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. Presented by Amazon Ads.
For ongoing coverage, please visit Skift.com/news.
Published Tuesday through Friday by 5am ET. Presented by Amazon Ads.
For ongoing coverage, please visit Skift.com/news.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Dec 18, 2025 • 4min
United Goes AI-First, OTAs Face an Identity Test, World Cup Prices Bite
United upgrades its app into a predictive travel assistant, online travel agencies face an identity crisis in the age of AI, and World Cup ticket prices come down — but only on paper.
On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down how United is using AI to reduce travel friction, why Expedia and Booking are rethinking their roles as AI reshapes discovery, and what World Cup pricing really means for fans planning to travel in 2026.
This episode is brought to you by Amazon! To learn more, go to advertising.amazon.com
Connect with Skift
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Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
Dec 17, 2025 • 4min
Airline CEOs Shuffle, NYC Casinos Approved, U.S. Raises Travel Fees
Airlines reshuffle leadership at a rapid pace, New York City clears the way for three new casino resorts, and the U.S. continues layering on travel fees that could test inbound demand.
On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down what’s driving the sudden wave of airline CEO changes, why New York’s casino approvals matter for tourism strategy, and how rising entry fees risk pushing travelers to competing destinations.
This episode is brought to you by Amazon! To learn more, go to advertising.amazon.com
Articles Referenced:
9 New Airline CEOs in 5 Weeks: What’s Driving the Global Reshuffle?
New York City Casinos Get Final Approval. What Does it Mean for NYC Tourism?
U.S. Hikes Travel Fees and Entry Requirements. Where Will Travelers Draw the Line?
Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG
Connect with Skift
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/
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Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
Dec 16, 2025 • 5min
Hotel Costs Surge, Google Enables Live Translation, Spirit Gets Lifeline
Hotels face a widening cost squeeze, Google turns everyday earbuds into real-time translators, and Spirit Airlines secures a last-minute lifeline to stay airborne.
On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why rising labor and operating costs are reshaping hotel economics, how live translation tech could remove one of travel’s biggest barriers, and what Spirit’s $50 million rescue means for the future of ultra-low-cost airlines.
This episode is brought to you by Amazon! To learn more, go to advertising.amazon.com
Articles Referenced:
The Ugly New Math Crushing Hotels
Google Turns Millions of Earbuds Into Live Translators
Spirit Airlines Gets $50 Million Lifeline Following Liquidation Rumors
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.
Dec 12, 2025 • 4min
Hilton Expands Luxury, Boom Advances Supersonic, Expedia Buys Tiqets
Hilton accelerates its global luxury expansion, Boom Supersonic leverages AI demand to fuel its aviation timeline, and Expedia steps deeper into the experiences market with its acquisition of Tiqets.
On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down how Hilton is positioning itself for the next wave of high-end travel, why Boom’s new turbine business could speed up the return of supersonic flight, and what Expedia’s latest deal means for the future of tours, attractions, and full-trip retail.
This episode is brought to you by Amazon! To learn more, go to advertising.amazon.com
Articles Referenced:
Hilton Execs Bet on Luxury as Wealthy Travelers Fuel Global Boom
Boom CEO: Powering AI Data Centers Will Speed Path to Supersonic Flights
Expedia Agrees to Buy Experiences Platform Tiqets to Bolster Its B2B Offering
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.
Dec 11, 2025 • 4min
Record U.S. Holiday Travel, Gulf Cruises Rise, U.S. Adds Social Media Checks
U.S. holiday travel is about to break records, the Gulf positions itself as cruising’s next major hub, and America plans new digital screening requirements that could slow inbound tourism.
On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy unpacks why more than 122 million Americans are expected to travel this holiday season, how a unified GCC visa could transform cruising across the Middle East, and what mandatory social media disclosures mean for visitors from top global markets.
This episode is brought to you by Amazon! To learn more, go to advertising.amazon.com
Articles Referenced:
Alaska Airlines Leans on Hawaiian For Global Expansion
Southwest Airlines Exec Defends Changes, Says Network Is a ‘Huge Differentiator’
Marriott CFO: Year-End Softness, Sonder Lessons, and 2026 Rebound
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.
Dec 10, 2025 • 4min
Self-Driving Competes with Air, Luxury Bubble Grows, Travelers Drink Less
Skift’s 2026 Megatrends are here — and today’s Daily Briefing zooms in on three that are already reshaping traveler behavior: self-driving cars that quietly compete with planes, a luxury bubble that’s becoming the industry’s load-bearing wall, and a new wave of sober-curious travelers redefining what “vacation mode” looks like.
On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down how autonomous vehicles unlock productive travel time, why luxury demand is propping up entire sectors, and what hotels and cruise lines need to understand about guests who are drinking less — but still seeking elevated experiences.
This episode is brought to you by Amazon! To learn more, go to advertising.amazon.com
Articles Referenced:
Alaska Airlines Leans on Hawaiian For Global Expansion
Southwest Airlines Exec Defends Changes, Says Network Is a ‘Huge Differentiator’
Marriott CFO: Year-End Softness, Sonder Lessons, and 2026 Rebound
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.
Dec 9, 2025 • 4min
Middle-Class Lodging Fades, Uber Trains AI with Agents, Hotels Cut Waste with AI
The middle of the U.S. lodging market collapses, Uber quietly hires travel agents to train its AI, and hotels use smart food-waste tech to cut emissions and costs.
On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy explores how America priced out the classic middle-class road trip, why Uber is building the invisible infrastructure behind trip planning, and how AI-powered kitchen tools are becoming one of the industry’s most effective sustainability strategies.
This episode is brought to you by Amazon! To learn more, go to advertising.amazon.com
Articles Referenced:
How U.S. Lodging Abandoned the Middle Class
Uber’s AI Solutions Arm Is Recruiting Travel Agents
AI Food Waste Trackers Help Hotels Avoid Tons of CO₂ Emissions
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.
Dec 5, 2025 • 4min
Alaska Goes Global, Southwest Rebrands, Marriott Eyes 2026
Alaska Airlines pushes into long-haul flying, Southwest reshapes its identity for a new era, and Marriott signals confidence despite a softer quarter.
On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down Alaska’s unexpected global ambitions, Southwest’s transition from quirky challenger to convenience-first carrier, and Marriott’s outlook as it prepares for a stronger 2026 boosted by international demand, luxury travel, and major global events.
This episode is brought to you by Amazon! To learn more, go to advertising.amazon.com
Articles Referenced:
Alaska Airlines Leans on Hawaiian For Global Expansion
Southwest Airlines Exec Defends Changes, Says Network Is a ‘Huge Differentiator’
Marriott CFO: Year-End Softness, Sonder Lessons, and 2026 Rebound
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.
Dec 4, 2025 • 4min
Canadians Turn Away, Hotel Loyalty Evolves, Eventbrite Gets $500M Reboot
Canadian travelers are pulling back from the U.S., hotel loyalty enters a new era of personalization, and Eventbrite gets a $500 million reboot.
On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why the U.S. is losing its most reliable inbound market, how loyalty programs are shifting from points to experiences, and what Eventbrite’s acquisition signals for the future of event tech.
This episode is brought to you by Amazon! To learn more, go to advertising.amazon.com
Articles Referenced:
The Unraveling of U.S.-Canada Travel
The Great Reinvention of Hotel Loyalty
Bending Spoons to Acquire Eventbrite in $500 Million Cash Deal
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.
Dec 3, 2025 • 4min
TSA Adds $45 ID Fee, Expedia Hires AI Chief, Delta Expands Elite Perks
TSA introduces a new $45 fee for travelers without Real ID, Expedia hires its first Chief AI and Data Officer to accelerate its tech shift, and Delta sweetens perks for its top-tier loyalists.
On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down how identity verification is changing at airports, why Expedia is making a bold AI move, and how Delta is doubling down on premium customers as loyalty becomes a bigger revenue engine.
This episode is brought to you by Amazon! To learn more, go to advertising.amazon.com
Articles Referenced:
TSA to Charge $45 to Flyers Without Real ID or Passport
Expedia Hires Former Google VP as First Chief AI Officer
Delta Adds More Perks for Top-Tier Flyers: Here’s What to Know
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.
