious about the future of travel or how digital ecosystems are shaping it? Wondering how to keep the brand agile in a fiercely competitive market? It all starts with understanding how Gen Z and millennials travel.
Podcasts
Booking’s Layoffs, Hyatt’s Boutique Strategy and Junk Fees on Trial
Today's podcast looks at Booking Holding's B2B changes, Hyatt's unique branding strategy, and junk fees and the U.S. Senate.
Marriott’s Luxury Push, Airbnb’s UK Expansion and Amtrak’s Record
Today's podcast looks at Marriott's luxury expansion, Airbnb's legit apartment push in London, and Amtrak's growth.
Travel Tech Leaders’ Hopes, TSA’s Big Sunday and Saudi’s Sports Push
Today's podcast looks at travel tech's Trump predictions, the TSA's big weekend, and Saudi Arabia's cricket tourism.
Short-Term Rentals
New AirDNA CEO Tries to Brush Away the ‘Cobwebs’ at Its Property Management Brand
What if market analytics firm CoStar launched a property management system for hotels? That's the play that AirDNA is making in the short-term rentals industry. AirDNA will go at it with its own data analytics brand as well as its Uplifting brand in the PMS arena.
Airbnb Friendly Apartments Program Expands to UK Despite ‘Low’ Tenant Adoption
With its Airbnb-friendly programs for apartments and condos, the short-term rental giant is expanding into markets that were once forbidden. Risks include whether landlords will continue to be enthusiastic and how other residents feel.
Dubai’s Short-Term Rental Push Creates ‘Race to The Bottom’
Dubai's ever-growing tourism sector makes STRs look like easy money, but operators warn this is far from true.
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
17 Travel Startups Raise $636 Million in 3 Weeks
The nearly $1 billion in fundraises in November has been driven by startups for hotel tech and flying taxis.
Waymo Raises $5.5 Billion for Robotaxis. Plus: $318 Million for Flying Taxis
Waymo wants road trippers to take driverless cars across the U.S. It's already operating a ride-hailing service, and it has tech and money from Google, so chances are good.
Flying Taxi Startup Lilium Burned Through $1 Billion. Now It’s Facing Bankruptcy
There are several startups worldwide developing flyings taxis, but it's a capital-intensive venture. Lilium isn't the first to face empty coffers.
Tour Operators
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?
Student Travel Player EF Partners With Thai Tourism on Responsible Travel Effort
It's relatively rare for a destination marketing organization like Thailand's to work with a tour operator to help create and promote more sustainably designed tours.
Tourism
Asia Pacific Powers Aviation Performance: Skift Travel Health Index
The global aviation industry is flourishing, with a 19% year-over-year growth in October 2024. The Asia Pacific region is leading this growth, experiencing a 33% increase.
Why Mornings and Non-Alcoholic Evenings Are Travel’s Hidden Gems
The exploration of quiet beauty of cities in the early morning and the potential of alcohol-free nightlife to create inclusive tourism experiences is immense, tourism boards and experience creators should take notice.
Simpler Visas, Direct Flights: South Africa Ramps Up Efforts to Get Indian Tourists
India is a key source market that South Africa wants to attract. But it will need to work hard to be able to get Indian travelers, who are now getting visa waivers from countries nearby.
Travel Agents
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.
Rallies and Room Rates: What U.S. Presidential Campaign Stops Reveal About Hotel Pricing Strategies
Increased occupancy rates for cities hosting campaign stops in advance of the 2024 U.S. Presidential election did not proportionally translate to higher hotel prices. This unexpected trend invites further examination into how hotels and agencies can analyze data to set up smart, dynamic pricing strategies for one-time events.
Travel Technology
‘Travel Price Alert!’: Black Friday Frenzy Catches on in India
Indians are avid deal hunters. A dedicated day for travel discounts isn’t just a promotion — it’s a surefire way to capture their attention and drive bookings.
Hotel Developers Want to Cut Costs: Enter 3D Printers and Prefab Rooms
Investors, owners, and brands always look for fresh ways to get hotels to market quickly and efficiently.
What Travel Tech Leaders Want From the Trump Administration
Travel tech leaders are uncertain exactly where they fall on the list of Trump's priorities, but they believe his policies will be good for innovation.
Venture Capital
AI Assistant for Pilots and Camper Van Interior Design: Travel Startup Funding Roundup
Nineteen travel startups raised $1.1 billion near the start of October. Then it slowed down.
Joby Aviation Raises $500 Million from Toyota for Flying Taxis: Startup Funding Roundup
Joby Aviation and Toyota are among multiple transport companies that want to see flying taxis as part of everyday commercial travel. If everything stays on track, that could start becoming a reality in 2026.
13 Travel Startups Raise $600 Million in 2 Weeks
Twelve’s massive total fundraise of $645 million shows that the company is positioning itself for a future where alternative jet fuels aren’t just trendy, but essential. Skift has now reported 16 travel startups that have raised over $100 million so far this year.