Marriott has lowered its full-year forecast due to weakening demand in the U.S., despite strong international performance and double-digit revenue growth in India and Japan. In a separate development, Skift highlights ten influential women in the Asia-Pacific travel industry ahead of its upcoming Asia Forum, spotlighting leaders from Hilton, Klook, and Indonesia’s aviation sector. Meanwhile, Hilton is planning a major expansion in India, aiming to grow its hotel count tenfold over the next decad...
May 07, 2025•3 min
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 commerce is transforming travel, as platforms like TikTok and Ins...
May 06, 2025•3 min
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. Hyatt also lowered its forecast citing macroeconomic uncertainty...
May 02, 2025•4 min
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 the end of fossil fuel subsidies in favor of sustainable jet fuel ...
May 01, 2025•3 min
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 revise or pull ads featuring Nick Saban after a ruling that the comm...
Apr 30, 2025•4 min
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 triggered a major power outage across Spain and Portugal, severel...
Apr 29, 2025•4 min
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 deterrent for travelers. Despite global economic concerns, Accor ...
Apr 25, 2025•4 min
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 sustainability goal. Expedia Makes It Harder for One Key Members...
Apr 24, 2025•4 min
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, citing supply challenges with green hydrogen, though it remains...
Apr 23, 2025•3 min
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 downturns. Meanwhile, a Global Business Travel Association poll shows ...
Apr 18, 2025•4 min
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 adjusting to extreme heat, with companies like Intrepid Travel shifting ...
Apr 17, 2025•4 min
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 industry toward cleaner operations by 2035. U.S. Hotels Face Slowing G...
Apr 15, 2025•4 min
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 rather than traditional hotel amenities. These Travel Tech Execs...
Apr 11, 2025•3 min
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, with major platforms not requiring hosts to report emissions de...
Apr 10, 2025•3 min
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 current financial market instability and challenges faced by maj...
Apr 09, 2025•3 min
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 bankruptcy. Meanwhile, Europe’s upscale and luxury hotel sector, which...
Apr 08, 2025•4 min
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 IAG, Lufthansa, Accor, and IHG all posting substantial losses amid c...
Apr 07, 2025•11 min
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 falling behind on their goal of net zero emissions by 2050 due to sl...
Apr 04, 2025•3 min
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’ adults-only cruise strategy has proven successful, with a 60% revenu...
Apr 03, 2025•4 min
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 company Vacasa has endorsed a lower buyout offer from Casago and Ro...
Apr 02, 2025•4 min
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 aviation growth, though the industry acknowledges it has made lim...
Mar 28, 2025•4 min
Despite ongoing economic concerns and declining consumer confidence, a new survey shows that people still plan to increase their travel spending, even as they cut back on entertainment like movies and live events. Eurostar is experiencing a strong rise in bookings from U.S. travelers, with CEO Gwendoline Cazenave noting no signs of a slowdown and emphasizing seamless travel as key to continued growth. Meanwhile, Singapore is set for a tourism boost thanks to Lady Gaga's May concerts, which have ...
Mar 26, 2025•4 min
United Airlines is raising fees for its credit cards and lounge memberships while adding new perks like rideshare credits and Instacart memberships, as it sees growing revenue from these services. Marriott International is expanding rapidly in the branded residences market, especially in the Caribbean and Latin America, though it faces stiff competition from other major hotel chains. Meanwhile, Minor Hotels is consolidating its eight brands under a single app and launching a masterbrand strategy...
Mar 25, 2025•4 min
London’s Heathrow Airport has been shut down until 11:59 p.m. on March 21 due to a major power outage caused by a fire, resulting in the cancellation of 1,351 flights and at least 120 diversions. Accor’s loyalty program, ALL, has surpassed 100 million members globally, though it still trails behind Marriott and Hilton due to its smaller global footprint. Meanwhile, Airbnb is ramping up efforts to attract Chinese outbound travelers with targeted marketing on local platforms and seasonal campaigns...
Mar 21, 2025•4 min
Vrbo launched a marketing campaign targeting Airbnb, but Airbnb dismissed it as ineffective, with Skift Research showing Airbnb’s dominant market share of 44% compared to Vrbo’s 9%. Sonesta remains optimistic about strong bookings despite economic concerns and is shifting towards franchising by selling 114 properties, particularly seeing growth in East Coast markets. Meanwhile, IHG has opened Western Europe’s first net-zero hotel in the UK, powered by renewable energy and featuring sustainable p...
Mar 20, 2025•4 min
Marriott International sees India as a key driver of its future growth, with CEO Anthony Capuano emphasizing local leadership, expansion into secondary cities, and tourism development in discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Air India CEO Campbell Wilson highlighted India's rapid aviation growth, with over 1,000 aircraft on order, a booming loyalty program, and plans to integrate AI for operational efficiency, positioning Indian carriers to dominate outbound travel by 2027. Meanwhile, t...
Mar 18, 2025•4 min
The Trump administration is considering new travel restrictions that could impact up to 43 countries, including full visa bans for 11 nations, citing national security concerns. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has launched a debit card targeting Gen Z and Millennials, allowing users to earn Wyndham Rewards points on everyday purchases. Meanwhile, the short-term rental market is increasingly dominated by major platforms like Airbnb, Booking.com, and Vrbo, with Airbnb significantly expanding its mark...
Mar 17, 2025•4 min
Radisson is prioritizing an "owner-first" approach to its expansion, adding a record 40,000 guest rooms last year and planning significant growth in China. Riyadh Air sees India as a key market for its global network, with increasing Indian visitor numbers and transit flight potential. Skift Research estimates the global accommodation market generated $1.2 trillion in 2023, with moderate growth expected, Asia-Pacific set to overtake Europe, and business travel spending surpassing pre-COVID level...
Mar 14, 2025•4 min
Southwest Airlines reversed its long-standing “bags fly free” policy after its expected gains from listing flights on Google Flights, Kayak, and Expedia failed to materialize, prompting the airline to reconsider its distribution strategy. Meanwhile, Canadian visits to the U.S. have declined post-pandemic, with a significant drop in car travel and vacation rental bookings, influenced by past political and economic tensions. Lastly, ahead of the Skift India Forum, industry leaders highlight ten ri...
Mar 13, 2025•4 min
Airbnb is revamping its experiences offerings by focusing on mainstream attractions and professional tour guides, signaling a shift from its original emphasis on niche activities. Southwest Airlines is ending its long-standing “bags fly free” policy under pressure from Elliott Investment Management, a move that could impact its loyal customer base. Meanwhile, Lufthansa Group reported a 16% rise in total emissions in 2024 but saw a slight decrease in passenger-related emissions due to more fuel-e...
Mar 12, 2025•4 min
