Skift Daily Travel Briefing
Skift
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.
Published Tuesday through Friday by 5am ET.
For ongoing coverage, please visit Skift.com/news.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Nov 25, 2025 • 4min
World Cup Bookings Surge, Qantas Eyes 21-Hour Flights, Hotel Loyalty Evolves
World Cup fever is already driving massive booking spikes, Qantas prepares to launch its 21-hour Project Sunrise flights, and hotel loyalty finally enters its clarity era.
On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why short-term rental demand is surging months before the match schedule is even set, how Qantas is pushing the limits of ultra-long-haul travel, and why loyalty programs are shifting from confusing points charts to transparent value and experiential perks.
Articles Referenced:
Short-Term Rental Demand Climbing Ahead of World Cup
Project Sunrise: The Business of Breaking Aviation's Final Frontier
More Clarity, More Experiences: What’s Next for Hotel Loyalty
Honorable Mention: Good Morning Hospitality, A Skift Podcast
Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG
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Nov 21, 2025 • 4min
Brand USA Funding Returns, Airlines Eye 2026, Peek Expands Experiences
Brand USA edges closer to restored funding, airlines brace for an uncertain 2026, and Peek makes a major play in the fast-growing experiences sector.
On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down the bipartisan effort to revive U.S. tourism marketing, the industry outlook heading into the next cycle, and how Peek’s new acquisitions and funding round signal a broader digital shift in tours and activities.
Articles Referenced:
Brand USA Funding Would Be Restored After 80% Cut Under New Bipartisan Bill
Airlines in 2026: Flying into Trouble, or Still Holding Altitude?
Experiences Company Peek Announces Two Acquisitions, $70 Million in Funding
Honorable Mention: Good Morning Hospitality, A Skift Podcast
Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG
Connect with Skift
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Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
Nov 20, 2025 • 4min
Marriott–Sonder Drama Continues, REI Returns to Travel, Hilton Expands in APAC
Marriott’s partnership with Sonder collapses dramatically, with more details unveiled in court filings. REI makes a major return to travel through a new alliance with Intrepid, and Hilton doubles down on a high-growth strategy across Asia Pacific.
On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy unpacks the chaotic final days of Sonder, why REI is betting big on guided adventures, and how Hilton is positioning itself for long-term dominance in Japan, India, and China.
Articles Referenced:
Sonder’s Final Days: Marriott Lays Out the Timeline in Court Docs
Intrepid Travel and REI Partner to Launch Adventure Tours
Hilton’s Asia Pacific Playbook: China vs. Japan vs. India
Honorable Mention: Good Morning Hospitality, A Skift Podcast
Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG
Connect with Skift
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/
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Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
Nov 19, 2025 • 4min
Hilton Revamps Loyalty, U.S. Drops Airline Payout Plan, World Cup Visas Fast-Tracked
Hilton unveils its biggest loyalty overhaul in years, the Trump administration rolls back proposed airline compensation rules, and the U.S. accelerates visa processing ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy explains how Hilton’s new elite tiers and confirmable upgrades could reshape traveler loyalty, why airlines are celebrating Washington’s regulatory reversal, and what World Cup fans need to know as visa demand surges worldwide.
Articles Referenced:
Hilton Overhauls Loyalty Program: Adds Top Tier, Lowers Bar for Status
U.S. Announces Fast-Tracked Visa Appointments for World Cup
Why Trump Scrapped Flight-Delay Compensation — and Other Biden Rules Axed
Honorable Mention: Good Morning Hospitality, A Skift Podcast
Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG
Connect with Skift
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews
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Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social
X: https://twitter.com/skift
Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
Nov 18, 2025 • 4min
Record Thanksgiving Travel, Google Builds AI Agent, Emirates Places $38B Order
Thanksgiving travel hits an all-time record, Google pushes deeper into agentic AI trip planning, and Emirates makes a massive splash at the Dubai Airshow.
On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down what the holiday surge means for travelers, how Google is inching toward automated booking, and why Emirates’ latest Boeing order and Starlink upgrade signal a new era of long-haul competition.
Articles Referenced:
Thanksgiving Travel Expected to Hit Record Despite Shutdown
Google Is Building Agentic Travel Booking, Plus Other Travel AI Updates
Emirates Opens Dubai Airshow With Giant Boeing Order and Starlink Deal
Honorable Mention: Good Morning Hospitality, A Skift Podcast
Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG
Connect with Skift
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews
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Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social
X: https://twitter.com/skift
Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
Nov 14, 2025 • 4min
Apple Launches Digital ID, Canadians Skip U.S. Trips, Singapore Adds Green Jet Tax
Apple brings digital passports to U.S. airports, Canadians cool on U.S. travel, and Singapore prepares the world’s first green jet fuel tax.
On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy unpacks how Apple’s digital ID rollout signals the next phase of travel tech, why fewer Canadians are crossing the border, and how Singapore’s climate levy could reshape aviation policy worldwide.
Articles Referenced:
New Apple Feature Stores Passport Info in Digital Wallet
Canadians Cut U.S. Trips as Travel to Canada Surges
Singapore Becomes First Country to Tax Air Travelers for Green Jet Fuel
Honorable Mention: Good Morning Hospitality, A Skift Podcast
Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG
Connect with Skift
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews
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Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social
X: https://twitter.com/skift
Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
Nov 13, 2025 • 4min
Jet2 Challenges easyJet, Webjet Adds Tours, Arlo Hotels Eyes Sale
Jet2 makes a bold move on easyJet’s home turf, Webjet expands into multiday tours, and Arlo Hotels may be the next lifestyle brand on the market.
On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy covers the latest airline rivalry at Gatwick, a new chapter for Australia’s largest OTA, and why boutique hotel brands are becoming prime acquisition targets.
Articles Referenced:
Jet2 Delivers a Very Unwelcome Birthday Present to EasyJet
Australia’s Webjet Launched Something Other OTAs Don’t Have — Multiday Tours
Arlo Hotels Looks for a Buyer
Honorable Mention: Good Morning Hospitality, A Skift Podcast
Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG
Connect with Skift
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews
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Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social
X: https://twitter.com/skift
Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
Nov 12, 2025 • 4min
Hilton Goes 100% Green, Saudi Seeks Billions, Klook Files IPO
Hilton hits a renewable energy milestone, Saudi Arabia’s AlUla ramps up its billion-dollar tourism push, and Asia’s Klook goes public as the experiences boom accelerates.
On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down Hilton’s shift from policy to profit-driven sustainability, Saudi Arabia’s latest bet on private investment, and what Klook’s IPO reveals about the next phase of global travel demand.
Articles Referenced:
Hilton’s Renewable Energy Push Gains Ground After 100% Adoption Milestone
Saudi Arabia’s AlUla Wants More Private Investors. It’s Pitching Billions in Tourism Deals
Inside Klook’s IPO Filing: What It Tells Us About the Future of Global Travel Experiences
Honorable Mention: Good Morning Hospitality, A Skift Podcast
Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG
Connect with Skift
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews
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Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social
X: https://twitter.com/skift
Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
Nov 11, 2025 • 4min
U.S. Travel Slows, Airbnb Enters Hotels, Sonder Shuts Down
U.S. travel companies are feeling the sting of fewer international visitors, Airbnb tests a hotel strategy in major cities, and Sonder’s meteoric rise ends in collapse.
On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down what’s behind the tourism slowdown, why Airbnb’s next chapter might look more like Expedia, and what Sonder’s downfall means for hospitality’s tech-driven future.
Articles Referenced:
U.S. Travel Companies Hit by Fewer International Visitors. Here’s What CEOs Say.
How Airbnb Is Thinking About Its Third New Business of 2025 — Hotels
Sonder Officially Shuts Down: What Went Wrong?
Honorable Mention: Good Morning Hospitality, A Skift Podcast
Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG
Connect with Skift
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews
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Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social
X: https://twitter.com/skift
Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
Nov 7, 2025 • 4min
FAA Cuts Flights, Tripadvisor Lays Off 20%, Luxury Hotels Reset
The FAA cuts air traffic to ease controller strain, Tripadvisor trims its workforce to double down on AI and experiences, and luxury hospitality faces a reckoning with its own overconfidence.
On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy covers how the shutdown is grounding more than flights, why Tripadvisor is reinventing itself for the AI era, and what “the illusion of knowledge” really means for the future of luxury travel.
Articles Referenced:
U.S. to Cut Air Traffic by 10% at Major Airports Due to Government Shutdown
Layoffs Hit 20% of Tripadvisor, Viator and Administrative Staff: Scoop
The Illusion of Knowledge in Luxury Hospitality
Honorable Mention: Good Morning Hospitality, A Skift Podcast
Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG
Connect with Skift
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social
X: https://twitter.com/skift
Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
