Skift Daily Briefing

The post-pandemic travel spending surge begins to cool, Hilton expands deeper into apartment-style stays, and Greenland navigates growing political noise as it markets silence and nature. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why travel is losing wallet share even as demand stays strong, what Hilton’s new Apartment Collection signals about longer-stay strategy, and how geopol...

Google steps in as Siri’s new AI brain, BTS’ long-awaited comeback tour sets the stage for a live tourism surge, and airlines turn on-time performance into a competitive badge of honor. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down how Apple’s AI upgrade could reshape the moment of travel intent, why BTS’ return will pressure hotel and rental supply across tour cities, and how reliab...

Delta starts 2026 with strong demand led by premium travelers, Kayak’s near-miss with going private reveals the growing pressure on travel search, and overseas visits to the U.S. continue to slide. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why Delta’s business model is now built on front-cabin and loyalty revenue, what Kayak’s behind-the-scenes story says about Google and metasea...

Credit cards are overtaking airlines and hotels as the new center of loyalty, a low-cost airline merger makes a rare case for disciplined growth, and Google moves closer to letting AI agents handle checkout. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down how loyalty is becoming more fluid and outcome-driven, why the Allegiant–Sun Country deal stands out in a battered airline sector, a...

Boeing outlines a disciplined path to ramping up 737 production, the U.S. expands visa bond requirements to more countries, and Expedia signals its next phase of AI execution. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down how Boeing’s slower, quality-first recovery will shape airline growth, why expanded visa bonds could add friction just ahead of the 2026 World Cup, and what Expedia...

Sabre debuts an agent-first AI booking demo at CES, Delta opens its first-ever non-airport lounge at Sphere, and Alaska Airlines places its largest Boeing order as it eyes long-haul growth. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down how AI is pushing deeper into trip planning, why airlines are shifting loyalty from points to access, and what Alaska’s aircraft bet says about its gl...

Airlines race to make free Wi-Fi the new standard, hotel brands tighten control over franchise behavior, and Hawaii’s climate tax on cruise ships hits a legal roadblock. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why American Airlines’ Wi-Fi move is really about premium positioning, how Hilton’s swift franchise action highlights the stakes of brand control in 2026, and why a court...

As 2026 begins, travel demand isn’t slowing — it’s becoming more intentional. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why live tourism will remain a powerful driver without a single mega-tour, how luxury travel is shifting from excess to precision, and why “travel slop” from poorly deployed AI could become one of the industry’s biggest risks this year. From global events like t...

Flying taxis move closer to U.S. airspace, Hilton rethinks brand building in an AI-driven marketing world, and micro events emerge as a defining trend for 2026. In the final Skift Daily Briefing of 2025, Sarah Dandashy looks ahead at the forces reshaping travel and hospitality — from electric air mobility gaining regulatory momentum, to why brand loyalty still matters as AI optimizes acquisition,...

United upgrades its app into a predictive travel assistant, online travel agencies face an identity crisis in the age of AI, and World Cup ticket prices come down — but only on paper. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down how United is using AI to reduce travel friction, why Expedia and Booking are rethinking their roles as AI reshapes discovery, and what World Cup pricing re...

Airlines reshuffle leadership at a rapid pace, New York City clears the way for three new casino resorts, and the U.S. continues layering on travel fees that could test inbound demand. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down what’s driving the sudden wave of airline CEO changes, why New York’s casino approvals matter for tourism strategy, and how rising entry fees risk pushing...

Hotels face a widening cost squeeze, Google turns everyday earbuds into real-time translators, and Spirit Airlines secures a last-minute lifeline to stay airborne. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why rising labor and operating costs are reshaping hotel economics, how live translation tech could remove one of travel’s biggest barriers, and what Spirit’s $50 million rescu...

Hilton accelerates its global luxury expansion, Boom Supersonic leverages AI demand to fuel its aviation timeline, and Expedia steps deeper into the experiences market with its acquisition of Tiqets. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down how Hilton is positioning itself for the next wave of high-end travel, why Boom’s new turbine business could speed up the return of superson...

U.S. holiday travel is about to break records, the Gulf positions itself as cruising’s next major hub, and America plans new digital screening requirements that could slow inbound tourism. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy unpacks why more than 122 million Americans are expected to travel this holiday season, how a unified GCC visa could transform cruising across the Middle East, and...

Skift’s 2026 Megatrends are here — and today’s Daily Briefing zooms in on three that are already reshaping traveler behavior: self-driving cars that quietly compete with planes, a luxury bubble that’s becoming the industry’s load-bearing wall, and a new wave of sober-curious travelers redefining what “vacation mode” looks like. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down how autono...

The middle of the U.S. lodging market collapses, Uber quietly hires travel agents to train its AI, and hotels use smart food-waste tech to cut emissions and costs. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy explores how America priced out the classic middle-class road trip, why Uber is building the invisible infrastructure behind trip planning, and how AI-powered kitchen tools are becoming on...

Alaska Airlines pushes into long-haul flying, Southwest reshapes its identity for a new era, and Marriott signals confidence despite a softer quarter. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down Alaska’s unexpected global ambitions, Southwest’s transition from quirky challenger to convenience-first carrier, and Marriott’s outlook as it prepares for a stronger 2026 boosted by intern...

Canadian travelers are pulling back from the U.S., hotel loyalty enters a new era of personalization, and Eventbrite gets a $500 million reboot. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why the U.S. is losing its most reliable inbound market, how loyalty programs are shifting from points to experiences, and what Eventbrite’s acquisition signals for the future of event tech. This...

TSA introduces a new $45 fee for travelers without Real ID, Expedia hires its first Chief AI and Data Officer to accelerate its tech shift, and Delta sweetens perks for its top-tier loyalists. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down how identity verification is changing at airports, why Expedia is making a bold AI move, and how Delta is doubling down on premium customers as loy...

Marriott keeps its global lead as Hilton accelerates, AI airfare pricing draws scrutiny in Washington, and flying taxis move from sci-fi to real-world service. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down the shifting race among the world’s biggest hotel groups, why lawmakers are uneasy about the future of AI-driven pricing, and how Joby’s electric aircraft are positioning Dubai — a...

Apple and Delta team up to make baggage tracking smarter, Capital One moves to take control of its travel tech as Hopper shifts deeper into B2B, and major travel brands are noticeably absent from COP30. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why Apple’s quiet systems-level influence is reshaping lost-bag operations, what Capital One’s software acquisition means for Hopper’s fu...

World Cup fever is already driving massive booking spikes, Qantas prepares to launch its 21-hour Project Sunrise flights, and hotel loyalty finally enters its clarity era. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why short-term rental demand is surging months before the match schedule is even set, how Qantas is pushing the limits of ultra-long-haul travel, and why loyalty progra...

Brand USA edges closer to restored funding, airlines brace for an uncertain 2026, and Peek makes a major play in the fast-growing experiences sector. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down the bipartisan effort to revive U.S. tourism marketing, the industry outlook heading into the next cycle, and how Peek’s new acquisitions and funding round signal a broader digital shift in...

Marriott’s partnership with Sonder collapses dramatically, with more details unveiled in court filings. REI makes a major return to travel through a new alliance with Intrepid, and Hilton doubles down on a high-growth strategy across Asia Pacific. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy unpacks the chaotic final days of Sonder, why REI is betting big on guided adventures, and how Hilton is...

Hilton unveils its biggest loyalty overhaul in years, the Trump administration rolls back proposed airline compensation rules, and the U.S. accelerates visa processing ahead of the 2026 World Cup. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy explains how Hilton’s new elite tiers and confirmable upgrades could reshape traveler loyalty, why airlines are celebrating Washington’s regulatory reversa...