Bilt Rewards Raises $150 Million to Turn Rent Payments Into Travel: Startup Funding Roundup
Bilt lets users earn points for rent payments and exchange them for travel, and it's growing fast.
Future of Lodging
As the lines continue to blur between hotels and short-term rentals, Skift is focused on the technology and the consumer behaviors that are driving this. Follow our coverage across the wide world of lodging, from traditional hotels and motels to urban short-term rentals and traditional vacation rentals.
MGM Resorts: Strength in Marriott Deal, Softness with Formula 1 in Vegas
America's casino resort giant posts record revenues, buoyed by a recent loyalty alliance with Marriott. But Las Vegas's Formula 1 fever appears to be cooling, casting a shadow over the fourth quarter.
U.S. Congress One Step Closer to Passing Junk Fee Transparency Law
The U.S. Senate moved forward in an effort to force U.S.-based hotels and short-term rentals to adopt a new national standard for price comparison. It has adopted similar language to a comparable bill in the House, so it's possible the bill will become law before the November elections.
Marriott’s Hotel Momentum Faces Drag From Slowdown in China and U.S. Election
Despite strong performance elsewhere, weakness in Greater China — Marriott's second-largest market outside the U.S. — has led to a slight downward revision in the company's full-year RevPAR growth forecast.
Tour Packages and Digital Tipping: Travel Startups Raise $104 Million
These startups are modernizing tour packages, timeshares, and tipping with digital products.
Hyatt Adds Outdoor Resort Brand Under Canvas in Loyalty Licensing Deal
For Hyatt, a marketing tie-up with Under Canvas represents a strategic expansion into the booming outdoor resort sector, catering to travelers seeking posh stays in natural surroundings.
Wyndham Sees Tech Upgrades as Driving Higher Hotel Profits
Wyndham said its RevPAR (that's hotel-speak for "how much money we make per room") might be flat this year, but its EBITDA (that's finance-speak for "profits, kinda") was still looking good. The hotel franchisor partly chalked that up to an improved tech game that has helped it boost margins.
Accor Cites Strength in India and Business Travel, Dials Back Olympics Forecast
Accor, the Paris-based hotel giant, predicts robust bookings and strong pricing power in the second half. Its executives aren't losing any sleep over airlines like Ryanair complaining about softening airfares.
5 Fastest-Growing U.S. Business Travel Markets: Amex Hotel Data
Business travel is back, but Princeton, N.J., led U.S. markets in doing better than others, according to American Express.
Hyatt Pursues Standard Hotels: What’s Behind the Luxury Lifestyle Play
Hyatt sees adding luxury lifestyle hotels like Standard Hotels as creating a virtuous cycle of growth in its loyalty program and pipeline.