Skift Daily Briefing

Hyatt is expanding its all-inclusive resort business globally, targeting regions like Europe, North Africa, and Asia, while maintaining an “asset-light” strategy to reduce capital demands. Meanwhile, the TSA is trialing a policy at select U.S. airports that allows travelers to keep their shoes on, as part of broader efforts to streamline security screening with new technologies. Activist investor...

Airbnb is piloting a “Reserve Now, Pay Later” feature in the U.S. and Canada to help guests book stays without upfront payments, aiming to boost affordability while keeping hosts protected under existing cancellation policies. Meanwhile, the U.S. Senate has advanced a budget bill allocating $12.5 billion to modernize air traffic control infrastructure, including consolidating radar and traffic con...

A scorching heatwave has forced the Eiffel Tower to temporarily close its summit and led other European landmarks, like Brussels’ Atomium, to reduce hours, while several countries have issued heat-related travel advisories. Meanwhile, the U.S. Senate narrowly passed a bill slashing Brand USA’s funding from $100 million to $20 million, putting the tourism organization at risk of downsizing amid an...

Hyatt announced it will sell the real estate portfolio of Playa Hotels & Resorts for $2 billion just weeks after acquiring it, aligning with its asset-light strategy while retaining management of the resorts for a net cost of $555 million. Neil Jacobs is stepping down as CEO of Six Senses after 13 years, during which he grew the brand globally and oversaw its acquisition by IHG. Meanwhile, Europea...

The Ritz-Carlton’s “Late Checkout” campaign, featuring Josh Hutcherson, won a Gold Lion at Cannes for its creative approach to luxury advertising, outperforming 181 other brands. Meanwhile, Iberostar warned that climate change is the greatest threat to its beachfront properties and called for increased investment in sustainable tourism efforts. At the Skift Data+AI Summit, travel investors emphasi...

Italy has launched the “99% of Italy” campaign to encourage tourists to explore lesser-known regions, addressing the issue of overtourism that sees 70% of international visitors concentrated in just 1% of the country. Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department now requires student visa applicants to make their social media accounts public for screening as part of renewed interview procedures. Lastly, th...

Spirit Airlines is urging U.S. regulators to block JetBlue and United’s proposed “Blue Sky” partnership, citing serious antitrust concerns similar to JetBlue’s past alliance with American Airlines. Carnival’s heavy marketing investments and private island offerings are driving strong booking growth and enabling premium pricing, according to its CEO. Meanwhile, social media–fueled tourism to Antarc...

Airlines in the Gulf are under pressure as rising Middle East tensions force flight rerouting, disrupting the efficiency of major hubs like Dubai and causing delays and missed connections. Despite 2024 being the hottest year on record, most U.S. travelers are not significantly changing their travel plans due to climate-related risks, according to a Skift Research survey. Skift CEO Rafat Ali has al...

Boeing has intensified its political influence efforts, distributing nearly $1 million through its PAC in early 2025 and maintaining a robust lobbying presence amid renewed scrutiny over its safety practices. Meanwhile, Bhutan has become the first country to roll out a nationwide cryptocurrency-based tourism payment system, allowing visitors to use over 100 cryptocurrencies for nearly all purchase...

Brand USA is facing a potential 80% federal funding cut amid a fragile international travel recovery, though CEO Fred Dixon remains cautiously optimistic and has launched a new campaign, “America the Beautiful,” to promote U.S. tourism. Meanwhile, U.S. hotels are bracing for stricter immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, which is worsening labor shortages, especially for resort p...

Google Hotels is facing increasing pressure from competitors like Expedia, Tripadvisor, and Trivago, partly due to changes from the EU's Digital Markets Act and the rise of Google's AI Overviews impacting search visibility. Hotel developers are embracing dual-brand properties to cut costs and boost profitability by sharing infrastructure and appealing to broader market segments, with major chains...

Global travel grew slightly in April, but a 5% drop in North American activity—driven by weaker U.S. consumer sentiment—dampened overall progress. Despite the stronger euro, five million Americans are still expected to travel to Europe this summer. Meanwhile, Accor launched a direct-booking campaign with soccer star Kylian Mbappé to compete with online travel agencies, and Airbus outshone Boeing a...

Air India Flight AI171 tragically crashed shortly after takeoff, marking the first-ever crash of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner and presenting a critical challenge for the Tata Group's ongoing transformation of Air India. The crash undermines recent optimism in India's aviation sector and threatens to derail the Vihaan. AI project, Air India's five-year overhaul plan aimed at restoring trust and enhancin...

An Air India Boeing 787-8 crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad to London, leading to suspended airport operations and an ongoing investigation with no confirmed casualties yet. Meanwhile, hotel leaders downplayed threats from Airbnb's expansion into experiences, though experts argue hotels are underestimating the appeal of personalized, seamless offerings. Finally, Wyndham launched its fir...

Airbnb has been accused by ToursByLocals and Withlocals of violating their platforms’ policies by using company emails to recruit tour guides for its relaunched Experiences service. InterContinental Hotels Group’s CEO Elie Maalouf noted a temporary dip in U.S. inbound travel due to calendar shifts but expressed confidence in future growth, particularly in Asia, with plans to open the group’s 1,000...

Marriott has launched its first mid-market extended-stay brand, StudioRes, in Fort Myers, Florida, offering apartment-style rooms with full kitchens to appeal to budget-conscious, long-stay travelers, and plans to expand with 40 more properties by 2027. Apple announced new travel-related tech updates, including digital U.S. passports in Wallet and live translation for messages and calls, enhancing...

Hotels are seeking financial compensation from Booking.com over rate parity clauses that restricted lower pricing on their own sites from 2004 to 2024, with recent court decisions improving their chances. In Congress, several bipartisan bills could impact the travel industry, including legislation on hotel pricing transparency, tax deductions for tipped employees, and limits on airport facial reco...

Hilton is using AI primarily to enhance guest experiences by predicting needs, recognizing loyal customers, and replacing post-stay surveys with real-time feedback, while guest messaging tools have already improved satisfaction scores. Industry experts at the Skift Data + AI Summit discussed how major hotel chains, like Marriott and Hilton, may leverage AI and brand trust to expand into areas like...

Hotel CEOs say the U.S. is missing out on its tourism potential due to visa processing delays and lack of investment in tourism infrastructure, while also focusing expansion efforts on international markets like India and the Middle East. Meanwhile, IATA’s Willie Walsh criticizes governments and fuel producers, particularly in the EU, for slowing progress on sustainable aviation fuel production, t...

Hilton is expanding its luxury portfolio to attract affluent travelers and strengthen its loyalty program, having recently opened its 1,000th luxury property with plans to add 150 more this year. Meanwhile, Skift analyzed 2024 CEO compensation for travel companies in the S&P 500, finding Booking’s Glenn Fogel, Disney’s Robert Iger, and Uber’s Dara Khosrowshahi among the top 25 highest-paid CEOs. L...

United Airlines and JetBlue have announced a new domestic partnership called “Blue Sky,” enabling customers to earn and redeem frequent-flyer miles across both carriers and access shared loyalty benefits. Tripadvisor CEO Matt Goldberg suggested that Viator might partner with the relaunched Airbnb Experiences, though the fit with Airbnb’s curated approach is uncertain. Meanwhile, IATA’s Willie Wals...

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky revealed that former President Barack Obama mentored him, encouraging him to reconnect with friends and focus on the deeper purpose of his company during regular calls in 2018. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a massive, long-term overhaul of the nation’s air traffic control system, supported by a proposed $12.5 billion bill that still awaits Senate approv...

Southwest Airlines has scrapped its signature free-checked-bag perk, instituting $35 and $45 fees for first and second bags, moving toward assigned seating with extra charges, and framing the changes as essential for competitiveness and profit. OpenAI, meanwhile, is forming a hardware company to build AI-native devices that could become travelers’ primary booking assistants, giving the startup a c...

The U.S. House of Representatives passed President Trump’s tax bill, which includes major aviation funding but faces challenges in the Senate due to cuts to Medicaid and the debt limit. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced efforts to reduce the visa processing backlog using embassy overtime and AI, in preparation for upcoming major sporting events like the FIFA World Cup. Marriott Internationa...

Google previewed AI smart glasses that translate speech and give live travel guidance, taking on Ray-Ban Meta’s wearable. The FAA is capping Newark Airport at 28 takeoffs and 28 landings per hour after recent disruptions and will boost controller staffing in nearby Philadelphia. Wyndham Rewards now lets members bid loyalty points for concert and sports tickets through its new Experiences platform....