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.
Latest episodes
May 23, 2025 • 4min
Aviation Politics, World Cup Visa Backlog and Marriott’s New Brand
The U.S. House of Representatives passed President Trump’s tax bill, which includes major aviation funding but faces challenges in the Senate due to cuts to Medicaid and the debt limit. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced efforts to reduce the visa processing backlog using embassy overtime and AI, in preparation for upcoming major sporting events like the FIFA World Cup. Marriott International revealed India as the launch location for its new Series by Marriott brand, highlighting the country’s rising significance in its global strategy.
House Passes Trump’s 'Big, Beautiful Bill': Here’s How It Impacts Aviation
Rubio Explores 'Double Shifts' and AI to Clear World Cup Visa Backlog
Marriott’s New Brand Is Called Series by Marriott, and It’s Coming to India First
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May 22, 2025 • 4min
Google's Smart Glasses, Newark's Flight Cuts and Wyndham's Live Tourism Perks
Google previewed AI smart glasses that translate speech and give live travel guidance, taking on Ray-Ban Meta’s wearable.The FAA is capping Newark Airport at 28 takeoffs and 28 landings per hour after recent disruptions and will boost controller staffing in nearby Philadelphia.Wyndham Rewards now lets members bid loyalty points for concert and sports tickets through its new Experiences platform.
Google’s New Smart Glasses. For Travelers: Live Translation, Navigation
FAA Limits Capacity Out of Newark, Airlines Endorse Restrictions
Wyndham Expands Loyalty Program With 'Live Tourism' and Experiences
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May 21, 2025 • 3min
Google's New AI Mode, Congress’ Favorite Travel Stocks and Hotels.com's AI Planner
Google introduced new travel-related AI tools at its developer conference, including smart glasses for real-time translation and navigation, and a more advanced AI Mode for complex search tasks. A Skift analysis revealed that over three dozen U.S. lawmakers and their spouses have actively traded stocks in travel companies such as Booking Holdings, Marriott, and Airbnb, totaling nearly 600 trades since 2021. Additionally, Hotels.com launched a chatbot trip planner with helpful filtering features, though it has limitations and some technical issues.
Google’s New 'AI Mode' for Search: The Impact on Trip Planning
The Travel Stocks Congress Loves to Trade
Hotels.com Has a New Chatbot Trip Planner. Here's How it Works
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May 20, 2025 • 4min
Fairmont's New Marketing, Airbnb’s Experience Challenge and AirAsia Move’s Rebrand
Airbnb faces hurdles in reaching its $1 billion experiences business target, as the tours and activities sector grows slowly and customers typically book experiences separately from accommodations. Fairmont Hotels & Resorts launched its first global brand campaign since 2021, emphasizing personalized moments with bookable experiences and a new ad campaign titled “Make Special Happen.” Meanwhile, AirAsia Move plans to drop the “AirAsia” name within two years to establish itself as an independent travel platform for Southeast Asia.
5 Challenges for Airbnb Experiences
Fairmont Launches First Brand Campaign in 4 Years
AirAsia Move to Fully Rebrand as 'Move' Within 2 Years: CEO Nadia Omer
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May 16, 2025 • 3min
Airbnb's Experiences Confidence, Amadeus' Acquisition and Archer's Air Taxi Deal
Airbnb is relaunching its “Airbnb Originals” experiences, focusing on unique, locally vetted offerings such as cooking classes with Michelin-starred chefs and celebrity hangouts, to differentiate itself in a competitive market. Amadeus has acquired ForwardKeys, a travel analytics firm, to enhance its travel intelligence capabilities, marking its third acquisition in 2024. Archer Aviation announced plans to provide air taxi services during the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, while also preparing to operate flying taxis in Abu Dhabi and New York through partnerships and expected FAA certification.
Can Airbnb Experiences Stand Out? It’s Betting on Quality
Archer Aviation to Provide Air Taxi Service for 2028 LA Olympics
Amadeus Acquires ForwardKeys to Expand Travel Data Analytics: SCOOP
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May 15, 2025 • 3min
Airbnb's Personal Touch, Expedia’s Expansion and UAE Theme Park Struggles
Expedia Group is expanding its B2B business to include new offerings like flights, rental cars, and travel insurance, aiming to become a comprehensive platform for travel partners. Airbnb is enhancing its app by using user profiles to deliver personalized experiences based on travel preferences and companions, with CEO Brian Chesky envisioning profiles as central to its ecosystem. Meanwhile, optimism surrounds Abu Dhabi’s upcoming Disneyland project, backed by developer Miral, as theme park attendance on Yas Island rose by 20% in 2024 despite past failures in the UAE’s theme park sector.
User Profiles Power Airbnb’s Push Into Experiences and Services
Expedia’s B2B Push Grows: Adds Flights, Rental Cars, Travel Insurance
UAE Theme Parks Often Fail. Can Disneyland Abu Dhabi Succeed?
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May 13, 2025 • 4min
U.S. Tourism Optimism, Aviation Infrastructure Woes and Viceroy Expansion Plans
In April, travel to the U.S. rebounded with a notable 12% increase in visits from Western Europe, particularly from Germany and the U.K., though the data excludes Canada, where visits have declined. The U.S. air traffic control system is under scrutiny due to outdated technology and staffing shortages, prompting the government to invest billions in modernization, including new towers and increased hiring. Meanwhile, Highgate is expanding its luxury Viceroy brand with new developments like The Harriman in Idaho, marking a shift toward upscale leisure destinations.
U.S. Visits From Europe Rebounded in April After Sharp Drop
Highgate Expands Viceroy With Sun Valley Launch, Branded Residences — Exclusive
Newark Outages Expose Air Traffic Control Crisis — What to Know About the Fix
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May 9, 2025 • 4min
Expedia's Trump Slump, Choice's Budget Boost and Sphere’s Cheaper Offspring
Expedia Group is experiencing weaker travel demand to the U.S., reporting a 7% decline in inbound travel and lowering its full-year growth expectations due to softening bookings and revenue. Choice Hotels also cut its revenue outlook, though it saw a 7% rise in revenue per available room from its budget brands, benefiting from factors like strong employment and low gas prices. Meanwhile, Sphere Entertainment plans to expand by developing smaller, more cost-effective versions of its large-scale Sphere venues, aiming for broader market deployment with better investment returns.
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May 8, 2025 • 4min
Google's AI Travel Ads, Abu Dhabi's Disneyland and Trump Campaign's Hotel Expenses
Google is now allowing ads from travel companies to appear in generative AI search results, with startups like iAsk showing sponsored links from brands such as Tripadvisor and American Airlines. Meanwhile, Disney announced plans to build its first Middle Eastern theme park in Abu Dhabi on Yas Island, with the project being designed and financed in collaboration with government-backed developer Miral. Lastly, the Trump campaign spent over $4.76 million on lodging during the 2024 election, favoring Hilton and Marriott properties over other hotel brands.
Google Places Travel Ads in Startup AI Search Engine Results
How Much the Trump Campaign Spent on Hotels — and Where Staffers Stayed
Disney Picks Abu Dhabi for Its First Middle East Theme Park
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May 7, 2025 • 3min
Marriott’s Trimmed Forecast, Asia's New Travel Leaders and Hilton's India Ambitions
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 decade with a focus on the middle class and the introduction of five new brands.
Asia's Women Leading the Travel Transformation
Hilton CEO's 10x Plan for India: 30 Hotels Today, 300 in a Decade
Marriott Trims Outlook on 'Softer' U.S. Demand But Sees Strength Internationally
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