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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. For ongoing coverage, please visit Skift.com/news.

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All Episodes

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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3:33

Marriott’s Exec Changes, Amex Cuts Travel Packages...

Skift Daily Travel Briefing ·

2025/07/17

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 global outlook.United Lowers Profit Forecast Despite Less Economic and Geopolitical Uncertainty

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3:37

AI’s Impact on Travel Jobs, NYC’s Transit Mess and...

Skift Daily Travel Briefing ·

2025/07/16

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 traditional travel suppliers to ramp up hiring in tech and engineering. In other news, NYC mayoral

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3:37

Travel Spending Pullback, Delta's Premium Plan and...

Skift Daily Travel Briefing ·

2025/07/15

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-Pacific region, with plans to open nearly 90 new properties and double its presence in India within five

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3:59

Airbnb Gets Flexible, Delta Revises Forecast,...

Skift Daily Travel Briefing ·

2025/07/11

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 demand despite economic uncertainty and soft main cabin sales. Marriott has begun construction on its first

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3:27

U.S. Tourism Drops, Marriott Eyes Outdoors and...

Skift Daily Travel Briefing ·

2025/07/10

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 services like weddings and adventure tours. Meanwhile, airlines are expected to post modest second-quarter

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3:47

Hilton Expands With LivSmart, Virgin Atlantic Adds...

Skift Daily Travel Briefing ·

2025/07/09

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 security checkpoints due to improved screening technology, although exceptions and benefits for PreCheck

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4:06

Hyatt's All-Inclusive Bet, TSA’s Shoes-On Test and...

Skift Daily Travel Briefing ·

2025/07/08

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 Starboard Value has acquired a 9% stake in Tripadvisor and may pressure the company to sell off brands

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3:47

Airbnb’s Pay-Later Bet, Airline Cyberattacks and a...

Skift Daily Travel Briefing ·

2025/07/03

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 control facilities, as part of broader reform efforts. Finally, Hawaiian Airlines, WestJet, and Qantas have

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1,082 results

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