Skift Daily Briefing

Southwest Airlines is launching Getaways by Southwest, its own vacation packages platform that bundles flights, hotels, and ground transportation, allowing customers to earn Rapid Rewards points while booking in over 30 markets such as Las Vegas, Orlando, and Hawaii. At the same time, business travelers are increasingly frustrated by content fragmentation in corporate travel booking, with airlines...

Soho House is going private in a $2.7 billion deal led by MCR Hotels and CEO Tyler Morse, while billionaire Ron Burkle will remain its controlling shareholder; the move follows three straight profitable quarters for the global members-only club operator. At the same time, global hotel investment activity has slowed, with JLL reporting a 16% drop in transactions during the first half of the year as...

Google is launching an AI-powered Flight Deals tool aimed at flexible travelers willing to trade fixed plans for lower prices. Airbnb introduced a Reserve Now, Pay Later feature in the U.S., giving guests more payment flexibility as part of its strategy to boost domestic bookings. Meanwhile, Air Canada began canceling flights ahead of a potential flight attendant strike, with negotiations stalled...

Canadian travel to the U.S. continued to fall in July, with sharp declines in both car and air returns, while visits to other countries like Japan and Brazil increased. A potential IPO for Ennismore could reshape investor sentiment toward lifestyle hotels, signaling a shift in value from scale to brand identity and experience. Meanwhile, MSC Cruises reduced emissions last year through tech upgrade...

Airbnb plans to expand its hotel inventory in high-demand markets while emphasizing that homes remain central to its brand. Spirit Airlines warned it may not survive without raising new funds, citing continued weak demand and ongoing financial challenges. Skift CEO Rafat Ali criticizes the U.S. tourism model as exploitative, arguing that rising travel costs reflect a broader affordability crisis i...

U.S. hotels reported stagnant growth in the second quarter, with luxury properties outperforming midscale and economy brands across all major chains. Airbnb increased lobbying and sponsorship spending in a bid to strengthen ties with policymakers, contributing to thinner profit margins. Meanwhile, U.S. tourism continued to decline in July, with overseas visits down in most top markets and Canadian...

Hyatt is benefiting from strong luxury travel demand, with its high-end brands driving revenue growth as the company pursues an asset-light strategy focused on management and franchising deals. Expedia has raised its 2025 guidance after a strong quarter fueled by B2B gains, overseas growth, and a successful partnership with Southwest Airlines. Meanwhile, demand for short-term rentals in Southern E...

Airbnb reported strong interest in its revamped Experiences and new Services offerings, with higher guest ratings than for stays and a plan to unify all products under one brand. Southwest Airlines expanded its reach by partnering with Priceline and other Booking Holdings platforms after years of resisting online travel agencies. Choice Hotels is turning to international markets for growth as U.S....

Booking.com has introduced its first U.S. credit card, offering travel credits instead of traditional points to encourage more direct bookings and grow its U.S. market presence. Marriott reduced its full-year revenue forecast due to sluggish performance in the U.S., citing weak demand, holiday timing, and reduced government travel. In Spain, thousands of unregistered short-term rentals face delist...

The U.S. will launch a 12-month pilot program on August 20 requiring some travelers from countries with high visa overstay rates to post bonds of up to $15,000, as part of efforts to strengthen visa compliance. Indian travel company Oyo has acquired Australian short-term rental platform MadeComfy for over $50 million, marking its entry into the Australia and New Zealand markets. Meanwhile, Europea...

Amadeus expects its new partnership with Google Flights and Google Cloud to enhance its airline business by integrating advanced AI tools into its Nevio platform, following a previously failed alliance with ITA Software. Skift Research’s latest U.S. Traveler Trends report shows a surge in American travel, with AI tools like ChatGPT playing a growing role in how people plan and book trips, while di...

MGM Resorts reported a 4% drop in Las Vegas Strip revenue for Q2, reflecting a broader decline in mid-market visitor traffic, while high-end demand remains strong. LVMH has gained an option to fully acquire the Orient Express brand by 2027 and has also invested in its upcoming luxury yacht project, signaling further expansion in ultra-luxury travel. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Justice has dr...

The U.S. Department of Transportation has approved a new partnership between United Airlines and JetBlue, allowing frequent flyer benefits to be shared across both carriers through their “Blue Sky” collaboration. Royal Caribbean exceeded expectations in Q2, driven by a surge in last-minute bookings and plans to enhance its loyalty and credit card programs. Meanwhile, Etihad Airways’ return to prof...

Hilton is focusing on small- and medium-sized businesses to boost direct corporate bookings, now making up 85% of its corporate travel segment, supported by new tools like Hilton for Business and a global messaging platform. Spirit Airlines will furlough 270 pilots and cut flights starting in November as part of its post-bankruptcy recovery efforts. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka plans to waive visa fees fo...

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom stated the airline will not use AI in fare pricing in a way that undermines consumer trust, distancing itself from Delta’s controversial plan to apply AI to price a portion of domestic flights. Hilton has found that electric vehicle charging stations are now its top booking driver, with travelers actively seeking this amenity more than traditional ones like pools...

Hilton reported a slight decline in second-quarter performance, with revenue per available room down 0.5% due to weaker occupancy and policy uncertainty in Washington, though CEO Chris Nassetta expressed optimism for future growth and announced plans to add new brands. Meanwhile, Accor is making a major push into the U.S. market by franchising the nearly 2,900-room Treasure Island in Las Vegas, in...

The U.S. passport has fallen to 10th place in the Henley Passport Index—its lowest ranking in 20 years—while Asian countries like Singapore, Japan, and South Korea now lead. Major U.S. travel associations and airlines ramped up lobbying efforts in Q2, though some large hospitality companies like Marriott and Hilton slightly reduced their spending. Meanwhile, Delta is testing AI-driven airfare pric...

Southwest Airlines will introduce assigned seating and a new eight-group boarding system starting January 27, 2026, ending its longtime open boarding policy. Barcelona plans to close two of its seven cruise terminals in an effort to curb overtourism, reducing cruise capacity by 6,000 passengers by decade’s end. Meanwhile, global business travel spending is expected to reach a record $1.6 trillion...

Skift Research has released its State of Travel 2025 Report, offering a data-rich look at global travel trends, including regional performance and the growing impact of AI. United Airlines executives say rising demand and a stabilizing global landscape are boosting confidence, despite a recent downward revision to its profit forecast. Meanwhile, Wyndham Hotels has partnered with Grubhub to provide...

Marriott CFO Leeny Oberg will retire in March 2026, with Jen Mason set to succeed her as the company prepares for a leadership transition. American Express Travel will discontinue its flight and hotel packages by the end of July as part of a website overhaul and shift in customer benefits. Meanwhile, United Airlines has lowered its 2025 profit forecast but noted rising demand and a more stable glo...

Skift reports that agentic and generative AI are set to reshape employment in the travel industry, with travel agencies increasing their tech workforce significantly since 2003, though core providers like airlines and hotels still rely heavily on manual labor. Analyst Robin Gilbert-Jones notes that while digitalization has grown, the sector still lacks sufficient tech talent, potentially forcing t...

Consumer travel spending is decreasing, particularly among lower-income households, as more money is redirected to essential expenses like rent and utilities, according to Bank of America data. Delta Air Lines is exploring tiered business class options in response to growing demand and rising revenues from premium travelers. Meanwhile, Hyatt is expanding its luxury hotel footprint in the Asia-Paci...

Airbnb is introducing more guest-friendly cancellation policies starting October 1, replacing its Strict policy with a more flexible Firm policy that allows full refunds up to 30 days before check-in, along with a new 24-hour grace period for short stays. Delta Air Lines issued a revised 2025 outlook that's lower than earlier projections but better than anticipated, highlighting strong premium dem...

Inbound tourism to the U.S. continued to decline in June, with international visits dropping 3.4% year-over-year and total arrivals reaching just 80% of 2019 levels, excluding Canada and Mexico. Marriott is preparing to enter the outdoor recreation market with a new brand, “Outdoor Collection by Marriott Bonvoy,” filing multiple trademarks in countries known for outdoor tourism and hinting at serv...

Hilton has opened the first property from its new extended-stay hotel brand, LivSmart Studios, targeting long-term guests like relocating families and workers. Virgin Atlantic is partnering with Elon Musk’s Starlink to offer free high-speed Wi-Fi and other digital amenities onboard, starting installations in 2026. Meanwhile, the TSA will no longer require most passengers to remove shoes at securit...