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.
Episodes
May 6, 2025 • 2 mins
JetBlue has sold its venture capital arm, JetBlue Ventures, to Sky Leasing in a move to return to profitability following setbacks including the collapse of partnerships with American Airlines and Spirit Airlines. Airbnb's global rollout of upfront pricing now includes cleaning fees, which vary significantly by region, with North America and the Caribbean showing the highest incidence. Meanwhile, Skift Research reports that social ...
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May 2, 2025 • 3 mins
Airbnb is working to regain double-digit growth in nights booked by expanding internationally, especially in Italy, Germany, and Japan, and by adding more high-quality hotels to its platform, including incentives through HotelTonight. Wyndham has revised its revenue outlook downward due to softer March demand but remains optimistic about long-term gains from infrastructure spending, having opened a record number of new rooms in Q1....
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May 1, 2025 • 2 mins
Trivago reported a strong first quarter with $141 million in revenue—a 22% year-over-year increase—driven by global and local ad campaigns, with expectations of continued growth. China’s H World Group now leads globally in hotel count and loyalty membership, aiming to double its presence by expanding budget and upscale hotels in China and internationally. Meanwhile, Wizz Air urged faster climate action in aviation, advocating for t...
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April 30, 2025 • 3 mins
Skift reports that a survey of travel industry leaders shows widespread concern over the Trump administration’s early impact, with “uncertainty” being the dominant theme and many seeing potential opportunities for non-U.S. markets. Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta remains optimistic about the economy and travel demand despite acknowledging short-term concerns and trimming Hilton’s annual revenue outlook. Meanwhile, Verbo has agreed to rev...
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April 29, 2025 • 3 mins
Marriott International plans to acquire CitizenM to expand its select-service and lifestyle hotel portfolio, expecting the deal to boost its 2025 net room growth and generate $30 million in annual fees. Expedia Group is laying off about 3% of its workforce, mainly in the product, technology, and finance teams, as part of a broader restructuring effort that began with its marketing team in March. Meanwhile, a rare atmospheric event ...
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April 25, 2025 • 3 mins
Booking Holdings CEO Glenn Fogel topped online travel executive compensation in 2024 with a $126.4 million pay package, while Expedia CEO Ariane Gorin received $37.3 million, boosted by Expedia’s stock surge. Former President Donald Trump addressed the U.S. tourism decline, attributing it partly to nationalism abroad and suggesting a weaker dollar might reverse the trend, though Skift Research found political climate to be the top ...
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Expedia Group is making it harder for entry-level One Key loyalty members to earn rewards on Vrbo bookings, a change aimed at reducing costs for the company. Meanwhile, international adventure travelers are increasingly avoiding the U.S. due to perceptions of unwelcoming entry policies and lingering concerns about tariffs. Lastly, although Booking Holdings reported a drop in greenhouse gas emissions for 2024, it is abandoning a key...
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April 23, 2025 • 3 mins
Travel companies have ramped up their lobbying efforts significantly in early 2025, with spending surpassing amounts seen in previous presidential terms, and the U.S. Travel Association alone investing over $1 million. In Thailand, tourism revenue goals for 2025 are being lowered due to a steep decline in Chinese tourists, influenced by regional safety concerns. Meanwhile, Airbus has postponed its electric commercial aircraft plans...
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April 18, 2025 • 3 mins
A federal judge ruled that Google violated antitrust laws by using its ad tech tools to maintain a monopoly, a decision that could benefit travel advertisers like Expedia and Trivago, who have long criticized Google's dominance. Skift Research warns of potential recession impacts on the travel industry, with luxury hotels like Hyatt already seeing share-price declines, though this segment may prove more resilient than in past downt...
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April 17, 2025 • 3 mins
Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta was the highest-paid hotel executive in 2024 with $58.7 million in compensation, followed by Marriott’s Anthony Capuano and Wyndham’s Geoffrey Ballotti. Meanwhile, Beijing has instructed Chinese airlines not to place new orders with Boeing amid rising U.S.-China trade tensions, a move that could impact both the aircraft manufacturer and China’s carriers. Lastly, travel brands in Southern Europe are adjusti...
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April 15, 2025 • 3 mins
U.S. hotel growth is slowing due to weak travel demand and economic uncertainty, with Goldman Sachs projecting minimal revenue increases and a 45% chance of recession. Expedia has begun selling Ryanair flights in the U.S. and Europe after resolving a legal dispute, marking a shift in how airlines distribute inventory online. Meanwhile, new maritime regulations will require cruise lines to pay for carbon emissions, pushing the indus...
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April 11, 2025 • 3 mins
Travel executives are seeing early signs of weakening U.S. travel demand amid economic uncertainty, with hotel prices dropping and travelers opting for cheaper domestic trips. Frontier Airlines plans to cut capacity and anticipates a first-quarter net loss due to softening demand and necessary fare promotions. Meanwhile, Marriott has launched a new emotionally driven ad campaign, “Travel Shapes Us,” focusing on personal experiences...
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April 10, 2025 • 3 mins
Delta Air Lines has paused its 2025 outlook due to economic uncertainty and stalled growth, despite gains in international and premium revenue, while also noting a drop in Canadian bookings. Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is launching its first major brand refresh since 1985, including a new app, updated branding, and an expanded global portfolio plan. Meanwhile, the short-term rental industry struggles to track its carbon footprint...
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April 9, 2025 • 3 mins
International arrivals to the U.S. dropped over 11% in March compared to last year, with significant declines from Western Europe, especially Germany, according to new government data. Morningstar has downgraded its 2025 revenue growth forecasts for major online travel companies due to economic concerns and tariffs introduced by President Trump. Meanwhile, Emirates’ president warned of a potential global economic reset, pointing to...
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April 8, 2025 • 3 mins
The U.S. hotel industry is under pressure due to trade disruptions from Trump's tariff policies, with HotelAVE CEO Michelle Russo warning of a 5% drop in revenue per available room and advising hotels to prepare for supply chain issues and reduced traveler demand. Spirit Airlines is undergoing a major leadership shake-up as CEO Ted Christie and CCO Matt Klein step down, following the airline’s recent emergence from Chapter 11 bankr...
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April 7, 2025 • 10 mins
Special Monday Edition:
Global travel stocks suffered steep declines on Monday, with major markets in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe seeing significant selloffs due to mounting fears over global tariffs and economic instability. The Hang Seng index dropped over 13%, its worst fall since 1997, while travel-linked stocks like Trip.com and Alibaba plunged by double digits. European airlines and hotel giants also took hits, with IA...
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April 4, 2025 • 3 mins
President Trump's newly announced tariffs have increased recession fears, triggering a sharp drop in travel company stocks and prompting Skift Research to revise its 2025 global travel growth forecast down to 2-5%. U.S. and European airlines were hit hard, with major carriers like United, Delta, and American seeing stock declines of at least 8%, as economic uncertainty continues to weigh on the industry. Meanwhile, airlines are fal...
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April 3, 2025 • 4 mins
U.S. President Donald Trump proposed extensive new tariffs that could indirectly impact the travel industry by raising costs for goods and potentially deterring international tourists due to rising prices and geopolitical tensions. Meanwhile, travel brands are facing uncertainty around marketing on TikTok as a U.S. ban looms, even though the app plays a significant role in travel discovery and promotion. Lastly, Virgin Voyages’ adu...
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April 2, 2025 • 4 mins
U.S. tariffs introduced by President Trump may indirectly affect the travel industry by increasing costs and strengthening the dollar, potentially deterring international visitors and raising expenses for hotel owners. Travel leaders like United Airlines and Accor have already reported declines in international travel to the U.S., citing negative perceptions and rising tensions as contributing factors. Meanwhile, vacation rental co...
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March 28, 2025 • 4 mins
Travelers can now book hotels directly through the AI search engine Perplexity, which integrates data from Tripadvisor and Selfbook, though the booking process is still somewhat clunky. European airline CEOs say demand for travel to the U.S. remains strong despite economic concerns, but warn that a decline could pose challenges due to limited alternative markets. Meanwhile, Airbus claims innovation is helping offset emissions from ...
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