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Skift Daily Travel Briefing

Everything you need to know about the business of travel today. Each episode covers new travel stories from Skift"s editorial team. Listen to the latest developments at hotels, airlines, destinations, online booking sites, and more. Published Tuesday through Friday by 5am ET. Presented by Sierra. For ongoing coverage, please visit Skift.com/news.

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All Episodes

3:39

Tripadvisor Under Pressure, Trump's D.C. Hotels and...

Skift Daily Travel Briefing ·

2025/08/21

Tripadvisor faces fresh activist pressure as investor Palliser urges the company to prioritize or sell its fast-growing Viator unit, which it values higher than Tripadvisor’s entire market cap. Washington, D.C., hotels saw occupancy dip to 64% after a federal takeover of local police, though the decline mirrors broader national softening in demand. Meanwhile, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines launched a joint loyalty program, Atmos Rewards, and Alaska struck a deal to equip its fleet with

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3:42

Southwest's Vacation Packages, Frustrated Biz...

Skift Daily Travel Briefing ·

2025/08/20

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 distributing fares across multiple systems; a Sabre survey found 90% of agencies now use four or more

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3:43

Soho House Goes Private, Hotel Investment Stalls and...

Skift Daily Travel Briefing ·

2025/08/19

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 large, debt-heavy deals disappear and smaller select-service and extended-stay properties dominate

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3:32

Google's AI Flights, Airbnb's BNPY Feature, and Air...

Skift Daily Travel Briefing ·

2025/08/15

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 over wage increases.Connect with

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3:42

Canadians Shun U.S., Ennismore’s IPO Impact, and...

Skift Daily Travel Briefing ·

2025/08/14

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 upgrades but warned that without major decarbonization breakthroughs, emissions will rise again as its fleet

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3:37

Spirit's Uncertain Survival, Airbnb’s Hotels Play,...

Skift Daily Travel Briefing ·

2025/08/13

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 impacting both visitors and locals.Connect with

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3:50

Airbnb’s Political Spending, U.S. Hotels’ Health, and...

Skift Daily Travel Briefing ·

2025/08/12

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 travel also sharply reduced. Connect with

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3:36

Hyatt’s Hotel Sale, Expedia’s Good Quarter and...

Skift Daily Travel Briefing ·

2025/08/08

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 Europe is softening during peak summer months, a trend analysts link to travelers adjusting plans to

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3:24

Airbnb Expands Services, Southwest Joins Priceline...

Skift Daily Travel Briefing ·

2025/08/07

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. performance weakens, cutting its 2025 forecast following a drop in domestic revenue. Airbnb: Early

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3:33

Booking’s Credit Card, Marriott’s Slower Growth and...

Skift Daily Travel Briefing ·

2025/08/06

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 delisting under a new law requiring properties to display a registration number, with enforcement beginning

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3:39

U.S. Tightens Visas, Oyo Enters Australia and Europe...

Skift Daily Travel Briefing ·

2025/08/05

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, European flights are becoming longer and aircraft larger, reflecting a shift away from regional routes toward

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3:41

Booking Trends, AI Tools, and the New Rules of Travel...

Skift Daily Travel Briefing ·

2025/08/01

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 direct bookings decline and OTAs rebound. Meanwhile, Booking Holdings reports strong ad performance on

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3:40

Vegas Slowdown, Luxury Power Plays and a Biz Travel...

Skift Daily Travel Briefing ·

2025/07/31

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 dropped its antitrust lawsuit against the Amex GBT-CWT merger, clearing the way for a dominant player in

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3:32

United-JetBlue Team up, Royal Caribbean's Boost and...

Skift Daily Travel Briefing ·

2025/07/30

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 profitability has fueled IPO speculation, though its CEO says the airline is simply preparing for the

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3:45

Hilton's Strategy Shift, Spirit's Furloughs and Sri...

Skift Daily Travel Briefing ·

2025/07/29

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 for travelers from 33 countries, including the U.S., aiming to boost tourism by nearly 50% in 2025.

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3:35

Airfare AI Debates, Hotel EV Demand and Southwest’s...

Skift Daily Travel Briefing ·

2025/07/25

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 or free breakfast. Meanwhile, Southwest Airlines reported no negative fallout from its new baggage fees

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3:43

Hilton’s Confidence, Accor’ Vegas Entry and...

Skift Daily Travel Briefing ·

2025/07/24

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, integrating it into its global ALL loyalty program. In Asia-Pacific, lifestyle hotel rooms have surged

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3:51

A Weaker U.S. Passport, Travel Lobbying Spending and...

Skift Daily Travel Briefing ·

2025/07/23

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 pricing, prompting criticism from lawmakers who fear it could lead to consumer price discrimination.

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3:23

Southwest’s Seating Revolution, Barcelona’s Cruise...

Skift Daily Travel Briefing ·

2025/07/22

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 in 2025, driven largely by higher spending per trip, with India, South Korea, and Turkey leading market

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3:22

The State of Travel, United’s Rebound and Wyndham’s...

Skift Daily Travel Briefing ·

2025/07/18

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 delivery services at nearly 6,000 U.S. locations, reflecting a broader industry move toward outsourcing

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1,070 results

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