Skift Daily Travel Briefing

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 The U.S. air traffic control system is under scrutiny due to outdated technology and staffing shortages, prompting the government to invest billions in modernization, including new towers and increased hiring.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  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.

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. 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 Instagram drive bookings and influencers increasingly act as travel agents, potentially generating $7 billion in sales across accommodations and airlines. JetBlue Sells Venture Capital Arm in Bid to Boost Profitability Social Commerce Is Transforming Travel – Brands Need to Move Fast Short-Term Rental Cleaning Fees — the Global Numbers 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.

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, despite strong Q1 results, with luxury brands showing the highest performance. Airbnb Reports 'Softness,' Looks to International and Hotels to Get Growth Mojo Back Hyatt CEO: 'Softer Booking Trends' and 'Choppy Environment' Wyndham Cuts Growth Forecast, Hopes for Infrastructure Boom and 'Short-Lived' Uncertainty 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.

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 investments. Trivago's Turnaround Is Kicking In as Growth Accelerates Wizz Air Calls for Ending Fossil Fuel Subsidies China's H World Is Already Bigger Than Wyndham. Now it Aims to Double 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.

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 commercials misleadingly implied competitors like Airbnb always require guests to cohabit with hosts. Travel Leaders (Anonymously) Speak Out on Trump’s Turbulent First 100 Days Airbnb Wins Claim Against Vrbo for Nick Saban Commercials Hilton's Chris Nassetta Sees 'Overreaction' to Trump Policies and 'Upside' Potential 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.

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, severely disrupting travel and prompting emergency measures. Marriott to Buy CitizenM for $355 Million Expedia Restructures Product and Tech Teams, Will Lay Off 3% of Workforce Blackouts Across Spain and Portugal Hit Travel 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.

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 reported a strong first quarter and optimistic booking trends for April and May, even as European travel to the U.S. dipped in March. Online Travel Pay Roundup: Booking CEO Leads With $126 Million Accor Says April Bookings Have Rebounded: No ‘Cracks in Demand’ Trump Comments on U.S. Tourism Decline – Travelers Cite Trump's Policies 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.