News

CoStar forecasts 0.6% year-over-year growth in 2026. Plus more hotel deal news.

OpenAI has crossed the advertising threshold. ChatGPT is now a potential marketing channel for travel brands — one that could surface hotel and flight ads at the exact moment a traveler is planning a trip inside a conversation.

All the characteristics required for meeting planning — from strong communication skills to a willingness to step out of your comfort zone — are shared by the best  leaders.

Wyndham holds about 30% of all U.S. branded economy hotels. CEO Geoff Ballotti said in an exclusive Skift interview that he's optimistic for the budget segment, despite the recent cost and demand pressures it's faced.

MGM’s Las Vegas’ solar deal shows how rapidly improving tech and long-term power contracts are turning renewables from a sustainability upgrade into a mainstream tool for cost control and risk management.

Issues we're watching: When will rates come down and will weight restrictions that limit luggage keep potential customers away?

Sustainability claims aren’t enough anymore. Maritz’s work with the University of Texas reflects a growing push to identify and quantify where conferences can reduce their carbon footprint.

American Airlines once pitched a patient turnaround under Robert Isom. Now, with unions escalating pressure and results lagging rivals, the CEO is on the defensive.

Japan Airlines is back in the lead, at least for now. After losing its profit crown to All Nippon in the early post-Covid years, JAL outperformed its rival again in 2025. More importantly, both carriers are thriving despite a complex landscape of shrinking Chinese traffic, U.S. tariffs, and stiff competition. In this week’s feature story, we explain how Japan’s two airline giants are staying ahead.

For decades, the travel industry has been an economy of excess — of eating more, drinking more, spending more. But blockbuster weight-loss drugs are now reshaping consumer behavior at a population level, and with it, how travel dollars flow.