Skift Daily Travel Briefing

The potential U.S.-Canada trade war is currently on hold, but tariffs remain a threat, which could impact tourism as a weaker Canadian dollar may make U.S. travel more expensive, potentially leading to a $2.1 billion loss in spending. Columnist Colin Nagy highlights Delta Air Lines’ success in attracting premium travelers but argues it must improve its long-haul service to compete with top global airlines, as premium ticket sales are expected to surpass economy revenue by 2027. Meanwhile, Nordic hotel operator Strawberry is launching two new brands—Home, catering to frequent business travelers, and Stopover, a sustainable roadside motel chain—marking its first major expansion in three decades. Strawberry Bets Big on Two New Hotel Brands in Nordic Market Shake-Up Delta Is Winning the U.S. Premium Traveler, But Needs to Up Its Game on the Global Stage Trump's Potential Trade War With Canada: What's at Stake for Tourism Connect with SkiftLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnewsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnewsBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.socialX: https://twitter.com/skiftSubscribe to @SkiftNews (https://www.youtube.com/@SkiftNews) and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Hotel industry leaders emphasize the importance of diversity for appealing to global travelers, employees, and investors, despite challenges from the Trump administration, with Wyndham's CEO highlighting mentorship programs for women and Black entrepreneurs. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating a fatal mid-air collision near Washington, D.C., involving an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, with a preliminary report expected within 30 days. Meanwhile, Japan experienced a 40% increase in Indian visitors in 2024, driven by more scheduled flights and targeted collaboration with Indian travel agents. CEOs of large hotel groups argue that the overall concept of diversity is critical for their businesses National Transportation Safety Board has outlined how it plans to investigate Wednesday’s deadly plane crash  Japan saw a surge in visitors from India in 2024 Connect with SkiftLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnewsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnewsBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.socialX: https://twitter.com/skiftSubscribe to @SkiftNews (https://www.youtube.com/@SkiftNews) and never miss an update from the travel industry.

A midair collision between an American Eagle regional jet and an Army Blackhawk helicopter near Reagan Washington National Airport led to flight disruptions and ongoing search and rescue operations, with the FAA and NTSB launching an investigation. Columnist Colin Nagy highlights a shift in the hospitality industry away from post-Covid extravagance, praising brands like Capella, Dusit Thani Bangkok, Six Senses, and Siro for their innovation. Meanwhile, Frontier Airlines has renewed its bid to acquire Spirit Airlines, but Spirit remains uninterested, preferring its own bankruptcy exit plan. An American Eagle regional jet collided midair with an Army Blackhawk helicopter in Washington, D.C. The hospitality industry is seeing a reduced appetite for post-Covid excess and conspicuous consumption Frontier Airlines announced on Wednesday that it’s making another bid to acquire the struggling Spirit Airlines Connect with SkiftLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnewsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnewsBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.socialX: https://twitter.com/skiftSubscribe to @SkiftNews (https://www.youtube.com/@SkiftNews) and never miss an update from the travel industry.

China-based AI model DeepSeek is rapidly gaining attention in the tech industry, potentially lowering AI costs for travel brands while disrupting online travel agencies. Meanwhile, Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, the new chairman of AirAsia Move, plans to integrate luxury travel and cruising into the superapp’s offerings, expanding its reach beyond Southeast Asia. Despite a $4 billion loss, Boeing is making strides in its recovery, with FAA-approved plans to increase 737 Max production following safety improvements. Deepseek’s implications for the travel industry Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio has big things in store for AirAsia Move Boeing believes it’s making progress in its recovery Connect with SkiftLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnewsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnewsBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.socialX: https://twitter.com/skiftSubscribe to @SkiftNews (https://www.youtube.com/@SkiftNews) and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Hotel deals are projected to surge in 2025, with JLL forecasting 15-25% growth and a focus on city-center properties in destinations like London, New York, and Tokyo. Meanwhile, Greenland’s rising tourism, fueled by global attention and a 9% hike in land-based visitors in 2023, is straining its limited infrastructure and fragile environment. Finally, TravelPerk’s $200 million funding round, the largest for an expense management platform since 2023, signals strong investor confidence in corporate travel tech heading into 2025. Hotel deals worldwide are projected to boom in 2025 Is Greenland is equipped to handle a tourism surge? Corporate travel agency TravelPerk said it’s raised $200 million Connect with SkiftLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnewsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnewsBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.socialX: https://twitter.com/skiftSubscribe to @SkiftNews (https://www.youtube.com/@SkiftNews) and never miss an update from the travel industry.

OpenAI has introduced Operator, a digital assistant that autonomously handles travel bookings, stirring concern among industry stalwarts like Booking.com. Meanwhile, TripAdvisor is shuffling its corporate deck, rejecting an acquisition bid while eyeing its parent company. American Airlines reports robust earnings but anticipates a dip next year as costs rise, contrasting with Delta and United's optimistic forecasts for record profits. It's a whirlwind of innovation and strategy in the travel landscape!

Accor is expanding its portfolio of economy hotels in the Middle East as the region shifts toward mass-market tourism, with a particular focus on Saudi Arabia. In India, while domestic and outbound tourism have grown, inbound tourism remains weak due to visa difficulties and reduced government funding for global tourism promotion. Meanwhile, the Chinese social media platform RedNote has surged in popularity among American travelers, offering a new hub for travel inspiration amid uncertainty over TikTok’s future. Accor has big plans to expand its portfolio of economy hotels in the Middle East Why India can’t attract more international tourists RedNote, the Chinese social media platform that has seen a surge in popularity among American travelers Connect with SkiftLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnewsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnewsBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.socialX: https://twitter.com/skiftSubscribe to @SkiftNews (https://www.youtube.com/@SkiftNews) and never miss an update from the travel industry.

President Donald Trump signed executive orders that could impact travel, including a federal hiring freeze that may lead to visa processing delays and stricter screening rules that resemble his previous travel ban. Online travel agency Hopper is considering an IPO, with CEO Fred Lalonde estimating a potential $10 billion valuation, though the company must meet revenue and profitability targets first. Meanwhile, global tourism has rebounded to pre-Covid levels, with international arrivals increasing by 11% in 2024, driven largely by growth in Africa and the Asia-Pacific region. The executive orders that could have the biggest impact on the travel industry Online travel agency Hopper is considering an initial public offering  Global tourism recovered to pre-Covid levels in 2024 Connect with SkiftLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnewsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnewsBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.socialX: https://twitter.com/skiftSubscribe to @SkiftNews (https://www.youtube.com/@SkiftNews) and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Donald Trump’s return to the White House has the hotel industry hopeful for policies like tax cuts and expanded worker visas to boost business, as the expiration of key tax provisions could lead to a 33% increase in taxes. Meanwhile, TikTok will remain accessible in the U.S. after Trump extended the deadline for ByteDance to find a buyer, preventing a federal ban that could have disrupted travel marketing for major brands like Expedia and Disney Parks. Additionally, online travel agency Agoda has launched a Sustainable Tourism Impact Fund to support small businesses in Southeast Asia with low-interest loans to promote eco-friendly practices. Airbnb has unveiled measures to crack down on price gouging 2024 was a record-breaking year for airlines Luxury cruise group Ponant Explorations Group acquired Aqua Expeditions Connect with SkiftLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnewsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnewsBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.socialX: https://twitter.com/skiftSubscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Airbnb is cracking down on price gouging with a new policy limiting price increases in wildfire-affected areas. Meanwhile, the airline industry is celebrating a record-breaking year, with heightened passenger capacity and fewer scheduled flights. Also, luxury cruising gets a boost as Ponant Explorations acquires Aqua Expeditions, expanding its high-end offerings and planning new itineraries in East Africa.