Skift

China's antitrust crackdown costs Trip.com $770 million and forces a full overhaul of how hotels compete on its platform, American Airlines puts the industry on notice that high fuel prices mean fewer flights, and Sam's Club makes a move into cruises targeting one of travel's last offline holdouts. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Tasmin Lockwood, Skift's Climate and Experiences Reporter, breaks down why Trip.com's regulatory hit matters less than the new rules it's writing for hotel partners, how fuel costs rather than demand could slow American Airlines' faster-than-rivals growth, and whether Sam's Club can finally crack cruise booking's stubborn resistance to going digital. This episode is brought to you by ZS Articles Referenced:Connect with Tasmin LockwoodTrip.com Group's Antitrust Reset Could Change How Hotels Compete on Its PlatformAmerican Airlines to Cut Capacity if Fuel Costs Stay HighSam's Club Travel Relaunches With Cruises and Deal With Rocket Travel's Founders Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Gulf hoteliers at Arabian Travel Market align on a 2027 recovery timeline as pricing stays stuck despite rebounding occupancy, Lindblad makes its biggest acquisition yet with a $67 million bet on Antarctic luxury that has nothing to do with ships, and GetYourGuide recruits creators to solve tour operators' oldest problem — no reviews, no bookings. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Tasmin Lockwood, Skift's Climate and Experiences Reporter, breaks down why Dubai's recovery story is really about rate not occupancy, what Lindblad's land-first acquisition strategy reveals about where expedition travel growth is actually coming from, and how GetYourGuide is solving a cold-start problem with distribution rather than discounts. This episode is brought to you by ZS Articles Referenced:Connect with Tasmin LockwoodUAE Hotels Give Up on Q4, Hope for 2027 RecoveryLindblad Acquires White Desert and Echo CharlieGetYourGuide Creator Reviews and New Listings Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Latvia's AirBaltic files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as fuel costs and a failed IPO take their toll, Starlink is becoming a must-have for airlines but somebody is going to have to pay for it, and Etihad's biggest problem right now is that it doesn't have enough planes to meet demand. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Tasmin Lockwood, Skift's Climate and Experiences Reporter, breaks down why AirBaltic's restructuring is a test case for whether mid-sized European flag carriers can restructure their way back, who ends up footing the bill for the Starlink upgrade travelers are now demanding, and why Etihad's supply constraint is actually the best kind of problem to have. This episode is brought to you by ZS Articles Referenced:Connect with Tasmin LockwoodAirBaltic Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection as Financial Pressures MountStarlink Is a Must-Have for Airlines but Somebody's Got to PayEtihad CEO Says Aircraft Is the Constraint as China and Africa Drive Growth Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

The Iran war has quietly devastated Gulf tourism with Dubai hotel rates down 50% and recovery not expected before late 2027, Meta launches an AI agent called Muse that can actually book travel, and Marriott's CEO says AI's biggest impact on hotels won't be chatbots — it'll be distribution. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down just how bad Gulf tourism's numbers have gotten and what it means for travelers eyeing a Dubai trip right now, what Skift's hands-on test of Meta's Muse agent reveals about how AI is starting to shop for travel on your behalf, and why Marriott is racing to feed AI systems as much content as possible before the distribution battle is decided. This episode is brought to you by ZS Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGA Lost Year for Gulf TourismMeta Says Its Muse Agent Books Travel. Here's What That Actually Means.Marriott CEO Says AI Will Impact Hotel Distribution First Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

The EU Just Gave Cities a Roadmap to Crack Down on Airbnb The EU hands cities a legal framework to justify short-term rental restrictions, Navan buys AI-powered events platform BoomPop to push deeper into corporate meetings, and Klook turns travel creators into full-on storefronts with one link to book the whole trip. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Bailey Schulz, Skift's Global Tourism Reporter, breaks down why the EU's proposed short-term rental framework has Airbnb and Booking pushing back hard, how Navan's BoomPop acquisition fits a deliberate playbook of building a platform too integrated to leave, and why Klook is betting creators can close the gap between travel inspiration and actual bookings. This episode is brought to you by ZS Articles Referenced:Connect with Bailey SchulzEU Proposed Rules on Short-Term RentalsNavan Buys BoomPop to Push Into Meetings and EventsKlook Bets Creators Can Sell the Whole Trip, Not Just the Viral Attraction Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Google Is Stripping Travel Search in Europe to Avoid More Fines Google scales back hotel, flight, and restaurant search features across Europe to dodge further EU fines, the bloc's border safety valve expires just as airlines warn of more delays, and hurricane season is putting a real dollar figure on what extreme weather costs hospitality companies. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Bailey Schulz, Skift's Global Tourism Reporter, breaks down why Google's European search changes are being cheered by some and criticized by others, what the expiration of the EU's border flexibility measure means for travelers heading into fall, and what Host Hotels' hurricane repair bills reveal about the growing cost of climate resilience in hospitality. Articles Referenced:Connect with Bailey SchulzGoogle Update: Europe Travel Search Results and the DMAEU Ends Border Safety Valve as Airlines Warn of More DelaysWhat Hurricane Season Means for Hospitality's Capex Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Southwest announces airport lounges and keeps reinventing itself into something almost unrecognizable, Uber cuts 3,300 jobs and pulls focus back to its core as travel ambitions take a back seat, and Emirates unveils a premium economy seat that signals where the real airline revenue war is being fought. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why Southwest's lounge announcement is the latest sign of an airline giving customers fewer and fewer reasons to fly someone else, what Uber's reorg means for its travel products that were never really the point, and why airlines racing to upgrade the middle of the plane is the most important yield story in aviation right now. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGSouthwest to Launch Airport Lounges in 2027Uber to Lay Off 3,300 Employees, Reducing Management Jobs by 20%Emirates Pushes Premium Economy Upmarket as Business Class Gets Sliced Up Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Travel industry executives meet with President Trump to push for more inbound tourists, Uber cuts 3,300 jobs while doubling down on robotaxis and quietly sidelining its travel ambitions, and Southwest opens airport lounges , but it's really a credit card strategy wearing an airport badge. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Tasmin Lockwood, Skift's Climate and Experiences Reporter, breaks down why the industry wants the World Cup's welcome mat to become permanent policy, what Uber's reorg signals about where travel fits in its actual priorities, and why Southwest's lounge announcement is less about hospitality and more about the next phase of a much bigger reinvention. This episode is brought to you by ZS Articles Referenced:Connect with Tasmin LockwoodTravel Execs Meet Trump at the White HouseUber to Lay Off 3,300 Employees, Reducing Management Jobs by 20%Southwest to Launch Airport Lounges in 2027 Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Airbnb names a former Booking.com hotel chief as its new chief business officer as its hotel push accelerates, AirDNA launches a dynamic pricing tool aimed at the 85% of short-term rental hosts still leaving money on the table, and JetBlue bets its comeback on a new domestic first class with mattress foam and custom cocktails. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Tasmin Lockwood, Skift's Climate and Experiences Reporter, breaks down why Airbnb's latest hire is a clear signal that its hotel ambitions just got serious, how AirDNA is betting simplicity can unlock dynamic pricing for the hosts that every other tool hasn't reached, and why JetBlue thinks premium cabins can do what cost-cutting alone hasn't. This episode is brought to you by ZS Articles Referenced:Connect with Tasmin LockwoodAirbnb Names Ex-Booking.com Hotel Boss and Viator President as Chief Business OfficerAirDNA Enters Revenue Management Market With Host Dynamic Pricing Tool — ExclusiveJetBlue Unveils New Domestic First Class Seats Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

A bombshell estimate flips the script on who actually leads in B2B hotel bookings, Marriott presses its sales teams to close a $1.55 billion gap in group bookings for 2027, and AI-generated hotel videos on TikTok are misleading travelers about properties they can actually book. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Bailey Schulz, Skift's Global Tourism Reporter, breaks down why a new analyst estimate suggesting Booking Holdings leads Expedia in B2B room nights could reshape how the industry thinks about OTA competition, what Marriott's internal stretch goal reveals about the group booking market heading into 2027, and why TikTok Go's AI-generated hotel videos are a real problem for travelers and property owners alike. This episode is brought to you by ZS Articles Referenced:Booking Holdings vs. Expedia in B2B: Bombshell Estimate Says Booking Leads in Room NightsMarriott Presses Sales Teams on $1.55 Billion Gap to Goal for 2027 GroupsAI-Generated TikTok Go Hotel Videos Connect with Bailey Schulz Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Google Just Made Hotel Booking Part of the Chat Google launches hotel booking inside its AI chat with major chains and OTAs on board, passport renewals are about to get dramatically easier for millions of Americans, and Dollywood opened its doors the day after Dolly Parton passed and the story of that park is one worth telling. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why Google's new AI hotel booking tool could succeed where Book on Google failed a decade ago, how the State Department's online renewal proposal would save Americans time, money, and two trips to a government office, and why Dollywood's $500 million expansion without a single licensed character is one of the most remarkable stories in the theme park industry. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGGoogle's Agentic Hotel Booking Tool Comes to AI ModePassport Renewal Expansion for Americans OverseasDolly Parton, Dollywood, and Theme Park Success Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Dollywood bucks the theme park industry's closure wave as operators honor Dolly Parton's legacy with a $500 million expansion, Harry Styles' Madison Square Garden residency is giving NYC hotels and short-term rentals a meaningful boost, and there's a reason boutique hotel founders almost always end up selling to the big chains. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Bailey Schulz, Skift's Global Tourism Reporter, breaks down why Dollywood's culture-first strategy is outperforming parks built on licensed characters, how a two-month residency in one city can move a market without needing Taylor Swift numbers, and why distribution economics make it nearly inevitable that boutique hotel founders eventually sell. Articles Referenced:Connect with Bailey SchulzDolly Parton, Dollywood, and Theme Park SuccessHarry Styles' Residency Is Giving NYC a Demand BoostWhy Every Boutique Hotel Founder Eventually Sells Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

A familiar face may be headed back to lead NYC Tourism, Wall Street is warming up to Airbnb's growth story after five straight quarters of double-digit gains, and three South Korean budget airlines are merging into one low-cost giant. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Bailey Schulz, Skift's Global Tourism Reporter, breaks down why Fred Dixon's potential return to NYC Tourism comes at a tough moment for inbound visitors, what's driving Airbnb's structural acceleration and why some analysts are still not fully convinced, and what South Korea's budget airline merger means for the country's aviation landscape. Articles Referenced:Connect with Bailey SchulzBrand USA's Fred Dixon in Talks to Return to NYC TourismWall Street Is Starting to Believe Airbnb's Growth StoryThree South Korean Carriers Are Merging Into One Low-Cost Giant Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

F1 confirms its Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is on despite war jitters, luxury tour operator Black Tomato sells 75% of itself to its own staff instead of private equity, and Thailand tries once again to collect a tourist fee it's been attempting since 2020. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Bailey Schulz, Skift's Global Tourism Reporter, breaks down why Abu Dhabi's bet on marquee events like F1 keeps paying off, how Black Tomato's employee ownership move is a pointed contrast to travel's private equity wave, and why Thailand's latest tourist fee attempt faces the same question it always has — how to actually collect it. Articles Referenced:Connect with Bailey SchulzF1 Confirms Abu Dhabi Grand Prix — Events Calendar Is Propping Up TourismBlack Tomato Founders Sell 75% to Employee Ownership Trust but Keep Control — ExclusiveThailand's Six-Year Tourist Fee Saga Returns With a $14 Price Tag Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Google scoops up Spirit Airlines' pricing and booking data in bankruptcy for a fraction of its value, the UK launches a crackdown on hidden travel fees with fines up to 10% of global revenue, and Delta's pilot scheduling talks break down with the busy fall travel season right around the corner. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why Google's Spirit data purchase is a bargain with enormous AI implications, what the UK's drip pricing crackdown means for travelers and why the U.S. still hasn't figured this out, and why Delta's reliability problems aren't going away before fall. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGGoogle Scoops Up Spirit's Data in Bankruptcy Sale to Train AIThe UK's Hidden Fee Crackdown Is Coming for TravelDelta Pilots Detail Why Scheduling Talks Hit an Impasse Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Overseas visits to the U.S. fall for the fourth straight month despite the World Cup, travel creators are pivoting hard to shorter and cheaper trips because that's what their audiences can actually afford, and a big question worth asking about AI travel tools: who are they really working for? On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why the World Cup's failure to move the inbound tourism needle is a serious warning sign for LA 2028, how high fares and economic uncertainty are reshaping what travel content actually gets made, and why the dream of an AI assistant that truly shops for you may never survive the business models of the companies building it. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGOverseas Travel to the U.S. Has Fallen for Four Straight Months Despite the World CupContent Creators and Domestic Travel TrendsThe AI Agent Should Belong to the Traveler Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Wildfires are forcing tourist evacuations across France and Spain with officials warning the risk is spreading, Norwegian Cruise Line's CEO admits the company's problems are mostly self-inflicted, and Lufthansa and Air France-KLM are competing for Portugal's national airline with two very different approaches. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down what the latest European wildfire disruptions mean for summer travel plans and why this is becoming the new normal, why Norwegian Cruise Line's unusually candid CEO diagnosis is either reassuring or alarming depending on how you read it, and why the TAP Air Portugal bidding war is really about who controls the gateway between Europe and Latin America. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGEurope Fires Impact Tourism: France and SpainNorwegian Cruise Line CEO Cites Self-Inflicted Problems, Weak Outlook Into 2027Two Bids for TAP Air Portugal, Two Very Different Charm Offensives Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Hilton makes a rare move by cutting fees for its hotel owners as the market cycle finally turns, JetBlue posted a $247 million loss and its stock jumped 13% anyway, and Chinese outbound travel demand is surging with nowhere near enough flights to meet it. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why Hilton's fee cuts signal a long-overdue shift in the brand-owner relationship, why investors are betting on JetBlue's turnaround plan despite six straight years of losses, and why the next wave of high-spending international travelers is coming from China as soon as the infrastructure can catch up. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGHilton Cuts Fees to Rebuild Hotel Owners' Margins as Costs Stay StickyJetBlue Is Still Losing Money but Investors Are Buying the TurnaroundChina's Outbound Travel Recovery Has a New Problem: Not Enough Planes Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Amazon brings travel booking inside Alexa with Priceline as an early partner, American Express buys Europe's biggest restaurant reservation platform and the real reason is fascinating, and IHG becomes the third major hotel chain to launch AI search. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why Amazon's travel move could succeed where every other AI platform has stalled, how Amex is using restaurant reservations as a funnel to identify and recruit its next generation of premium cardholders, and why the race to launch AI search among hotel chains is accelerating faster than anyone expected. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGAmazon's Alexa Is Trying to Sell Trips Inside a Chat. Priceline Is an Early Test.Why American Express Wants to Buy TheFork: New CardmembersIHG Joins Hilton and Marriott With AI Search Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

The 2026 World Cup's promised tourism windfall didn't materialize as international visitors stayed home, United tried to merge with both Delta and American and got turned down by both, and Europe fined Google for something the entire travel industry does to its own suppliers every day. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down what the World Cup's underwhelming tourism numbers mean for Los Angeles heading into the 2028 Olympics, why airline consolidation has largely stalled despite all the deal talk earlier this year, and why the Google antitrust fine is a mirror the whole travel industry should probably look into. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGWhat the World Cup Could Have BeenUnited Chased Delta and American. Now Airline M&A Has Stalled.Everyone in Travel Wants a Fair Ranking — Until They Own One Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Southwest posts record revenue after overhauling its entire business model, American Airlines hits record revenue too but keeps cutting its profit forecast, and the timeshare industry is consolidating for a reason most travelers would never guess. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why the new Southwest might actually be stronger than the one it replaced, why American's record revenue quarter still comes with a cautious outlook, and why timeshares are really a lending business in disguise — and why that's driving consolidation. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGSouthwest's New Fees and Fare Hikes Offset $899 Million Fuel BillAmerican Says It Offset 50% of Fuel Expenses With Higher FaresBehind Travel + Leisure's $343 Million Bet and Why More Timeshare Deals Are Coming Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Travel's biggest companies are trading loyalty members directly with each other as Google's dominance over customer acquisition breaks down, three hotel giants launched debit cards in the UK and only the UK, and a legendary Tokyo hotel just reopened after a 19-month renovation. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why loyalty programs are becoming the primary customer acquisition channel in travel, what the UK hotel debit card trend reveals about the limits of credit card economics outside the U.S., and whether Park Hyatt Tokyo's renovation got one of the world's great hotels right. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGTravel Customer Acquisition Is Moving Into Private TreatiesHilton, Marriott, and IHG Have All Launched UK Debit Cards. Here's Why.Returning to Park Hyatt Tokyo: How a Great Hotel Survives a Renovation Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

The U.S. passport stalls at 10th while the UAE jumps to second in the global rankings, Emirates president Tim Clark says retirement can wait, and Expedia opens a Silicon Valley office to find the engineers who are exponentially more productive with AI. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down what the UAE's historic passport rise reveals about how deliberate diplomatic strategy translates into real travel advantages, why Tim Clark is still running Emirates at 76 and showing no signs of slowing down, and why Expedia's AI bet is really a people bet. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGThe U.S. Passport Is Stuck. The UAE's Is Gaining Fast.Emirates' Sir Tim Clark on Retirement: It's Not TimeExpedia CTO Ramana Thumu on AI Talent Strategy Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

JetBlue picks up Spirit's coveted LaGuardia slots for $58.5 million, Airbnb adds car rentals and keeps inching toward becoming a one-stop travel shop, and hotel brands are quietly moving into student housing with a four-revenue-stream business model. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why JetBlue's slot purchase is a long-term strategic play in one of the most constrained airports in the country, what Airbnb's car rental launch says about where Chesky is taking the platform, and why hybrid student-hotel buildings might be one of the smartest revenue models in hospitality right now. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGJetBlue Wins Spirit's Coveted Slots at LaGuardia for $58.5 MillionHotel Brands Circle Student Housing: 4 Income StreamsAirbnb Partners With CarTrawler for Car Rentals in 5 Countries — Scoop Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

United's Scott Kirby makes it official — the era of dirt-cheap airfares is over, a travel agency startup just hit a billion-dollar valuation by betting human taste beats AI, and JetBlue launches buy-now-pay-later flights with a catch worth reading closely. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why the structural changes in aviation mean the floor on airfares is permanently higher, how Fora Travel built a billion-dollar business by recruiting people who love travel rather than people who work in it, and what JetBlue's new flight financing product gets right and where it gets complicated. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGHigher Fares Are Here to Stay, United CEO SaysFora Travel: The Unicorn. It Raised $60 Million at a $1 Billion Valuation.JetBlue Loyalty Points BNPL Flight Financing ClarityPay Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

AI Is Not Going to Fix Travel's Labor Problem A sharp reality check reveals AI is being deployed in exactly the wrong places to address travel's labor crisis, hotel guest satisfaction just hit a new high with improvements across every segment, and the events job market has a clear message for planners right now. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why travel has an AI strategy for its office workforce but still needs a real plan for everyone else, what's driving the biggest hotel satisfaction gains in years, and why deep specialization is the clearest path forward for events professionals in a tightening job market. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGWhat If AI Doesn't Fix Travel's Labor Problem?JD Power: Hotel Guest Satisfaction in North America Climbs5 Top Event Industry Job Market Trends Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

The World Cup failed to deliver the U.S. tourism bump everyone was counting on, Skift lays out a compelling theory for why Airbnb's best hotel move might be Ennismore's upcoming IPO, and Frontier Airlines announces Starlink — the last major holdout finally goes premium. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why June's overseas arrival numbers are sobering even with a global sporting event on U.S. soil, why the Airbnb-Ennismore deal Skift is floating could solve a distribution problem neither company can fix alone, and what Frontier's Starlink announcement signals about the end of the truly bare-bones flying experience. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGWorld Cup Inbound Travel Decline: JuneAirbnb's Best Hotel Strategy Is Sitting in Ennismore's IPO FilingFrontier Airlines to Install Starlink — Premium Push Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Canadian travel to the U.S. ticks up in June but underlying data shows a market that still hasn't decided to return, lifestyle hotel brands are moving into all-inclusive and Ennismore thinks the stigma is finally gone, and a provocative take on why sometimes when hospitality fails the problem is actually the guest. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why the Canadian travel rebound headline is more complicated than it looks, how Ennismore is betting Mondrian and SLS can bring lifestyle credibility to a format long associated with buffets and wristbands, and why the best hospitality experiences require something from the guest too. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGCanadian Travel to the U.S. Is Rising Again — Still Down Almost 29% From 2024Ennismore Thinks Lifestyle Brands Can Survive All-Inclusive. Mondrian Is the Next Test.When Hospitality Fails, the Problem Might Be the Guest Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Two airlines created the World Cup's best marketing moment without paying FIFA a cent, Delta launches a stripped-down business class fare that turns premium travel into a spectrum, and there's one obscure hotel metric about to tell us whether the industry's recovery is built to last. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down how Norwegian Air and British Airways generated massive World Cup buzz with nothing but a well-timed Instagram bet, what Delta's new Basic Business fare means for travelers trying to decide how much business class they actually need, and why incentive management fees are the number every hotel analyst will be watching this earnings season. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGHey @British_Airways — Norwegian Air Shows How to Get Free World Cup BuzzDelta Launches Stripped-Down Business Class FaresThis Obscure Marriott Fee Will Be a Key Signal of Profit Strength Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

EasyJet's potential $7 billion takeover is putting Europe's remaining independent airlines on notice, Air Canada names a new multilingual CEO after a very public language controversy, and a sharp look at why the West ended up with two half-apps instead of one super app. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down which European airlines are most likely to be next in the consolidation wave EasyJet just triggered, why Air Canada's CEO succession story is really a cautionary tale about language and leadership in Canada, and why Google and Uber keep moving into each other's territory without either one closing the loop. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGWho's Next After EasyJet? We Size Up 10 Possible Takeover TargetsAir Canada Names SAS Chief Anko Van der Werff as New CEOThe West Got Two Half-Apps Instead of a Super App: Google Maps vs. Uber Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

The World Cup's tourism boost is spreading far beyond host cities into markets nobody expected, AI chatbots are bypassing travel brand apps even when fully integrated, and Hilton opens a direct line to corporate travel platform Navan to cut out the middlemen. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why the World Cup's ripple effect is reaching markets 60+ miles from any stadium, why being available inside an AI chatbot is not the same as being chosen by one, and how Hilton's direct Navan connection signals that the fight to cut out distribution middlemen is coming for corporate travel next. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGWorld Cup Ripple Effect: Non-Host MarketsChatGPT Apps, Claude Connectors, Travel: A Hands-On TestHilton Opens Direct Line to Navan, Cutting Out Corporate Travel Middlemen Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Airbnb nearly doubled Marriott's World Cup marketing reach at a fraction of the cost, airlines are buying concert venue naming rights and turning them into loyalty real estate, and extended-stay hotels are having their best demand run in four years with supply thinning fast. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why Airbnb's focused World Cup bet is a masterclass in what targeted spending can do against a much bigger budget, how British Airways and Delta are turning theaters and concert halls into year-round loyalty platforms, and why extended-stay hotels may be the least glamorous but most attractive investment opportunity in hospitality heading into 2027. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGMarriott Outspends Rivals on TV but Airbnb Owns the World CupAirlines Are Turning Live Entertainment Into a Loyalty StrategyExtended Stay Demand Hits a Four-Year High as Supply Pipeline Thins Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

The Trump administration moves to repeal Obama-era airfare transparency rules, OTAs shift their focus from winning traveler trust to winning the trust of AI agents, and American Airlines takes a direct swing at United in Chicago with a new Tokyo route. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why rolling back airfare transparency rules is part of a broader pattern of shrinking consumer protections, how the real AI distribution war is no longer about convincing travelers but convincing the agents booking on their behalf, and why American's new Tokyo route is a statement of intent in its battle with United at O'Hare. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGTrump Administration Moves to Repeal Obama's Airfare Transparency RuleOTAs Are Betting on Traveler Trust but the Scramble Is On to Win the Trust of AI AgentsAmerican Launches Flights to Tokyo From Chicago O'Hare as It Looks to Rebuild Hub Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

The U.S. proposes lifting a 53-year ban on supersonic flight over land, Visa launches a consumer travel platform that puts it in direct competition with the banks that pay it, and a look at the rare airline CEOs who simply never leave. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down what the FAA's proposed rule change actually means for the future of supersonic travel and how soon it could happen, why Visa's new travel platform creates a quiet but significant conflict with its own card-issuing partners, and what the long-tenured airline CEO phenomenon reveals about the ownership structures that make them possible. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGU.S. Paves Way for Supersonic Flight Over LandVisa Steps Into Travel and Into Competition With Its Own Card IssuersThe Airline CEOs Who Don't Leave Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

A wave of hotel owners are walking away from major brand flags as expiring franchise agreements expose just how little they were getting for the price, Accor and H World link loyalty programs to open up 430 million members to each other, and Best Western's parent company has a plan to finally stop shrinking. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why hotel owners are increasingly deciding the brand premium isn't worth it anymore, how Accor and H World are betting on customer access over building more hotels to crack China and Europe, and why BWH Hotels thinks its cooperative model is the right pitch at exactly the right moment. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGGoing It Alone: Why Hotel Owners Are Dropping the Big BrandsAccor and H World Link Loyalty Programs to Swap Chinese and European TravelersBest Western Has Been Shrinking. BWH Hotels' Fix Is to Shift Upscale and Overseas. Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

U.S. hotel demand is having one of its strongest stretches in years and the growth is finally spreading beyond luxury, airlines are cutting seats ahead of July 4 while fares stay high, and Apple just turned its Wallet into a full trip companion with Disney leading the way. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why the broadening of hotel demand beyond luxury is the most encouraging data point the industry has seen all year, what fewer seats and higher fares mean for your July 4 travel plans, and why Apple's Wallet expansion is forcing travel brands to decide how much of the guest experience they're willing to hand over to Apple. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGU.S. Hotel Demand Is Rebounding and It's No Longer Just a Luxury StoryAirlines Are Trimming Capacity Ahead of July 4Apple Wallet Key: Disney Hotel Resorts and Parks Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

A deadly heat wave is shutting down Europe's most iconic attractions just as summer travel peaks, the airline industry backs a ban on surveillance pricing while insisting no one actually does it, and experience specialists are leaving the big OTAs in the dust after 30 years of promises. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, ⁠Sarah Dandashy⁠ breaks down why this summer's European heat wave is a preview of a new travel planning reality, why the airline industry's stance on surveillance pricing raises more questions than it answers, and why the companies actually winning the experiences market are the ones that built their whole business around it. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGEurope Heat Wave Disrupts Tourism and TravelAirline Lobby Backs Ban on Surveillance PricingExperience Pure-Plays Are Winning. OTAs Are Still Catching Up. Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Amadeus thinks it has a fix for the AI search problem quietly breaking airline economics, Marriott makes its first move into branded apartment rentals, and U.S. News just ranked America's best meeting cities and somehow put Miami dead last. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why airlines risk losing the distribution battle all over again if they don't solve their AI visibility problem fast, what Marriott's W Apartments play signals about where branded hospitality is heading next, and why the meetings industry isn't buying Miami's last-place finish. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGAmadeus Has an Answer for AI's Infinite Search ProblemMarriott to Brand Apartment Rentals — W Hotels to Add Branded Rental Units in 2027U.S. News & World Report's Inaugural Meeting Destination Rankings: Here's How Cities Stacked Up Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Airline executives make clear that lower fuel costs won't mean cheaper tickets, Carnival posts record revenue but still trims its outlook as the Middle East war lingers, and a decade-long look at Airbnb's attempts to become a travel superapp reveals just how many times it's started and stopped. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why structural shifts in the airline industry mean higher fares could be the new normal regardless of what happens to fuel, why Carnival's record quarter still came with a cautious outlook, and what's actually different about Airbnb's latest push to become more than a short-term rental platform. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGThose Higher Airfares May Stick Even if Fuel Prices DropCarnival Cruise Second Quarter: Middle East ImpactHow Airbnb Went From Short-Term Rentals to Hotels, Car Rentals, and Beyond: A Timeline Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

One week of World Cup hotel data reveals a more complicated picture than anyone expected, Hilton signals it's building new brands again with a mysterious "Tortoise" trademark in the mix, and Hyatt's lifestyle chief is quietly cleaning house one property at a time. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why World Cup hotels are making money on rate but missing on occupancy as the international crowd stays home, what Hilton's new brand activity signals about where the hotel giant is placing its next big bets, and how Hyatt's Amar Lalvani is raising the bar on what actually qualifies as a lifestyle hotel. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGWorld Cup Hotel Revenue and Occupancy: Week OneHilton Says It Will Build New Brands Again. Owners Will Want to See the Math.How Hyatt's Lifestyle Chief Does a Portfolio Cleanup Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

The UK and Australia lift Gulf travel warnings as the Iran war winds down but European carriers remain grounded pending safety clearance, JetBlue doubles down on Fort Lauderdale while retreating from its New York roots, and Airbnb makes its first fintech move with a Hopper-style cancellation product. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why Gulf recovery is real but slow and entirely dependent on insurance and regulators, how JetBlue is quietly rebuilding its network around opportunity rather than geography, and what Airbnb's new cancellation feature signals about where the company is heading next. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGUK and Australia Lift Gulf Travel Warnings but European Airlines Await ClearanceJetBlue Pushes Deeper Into Fort Lauderdale, Shrinks in Newark and LaGuardiaAirbnb Moves Into Fintech With a Hopper-Like Cancel for Any Reason Feature Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Europe hands airlines a major defeat on passenger rights after 13 years of lobbying, July Fourth travel hits a slim record carried almost entirely by cruises, and new research reveals AI is sending more travelers to travel sites but can't actually read most airline fares. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why the EU's decision to keep its passenger compensation rules intact is a significant win for travelers and a costly loss for airlines, why this July Fourth record is more complicated than it looks once you strip out cruises, and why airlines are losing the AI visibility race to OTAs at exactly the wrong moment. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGEurope's New Rules Leave Airlines With the Same €8 Billion ProblemJuly Fourth Travel Carried by Cruises: AAAAdobe Data: AI Travel Traffic Up for Airlines, Hotels, and Car Rentals Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Marriott hotel owners demand a bigger cut of a loyalty program generating $1 billion in credit card fees, American Express drops $700 million on a European restaurant platform to quietly become one of travel's most powerful players, and Equinox Hotels is finally expanding by betting everything on sleep. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why Marriott's loyalty goldmine is creating a very expensive fight with the owners running its hotels, how Amex is building a travel empire one dining platform at a time, and why Equinox's sleep-first expansion is the boldest wellness bet in luxury hospitality right now. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGMarriott Hotel Owners Want a Bigger Cut of Loyalty IncomeWhy Amex Spent $700 Million on TheFork and What's Next for TripadvisorEquinox Hotels Is Finally Expanding. It's Betting Everything on Sleep. Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Overseas visits to the U.S. drop sharply in May as Western Europe stays home, World Cup host cities spend millions on welcome campaigns to fight a perception problem, and a ten-year look at hotels vs. OTAs reveals who actually won. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why inbound tourism is still sliding even as the World Cup kicks off, how host cities are betting big-budget welcome campaigns can overcome visa headlines and entry policy concerns, and why the real winner of the hotel vs. OTA war wasn't market share — it was margin. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGOverseas Travel to the United States May DeclineWorld Cup Tourism Campaign VideosHotels Tried to Cut Out Expedia. Here's What Happened. Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Airline CEOs are stunned that demand hasn't buckled under a 20% fare spike, World Cup hotels are still waiting on a booking surge that may depend entirely on which teams advance, and Canadian travel to the U.S. is creeping back but still far below where it was. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why travel demand is proving more resilient than even airline executives expected, why the World Cup's hotel story hinges on a potential Messi vs. Ronaldo matchup, and why Brand USA is smartly going after Gen Z Canadians instead of the Boomers who aren't coming back anytime soon. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG Airfares Are Up 20%. Demand Is Strong. Even Airline CEOs Are Surprised. Hotels Hope for Last-Minute World Cup Bookings Canadian Travel to the U.S. Rebounds but Still Far Below 2024 Levels Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Aviation's net zero target may be getting pushed back as sustainable fuel supply falls dramatically short, Cathay Pacific says summer demand is holding strong while the Gulf stays grounded, and luxury hotel guests are paying higher rates without blinking. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why aviation's 2050 climate pledge is losing credibility without real government follow-through on sustainable fuel, how the Iran war's disruption of Gulf routes is quietly benefiting Asian hubs like Hong Kong, and why the K-shaped travel economy is showing no signs of letting up at the luxury end. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG Aviation's 2050 Net Zero Target Could Slip — The More Likely Outcome Cathay Pacific CEO: Summer Demand Is Holding Up Despite Fuel Price Shock CoStar: Luxury Travelers Show No Pushback on Higher Hotel Rates Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

The U.S. launches a $750 fast-track visa program that creates a two-tiered system for international travelers, Apple's rebuilt Siri could quietly reshape where the travel journey begins, and the most influential person in travel is someone most people have never heard of. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why the new expedited visa fee is the latest signal that the U.S. is becoming an increasingly expensive and complicated destination to visit, how Apple's rebuilt Siri could shift where travelers start their journey before they ever open an airline app, and why Ken Chenault's web of boardroom influence makes him the most consequential non-operator in the travel industry today. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG $750 Visa Appointment Fee Apple's Rebuilt Siri Opens New Doors for Travel Apps How Ken Chenault Became Travel's Most Consequential Non-Operator Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Airline Profits Just Got Cut in Half — and United Still Wants to Buy American The global airline industry takes a brutal hit as profits are slashed nearly in half, global travel growth turns negative for the first time this year, and United's CEO is still publicly chasing a merger American keeps refusing. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why the Iran war has upended what was supposed to be a strong year for airlines and left the Middle East as the only region posting an outright loss, what it means that global travel momentum has quietly flipped negative for the first time in 2026, and why Scott Kirby keeps the American Airlines merger idea alive even as American keeps saying no. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG Middle East Airlines Face $4.3 Billion Loss — the Only Region in the Red Global Travel Growth Has Turned Negative for the First Time This Year United CEO Still Wants a Merger With American Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

World Cup travel demand is falling short of expectations as international visitors stay home, Delta quietly made its credit card a better deal while every other airline raises fees, and a top hotel tech founder says the industry is using AI to solve the wrong problem. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why the international tourist windfall host cities were promised isn't materializing, how Delta's Amex card expansion is a masterclass in playing the loyalty game right, and why hotels cutting costs with AI are missing the bigger opportunity sitting right in front of them. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG World Cup Travel Demand Expectations Deflated Delta Expands Benefits on Amex Cards Why Hotel AI Keeps Cutting Costs Instead of Making Money Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

The Iran war has dramatically reshuffled global tourism demand, the founder of collapsed startup Sonder is already back with a lean AI-powered travel agent, and Priceline just gave its AI assistant the biggest overhaul in two years. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why the Middle East's tourism collapse isn't killing global demand so much as redirecting it, how Francis Davidson is betting that asset-light AI software is the antidote to everything that killed Sonder, and why Priceline's Penny upgrade is a preview of where the entire travel industry is heading. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG Iran War Drives Middle East Tourism Slump and a Global Demand Shift After Sonder's Collapse, Francis Davidson Returns With an AI Travel Agent Priceline Penny Revamp: Multiagent AI Powered by Anthropic Claude Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

A single AI-powered flight search just exposed a massive economic blind spot for the entire travel industry, new research reveals that treating women as one travel segment is quietly costing brands serious revenue, and Expedia's new chief AI officer just laid out the company's boldest bet yet. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why AI-powered travel search is breaking a system built on the assumption that humans eventually give up, how brands still running generic women's campaigns are leaving their highest-value customers completely unreached, and why Expedia's answer to AI disruption is to become the infrastructure everyone else depends on. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG AI Impact on Travel Search Costs Women Travelers Are Not a Segment. Treating Them as One Is a Strategic Mistake. Expedia's New Chief AI Officer on What the Company Is Really Building Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.