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Airlines

Explaining This Summer’s Airline Chaos and Other Top Stories This Week

In Skift's top stories this week, the causes of airlines' chaotic summer are revealed, the list of the highest-paid online travel agency CEOs is unveiled, and travel companies are turning to TikTok to recruit new staff.

Sonia Menken | 12 hours ago

Airlines

Paris Airport Workers’ Strike Adds to European Flying Mayhem

There seems to be no end in sight for airlines' summer of misery — especially as the industry is failing to solve the problems driving staffing shortages and flight cancellations.

Caroline Pailliez, Reuters | 1 day ago

Airline Weekly

The Courtship of Spirit Airlines

For those who hoped we'd have a resolution to the Spirit Airlines merger saga this week: no dice.

1 day ago

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Business Travel

Tiny Bansko, Bulgaria, as a Proxy for Global Digital Nomads

Americans, Germans, Cypriots and Brits are descending on a small mountain town for the week-long Bansko Nomad Fest. Here's why.

Matthew Parsons | 2 days ago

Business Travel

Just 6 Percent of Companies Willing to Pay Extra for Greener Travel: Report

Organizations don’t seem prepared to incur additional costs to achieve more sustainable travel outcomes — but that’s not what most are saying publicly.

Matthew Parsons | 4 days ago

Business Travel

TikTok Being Deployed in the Mix to Recruit Younger Corp Travel Agents

Whatever it takes is the message today, with social media emerging a key battleground for talent.

Matthew Parsons | 4 days ago

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Coronavirus

Half of the Biggest Tourism Economies Close to Full Travel Recovery

The "100 Club" now consists of seven members — seven countries where the travel industry performs at par or above 2019 levels. Another four countries are following closely behind. Things are starting to look almost "normal."

Wouter Geerts | 2 weeks ago

Airlines

U.S. to End Covid Test Requirement for Incoming Air Travelers

Airlines had been clamoring for the government to drop the pre-departure testing requirement for a long time, since they viewed it as a significant impediment to a complete recovery. Travelers aren't too sad about this development either.

Rashaad Jorden | 3 weeks ago

Coronavirus

Daily Podcast: Inflation Vs. Covid

Good morning from Skift. It's Wednesday, May 25, in New York City. Here's what you need to know about the business of travel today.

Rashaad Jorden | 1 month ago

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Cruises

Carnival Says Inflation, Fuel Costs Could Hurt Recovery Momentum

Carnival survived the pandemic long enough to enter the booming travel surge. The cruise operator now has to sail through a new storm — historic inflation and surging costs.

Ananya Mariam Rajesh, Reuters | 1 week ago

Cruises

Royal Caribbean Isn’t Worried About Inflation Even With a $1.2 Billion Loss

Royal Caribbean — like its rivals in the cruise industry — has had a brutal last two years. But it can finally see a light at the end of tunnel in large part because it fully believes that consumers aren't deterred by rising prices.

Rashaad Jorden | 2 months ago

Cruises

Carnival CEO Arnold Donald Is Stepping Down

Donald has had to deal with the biggest crisis ever to hit the cruise industry, and leaves the company in still-uncharted waters with an uncertain path to recovery.

Matthew Parsons | 2 months ago

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Hotels

Club Med Resorts Are Bouncing Back

Club Med has seen a rebound in its bookings while it has been in a phase of opening 17 resorts and completing 13 renovations or extensions. Plus other essential news from the hotel sector, across the globe.

Sean O'Neill | 2 days ago

Hotels

Accommodation Sector in 70 Percent of Asia Pacific Countries on Track for Full Recovery in 2022

With China’s ongoing Covid crackdowns halting its almost-there recovery, the accommodation sectors of other APAC countries are expected to gain market share in 2022.

Varsha Arora, Skift | 2 days ago

Hotels

Accor to Recruit 12,000 Overseas Temp Workers in Time for Qatar World Cup

While operating 65,000 empty rooms in apartments and homes may be a logistical challenge even for Europe's largest hotel operator, Accor seeks to hire enough people to manage the operations.

Andrew Mills, Reuters | 4 days ago

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Meetings

Skift Meetings

Advocating for Events in the Wider Business World

In this episode of the Event Manager Podcast by Skift Meetings, we are joined by Amy Calvert, CEO of the Events Industry Council to discuss advocating for the event industry in the wider business community.

1 day ago

Skift Meetings

Hot Tech Conference Collision Defies Odds, Draws 35,000 to Toronto

Collision, North America’s fastest-growing tech conference, attracted 35,000 attendees to Toronto, not without issues. Communication breakdowns between the planning team and security threw a wrench into the sold-out conference’s best-laid plans. Still, the gathering makes it clear that people are willing to travel globally for events when they think it’s worth it.

3 days ago

Skift Meetings

Event Tech Hit by the Perfect Storm

Event tech has slumped lower than investors predicted. The delight of returning to in-person events is laden with a backlash towards virtual events. Nevertheless, event tech is here to stay and there are plenty of reasons to anticipate a recovery.

3 days ago

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Mergers and Acquisitions

Airline Weekly

The Courtship of Spirit Airlines

For those who hoped we'd have a resolution to the Spirit Airlines merger saga this week: no dice.

1 day ago

Hotels

Choice Hotels to Buy Radisson Hotel Group Americas for $675 Million

Choice wants to make its mark in the upscale segment. This is certainly one way.

Matthew Parsons | 3 weeks ago

Mergers and Acquisitions

Beyonk Snaps Up Bookinghound to Create UK’s Biggest Seller of Attraction Tickets

This deal will unite Beyonk's capital access with technology and geographic reach Bookinghound has. Bookinghound's founder will stay on, as Beyonk's CEO leads the combined company.

Tim Mullaney | 1 month ago

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Online Travel

Booking Site Declines in June Could Signal Softening of Blockbuster Summer

Please check your pandemic-era assumptions at the door. Hotels have gained ground on online travel agencies. Also, the blockbuster summer travel season may be slightly less so.

Dennis Schaal | 3 days ago

Online Travel

Daily Podcast: Expedia CEO’s Big Payday

Good morning from Skift. It's Wednesday, June 29 in New York City. Here's what you need to know about the business of travel today.

Rashaad Jorden | 4 days ago

Online Travel

The Highest Paid Online Travel Agency CEOs

There is a degree of irrationality in CEO pay on many levels, including the companies' relative performance. The pay disclosures also expose the wide disparity in employee pay at Booking versus Airbnb.

Dennis Schaal | 4 days ago

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Overtourism

Daily Podcast: Barcelona’s Overtourism Balancing Act

Good morning from Skift. It's Monday, June 27 in New York City. Here's what you need to know about the business of travel today.

Rashaad Jorden | 6 days ago

Overtourism

Barcelona Looks for Balance When Welcoming Post-Covid Tourism

Barcelona is trying to avoid limiting the growth of its tourism industry, yet again, balancing an economic reboot and residents’ needs. Failure might turn it into fresh territory for moving ahead with stricter policies as it looks to put its overtourism past behind it.

Paula Krizanovic, Skift | 1 week ago

Overtourism

Daily Podcast: Europe’s Massive Travel Surge

Good morning from Skift. It's Wednesday, April 12, in New York City. Here's what you need to know about the business of travel today.

Rashaad Jorden | 3 months ago

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Rail

Brightline Aims to Carry Holiday Travelers to Orlando by Christmas

Brightline backer Fortress Investment is confident that trains will begin rolling, but maybe without passengers, to Orlando in time for the Christmas holidays.

Edward Russell | 4 weeks ago

Rail

Germany’s Good Intentions of a 9-Euro Discount Transit Pass May Just Backfire

Germany wants more people to ride trains and buses this summer with a nine-euro pass. But a surge in riders may hit the physical limits of the country's transport infrastructure.

Edward Russell | 4 weeks ago

Airlines

U.S. Extends Airline, Train Mask Mandate Into May

Travelers on planes, trains, and public transport in the U.S. need to wear masks a little bit longer. The CDC is extending its mask mandate by 15 days as it continues to evaluate easing the rules even as Covid-19 cases rise again.

David Shepardson, Reuters | 3 months ago

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Rental Cars

New Hertz CEO Will Be Ex-Goldman Sachs Finance Chief Stephen Scherr

Hertz's next CEO has his work cut out for him in remaking the company. The car rental firm's transformation plan sounds good on paper, but it will be up to Stephen Scherr to turn vision into reality.

Dennis Schaal | 5 months ago

Rental Cars

Turo’s Road to Carshare Profitability Seems Endless

If carsharing platform Turo can't make a profit in a red-hot rental car market like 2021, when will it?

Sean O'Neill | 5 months ago

Rental Cars

Avis Defies Skeptics With Stellar Quarter as Vaccinated Drivers Hit the Road

Avis has gotten an enormous boost from more people getting back on the road, and adding electric vehicles to its fleet could help give the company another huge source of revenue.

Medha Singh, Reuters | 8 months ago

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Short-Term Rentals

Hotels

Accommodation Sector in 70 Percent of Asia Pacific Countries on Track for Full Recovery in 2022

With China’s ongoing Covid crackdowns halting its almost-there recovery, the accommodation sectors of other APAC countries are expected to gain market share in 2022.

Varsha Arora, Skift | 2 days ago

Short-Term Rentals

Airbnb Is Banning House Parties For Good

As Airbnb allows larger homes listed on the platform to be booked to full occupancy, it clearly understands that the 'parties and events allowed' search filter would have to go.

Gigi Zamora, Reuters | 5 days ago

Skift Research

Asia Pacific Accommodation Sector Market Estimates 2022

The accommodation sector in APAC is witnessing a fast paced recovery with 2022 revenue levels not far from reaching pre-pandemic levels. However, the composition of the industry remains unclear with short-term rentals revenue share decreasing in 2022.

1 week ago

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Startups

Borrow a Boat Raises $3.6 Million for Yacht-Rental Service: Travel Startup Funding This Week

In a quiet week for travel tech fundraising, highlights include a 3 million pound crowdfunding for a service that lets consumers rent a yacht to feel like, well, a yacht owner. Slowing venture capital returns may be a caution flag for deals later this year.

Tim Mullaney | 2 days ago

Startups

A Big Bet on ‘Mystery Vacations’: Travel Startup Funding This Week

A London startup is betting that travelers will take mystery vacations, learning their destinations at the airport. A Czech travel agency raises $100 million for expansion. And other venture capital and funding news this week.

Tim Mullaney | 1 week ago

Startups

The Problems in Mondee’s Plan to Go Public

The air travel aggregator is likely to get a $1 billion valuation in a merger with a special purpose acquisition company. But its disclosures are thin, and paint something less than a picture of certain success.

Tim Mullaney | 1 week ago

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Tour Operators

TUI CEO Friedrich Joussen Is Stepping Down

Growing numbers of travel businesses are making leadership changes to ready themselves for the next chapter. In TUI's case, the CEO believes change at the top is needed after mastering the "existential crisis."

Yadarisa Shabong, Reuters | 1 week ago

Tour Operators

Podcast: What’s Next for Tour Operators

Listen now for a forward-looking conversation about the opportunities in the multi-day tours sector, especially digitization and how a new focus on experience brings opportunities to tour operators.

Sean O'Neill | 3 weeks ago

Tour Operators

TUI Musement’s New CEO Tries to Use the Operator Legacy to Advantage in Tours and Activities

TUI Musement is an up-an-comer in the tours and activities space because of the parent company's huge base, and it knows how to run a tour. Now it has to execute on the digital challenge.

Dennis Schaal | 4 weeks ago

See All Tour Operators

Tourism

A Record 43 Million Americans Expected to Hit the Road for July 4 Weekend

Despite inflation being a significant concern for many Americans, the pent-up demand for travel is so strong that rising prices aren't deterring travelers from getting back on the road.

Rashaad Jorden | 2 days ago

Tourism

The Tourism Industry’s Half-Hearted Sustainability Efforts

Good morning from Skift. It's Friday, July 1 in New York City. Here's what you need to know about the business of travel today.

Rashaad Jorden | 2 days ago

Tourism

The Philadelphia Actor Bringing the U.S. Constitution to Life for Tourists

The U.S. Constitution has been enormously divisive throughout history. But Cathy Simpson considers it an honor to tell its story because of its crucial role in building the country.

Rashaad Jorden | 2 days ago

See All Tourism

Travel Booking

Daily Podcast: Hopper’s Hotel Fintech Treat

Good morning from Skift. It's Wednesday, June 8, in New York City. Here's what you need to know about the business of travel today.

Rashaad Jorden | 4 weeks ago

Business Travel

Chase to Launch Consumer Travel Portal; Claims Top 5 U.S. Travel Provider With $8 Billion in Sales

Chase is doubling down on travel as an aspirational commerce category for its customers, with giant numbers to back up its ambitions. Expect some more travel M&A by these banks.

Rafat Ali | 1 month ago

Travel Booking

U.S. Travel Firms Flex Marketing Muscle to Lure Travelers Seeking Sun and Sand

The charts in this article capture the conundrum facing Airbnb, Booking Holdings, and Expedia Group. The online travel agency groups need their revenue to soar faster than their marketing expenses as the pandemic recovery unfolds.

Nilanjana Basu, Reuters | 2 months ago

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Travel Technology

3 Travel Tech Revelations From the HITEC Conference

At the big hotel-technology gathering, all roads still lead to Covid. Hoteliers have an even bigger staffing problem than many realize, booking data points to wary consumers, and the most-desired technologies are those that let us go back out into the world without engaging the people in it much.

Tim Mullaney | 3 days ago

Travel Technology

Kenya’s Cashless Tourism Still Trailing Larger Digital Payment Success

Kenya is a prime example of how far cashless economies need to go, especially for tourism. The country's successes will need to be measured against the challenges.

Harriet Akinyi, Skift | 6 days ago

Travel Technology

Is Instagram the New Google for Travel? These Startups Say It Is

Startups like Tripscout, which just raised $10 million in venture capital, and Curacity say Instagram is the Next Big Thing in selling travel, much as Google was in the 2000s. Companies like TripAdvisor were built largely on their prowess at search marketing. Investors are betting that a company like these will be next.

Tim Mullaney | 1 month ago

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Venture Capital

Data Firm Journera Raises Another $10 Million: Travel Startup Funding This Week

Closely watched travel-data startup Journera raises another $10 million from big-name venture firms — and claims it can be profitable by next year. In a very different deal, an Alaskan airline is raising money online to fund expansion to Asia. Will it work? Since no major airline has tried it, it's hard to say.

Tim Mullaney | 4 weeks ago

Startups

Swiss Travel Startup Chain4Travel Raises $4.5 Million for Blockchain: Travel Startup Funding This Week

Chain4Travel raised money to promote blockchain-based travel sales, but the track record of success is short and the technology's comparative advantage over what travel agencies use now remains to be proven.

Tim Mullaney | 1 month ago

Startups

Why European Investing Giant Kinnevik Is Betting on Travel Startups

Even though Kinnevik is Europe's largest publicly listed startup investor, it has only recently begun to take stakes in travel startups. What it looks for in companies tells a broader story of how investors generally view the sector.

Sean O'Neill | 2 months ago

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