All Sectors

Airlines

UK Regional Airline Flybe Shuts Down, Again

Maybe Flybe failed for a reason the first time around.

Mrinmay Dey, Akriti Sharma, and James Davey, Reuters | 13 hours ago

Airline Weekly

The Thick of Fourth Quarter Airline Earnings

It's a busy earnings week with American, Southwest, Alaska, and JetBlue all reporting.

2 days ago

Airline Weekly

Alaska Airlines’ Exposure to Tech Sector Hits Carrier’s Bottom Line

As goes the tech sector, so goes Alaska Airlines.

2 days ago

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Business Travel

Nevada Wants Business Travelers for Longer Blended Stays Outside of Las Vegas

A new state-wide program predicts six community projects across rural Nevada will tap into the emerging blended travel market, and that convention delegates will welcome a break from the Strip's bright lights.

Matthew Parsons | 2 days ago

Business Travel

Booking.com Partner Serko Gets Lift From Business Travel Recovery

Serko is reaping the rewards from a deal signed with the online agency just weeks before the pandemic hit, and now with “unmanaged travel” returning, the outlook has improved considerably.

Matthew Parsons | 4 days ago

Business Travel

What I Learned in Davos About Managing Travel’s New Complexity

Having spent the last six years of my career focused on the "journey," which is how all of us experience travel, solutions to the litany of requirements ahead are manageable. But today, our building blocks for managing tomorrow’s burgeoning global travel are only at a starting point.

Jeff Katz, Journera | 1 week ago

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Coronavirus

Travel Industry Recovery on Track for 2023

Today’s edition of Skift’s daily podcast looks at travel’s recovery path, Twitter’s increasing irrelevance for tourism, and Banff’s overtourism battles.

Rashaad Jorden | 1 week ago

Coronavirus

2022 Fizzles Out, Optimism for 2023: New Skift Travel Health Index

Skift Research is cautiously optimistic about travel's continued recovery in 2023, despite a growing likelihood of a recession in many countries. Travel is still under-indexed compared to the broader economy, and the reopening of Chinese borders provides a strong boost.

Wouter Geerts | 1 week ago

Coronavirus

A Return to Mask Wearing Encouraged for Long-Haul Flights

World health officials urging flyers to mask up again is a loud reminder the fight against Covid is far from over despite travelers' eagerness to put the pandemic — and masks on planes — firmly behind them.

Natalie Grover and Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber, Reuters | 3 weeks ago

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Cruises

UK Conglomerate Saga Struggles Despite Cruise Demand

Revenue for its travel business is expected to increase tenfold, but winning business doesn't come cheap and marketing and administrative costs will partly hinder Saga's recovery.

Radhika Anilkumar, Reuters | 5 days ago

Cruises

Major Cruise Lines Held Liable for More Than $400 Million in Damages for Cuba Sailings

This lawsuit against major cruise lines, if upheld after inevitable appeals, could open up a floodgate of litigation against airlines and cruise lines that operated in Cuba after the Obama administration cleared the way.

Dennis Schaal | 4 weeks ago

Cruises

Carnival Says 2023 Bookings Show Cruisers So Ready to Put Pandemic to Rest

Travelers are largely eager to put concerns about rising Covid cases behind them, a welcome development for Covid-weary companies like Carnival that are bullish on making a full recovery in 2023.

Rashaad Jorden | 1 month ago

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Hotels

Hotels Make Inroads Into Boosting Diversity Through Their Restaurants

Many U.S. hotels have struggled to hire and retain non-white leaders post-pandemic. So some hotels are enhancing the ranks of who leads the line in the kitchen as one of a few ways to reverse the trend.

Carley Thornell | 2 days ago

Hotels

Hyatt’s Growth Plan Highlights Premium Brands and Global Markets

Hyatt has a record hotel development pipeline of about 117,000 rooms worldwide. Investment bank analysts are scrambling to re-rate hotel companies. And more lodging news.

Sean O'Neill | 2 days ago

Daily Lodging Report

Vegas Strip Operators Accused of Price Colluding

A class-action lawsuit filed Wednesday alleges that four of the main Las Vegas Strip resort operators colluded, via data-sharing software, to artificially inflate the prices of their hotel rooms.

2 days ago

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Meetings

Skift Meetings

Orange County Convention Center Strike Averted

Hundreds of workers employed by food services company Sodexo at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando who were ready to strike have reached an agreement that includes a historic minimum wage increase from $13 to $18 an hour and a pension.

2 days ago

Skift Meetings

$2 Billion Expansion Boosts Seattle’s Event Appeal

$2 billion is a high price to pay for extending the Seattle Convention Center. But this investment is not just about hosting more events, it's also about revitalizing the city's neglected downtown core.

2 days ago

Skift Meetings

Comfortable Footwear Seduces Planners

Gathering meeting professionals for a reception after a long day at a conference is okay, but what if an activation was added where they take home something they will enjoy for years to come?

3 days ago

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Mergers and Acquisitions

Good and Bad M&A, According to Booking’s CEO

Today’s edition of Skift’s daily podcast looks at Booking CEO’s M&A philosophy, Zoom burnout, and a hotel brand bonanza.

Tom Lowry | 2 weeks ago

Mergers and Acquisitions

Booking CEO Fogel on Why Making No Deal Is Better Than the Wrong Acquisition

Mergers and acquisitions are sexy for shareholders, analysts and the press. Booking CEO Fogel knows, though, that sometimes the best decision is not overpaying and walking away from that shiny object.

Dennis Schaal | 2 weeks ago

Mergers and Acquisitions

How Did All Those Travel SPACs End Up Doing?

You win some, you lose some. As quickly as SPACs soared on the hype, they lost much of their luster just as quickly on Wall Street. Travel SPACs were definitely no exception. Take a look at the numbers.

Sherry Sun | 2 weeks ago

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Online Travel

Google Leveraged User Data to Dominate Online Advertising: Lawsuit

Google advises "we never sell your personal information." But it should add the following disclaimer: But we make an almost unfathomable amount of money from it.

Dennis Schaal | 3 days ago

Online Travel

6 Travel Startups From 2015: Where Are They Now?

Some of the companies Skift featured in its first travel startup funding roundup went on to thrive, while others ... not so much.

Rashaad Jorden | 6 days ago

Online Travel

How India’s EaseMyTrip Built a Brand Waiving Booking Fees

EaseMyTrip realized early on that the convenience fee is perhaps the most inconvenient part of travel bookings and were willing to let go of it in return for loyal customers.

Peden Doma Bhutia | 6 days ago

See All Online Travel

Overtourism

Yosemite Ends Park Reservation Requirements to Evaluate Impact on Communities

Yosemite National Park is breaking a national park trend by not reinstating a summer reservation system. What happens to the park's visitor experience and local ecosystems could influence other national parks to reconsider theirs.

Dawit Habtemariam | 2 months ago

Overtourism

Barcelona’s Firing of Its Tourism Chief Reinforces Why Engaging Local Communities Matters

Barcelona remains one of the clash points between the tourism sector and locals. Its next tourism chief will need to be a master at community relations.

Dawit Habtemariam | 3 months ago

Overtourism

Berlin Locals Weigh in on Tourists

Today’s edition of Skift’s daily podcast looks at Berlin’s use of local consultation, ITA Airlines’ likely new owner, and what Google says about cheap flights.

Rashaad Jorden | 5 months ago

See All Overtourism

Rail

Amtrak Staffing Issues Could Persist Into 2024 Even as Travelers Return

Despite billions of dollars in federal funds for new and expanded train service, Amtrak can't find the staff to simply recover from the pandemic.

Edward Russell | 2 months ago

Rail

Eurostar Is Brexit’s Latest Victim

Today’s edition of Skift’s daily podcast looks at Airbnb’s search updates, Hurricane Ian’s impact on meetings, and Brexit strangling Eurostar.

Tom Lowry | 4 months ago

Rail

Google Streamlines Search for Train Trips in Europe

Google made it easier to find train routes and booking options in Europe. Like it did for flights, hotels, vacation rentals, and things to do, the new feature improves Google's standing in the rail sector.

Dennis Schaal | 4 months ago

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Rental Cars

Hertz CEO Stephen Scherr Believes EV, AI and Blended Travel Are All Tailwinds for His Business

It is indeed fascinating to hear how many operational tech changes are coming into the car rental business, much as it has been a late digital adopter compared to other sectors of travel.

Rafat Ali | 2 months ago

Rental Cars

Hertz Sees Jump in Revenues From Leisure Travelers

The rental car giant said booking around the Christmas holidays for places like California and Florida are spiking to twice 2021 levels. More evidence that leisure travel is showing no signs of slowing down.

Priyamvada C and David Shepardson, Reuters | 3 months ago

Rental Cars

Hertz Places Order for 175,000 Electric Vehicles from General Motors

Hertz is putting electric cars front and center, but unlike similar deals with Tesla and Polestar, this adds a wider range of models to the mix that should accelerate demand.

David Shepardson, Reuters | 4 months ago

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Short-Term Rentals

Vacasa Slashes Workforce and Other Top Stories This Week

In Skift's top stories this week, Vacasa makes another round of layoffs, Accor's CEO defends its major corporate overhaul, and more Americans plan to cut travel spending.

Sherry Sun | 14 hours ago

Short-Term Rentals

Vacasa Slashes 17 Percent of Workforce in Second Recent Round of Layoffs

It's clear that Vacasa's ranks were bloated, and that the company was not very well-run in recent years. Like several other now-struggling, newly public companies, Vacasa faces a challenging road ahead.

Dennis Schaal | 4 days ago

Short-Term Rentals

HomeToGo and Other Newly Public Companies on Track in 2023 to Reverse Losses

A bunch of companies that pledge to break even or better on an adjusted EBITDA basis this year will actually be in the red using more standard financial measures. These financial makeovers are very much in vogue.

Dennis Schaal | 1 week ago

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Startups

Grazzy Raises $4.3 Million for Hotel Digital Tipping Fintech Platform

MyInterview wants to help the hospitality industry recruit employees, and Grazzy wants to help retain them.

Justin Dawes | 2 days ago

Startups

HotelRunner Raises $6.5 Million for Low-Cost Hospitality Software Offerings

Funding announced this week went to a wide variety of travel tech startups, with involvement in hotels, cruises, messaging, and sustainability.

Justin Dawes | 1 week ago

Startups

Patriot Family Homes Raises $60 Million for Short-Term Rentals in Underserved Areas

There is a reference to artificial intelligence by nearly all the startups listed. It is being used to strengthen the services for even the seemingly most basic types of consumer apps.

Justin Dawes | 2 weeks ago

See All Startups

Tour Operators

Luxury Tour Operators Are Ready for a China Boost

Today’s edition of Skift’s daily podcast looks at three aspects of China's tourism recovery: Cathay Pacific's earnings, luxury tour operators, and concern over outbound travel sentiment.

Rashaad Jorden | 6 days ago

Luxury

TUI Sees Luxury Travel Demand Boost Sales

Despite the recessions in many European countries, demand for luxury travel this winter is higher than it was in the corresponding 2019 period before the pandemic, TUI says. Strong revenue might help TUI attract a new shareholder, which it's looking for.

Klaus Lauer and Rachel More, Reuters | 1 week ago

Luxury

Multi-Day Luxury Tours Bubble Set for China Boost

China's moneyed travelers are becoming a sought-after segment, especially as group travel is approved again, but there will be no tailoring of products according to their needs simply because luxury travel isn't specific to its source markets.

Selene Brophy | 1 week ago

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Tourism

China Reopening to Boost Thailand’s Tourism Recovery

Chinese travelers, freed from the constraints of the country's zero-Covid policy, are poised to give Thailand a big tourism boost this year.

Orathai Sriring, Kitiphong Thaichareon, and Satawasin Staporncharnchai, Reuters | 12 hours ago

Tourism

Lessons From Ethiopia’s Post-War Tourism Recovery

The civil war is over, but Western government travel warnings are still there. If there's going to be a recovery, tourism authorities need to focus their energy on getting those lifted. That's going to require repeated messaging that the war is over.

Dawit Habtemariam | 2 days ago

Tourism

Mastercard Warns Travel Demand Will Hit a Peak Slowing Revenue Growth

A looming worldwide recession will likely put a dent in the pent-up demand for travel that many experts had believed wasn't going to decrease in the near future.

Niket Nishant, Reuters | 2 days ago

See All Tourism

Travel Booking

Luxury

Multi-Day Luxury Tours Bubble Set for China Boost

Selene Brophy | 1 week ago

Travel Booking

Big Banks Chase a Much Bigger Piece of the Travel Market

Banks such as JPMorgan Chase, Capital One, and Citi already have the customer base to appeal to travelers with attractive booking offers, cash back, and points, without having to ante up big for marketing like online travel agencies and hotels. The prospects for banks, with a history clunky travel portals, will hinge on value proposition, user experience and execution.

Dennis Schaal | 3 weeks ago

Online Travel

Creative Social Video Inspires Future Travelers … And Better Yet Engagement

Social video is winning out as the preferred way for destinations to connect directly with travelers. But it's not just top of funnel awareness. New technology is making it possible to provide an engaging experience all the way from discovery to booking.

Miguel Neves | 2 months ago

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Travel Technology

Airlines

Southwest Airlines Vows to Return to Recovery Plan by March After Meltdown

After disrupting the trips of more than 2 million travelers, yes, as in the equivalent of Kansas City metro, Southwest says it's back to plan by March.

Edward Russell | 2 days ago

Travel Technology

Google’s Ad Business Targeted by U.S. Department of Justice

Today’s edition of Skift’s daily podcast looks at planned travel spending among Americans, Google’s advertising challenge, and waiting for U.S. visas.

Rashaad Jorden | 3 days ago

Travel Technology

Expedia Group Working With Tech Startups to Make Travel More Accessible

In Expedia’s move to inch the travel industry toward equitability, the company is helping startups solve their own problems and learning from them in the process. And the startups are learning from each other, too.

Justin Dawes | 3 days ago

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Venture Capital

Startups

Grazzy Raises $4.3 Million for Hotel Digital Tipping Fintech Platform

MyInterview wants to help the hospitality industry recruit employees, and Grazzy wants to help retain them.

Justin Dawes | 2 days ago

Startups

HotelRunner Raises $6.5 Million for Low-Cost Hospitality Software Offerings

Funding announced this week went to a wide variety of travel tech startups, with involvement in hotels, cruises, messaging, and sustainability.

Justin Dawes | 1 week ago

Startups

Patriot Family Homes Raises $60 Million for Short-Term Rentals in Underserved Areas

There is a reference to artificial intelligence by nearly all the startups listed. It is being used to strengthen the services for even the seemingly most basic types of consumer apps.

Justin Dawes | 2 weeks ago

See All Venture Capital