Skift Daily Travel Briefing

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.

Expedia Group is making it harder for entry-level One Key loyalty members to earn rewards on Vrbo bookings, a change aimed at reducing costs for the company. Meanwhile, international adventure travelers are increasingly avoiding the U.S. due to perceptions of unwelcoming entry policies and lingering concerns about tariffs. Lastly, although Booking Holdings reported a drop in greenhouse gas emissions for 2024, it is abandoning a key sustainability goal. Expedia Makes It Harder for One Key Members to Earn Vrbo Rewards Why Adventure Travelers Are Saying ‘No’ to the U.S. Green Label Target Scrapped, Extreme Weather Risks – Takeaways from Booking Holdings’ Climate Report 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.

Travel companies have ramped up their lobbying efforts significantly in early 2025, with spending surpassing amounts seen in previous presidential terms, and the U.S. Travel Association alone investing over $1 million. In Thailand, tourism revenue goals for 2025 are being lowered due to a steep decline in Chinese tourists, influenced by regional safety concerns. Meanwhile, Airbus has postponed its electric commercial aircraft plans, citing supply challenges with green hydrogen, though it remains committed to the long-term project. U.S. Lobbying Roundup: Which Travel Companies Spent the Most Airbus Delays Hydrogen Electric Plane by up to 10 Years With Chinese Arrivals Lagging, Thailand Rethinks 2025 Tourism Ambition 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.

A federal judge ruled that Google violated antitrust laws by using its ad tech tools to maintain a monopoly, a decision that could benefit travel advertisers like Expedia and Trivago, who have long criticized Google's dominance. Skift Research warns of potential recession impacts on the travel industry, with luxury hotels like Hyatt already seeing share-price declines, though this segment may prove more resilient than in past downturns. Meanwhile, a Global Business Travel Association poll shows that nearly a third of travel managers expect reduced business travel this year, largely due to rising costs and visa-related concerns. Google Exerted Monopoly Power in Online Advertising Tools, Judge Rules Business Travel Sentiment Sours Over Trump Policies — GBTA Poll Forecasts for Hotels and Online Travel Agencies Are Coming Down – Who’s Most at Risk? 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.

Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta was the highest-paid hotel executive in 2024 with $58.7 million in compensation, followed by Marriott’s Anthony Capuano and Wyndham’s Geoffrey Ballotti. Meanwhile, Beijing has instructed Chinese airlines not to place new orders with Boeing amid rising U.S.-China trade tensions, a move that could impact both the aircraft manufacturer and China’s carriers. Lastly, travel brands in Southern Europe are adjusting to extreme heat, with companies like Intrepid Travel shifting tours northward and Melia Hotels planning a 2025 climate resilience strategy. What 10 Hotel and Resorts CEOs Were Paid in 2024 Chinese Airlines Told to Halt Boeing Orders: What It Means for Both Sides Warnings of Soaring Heat in Europe - Travel Businesses Begin to Adapt 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.

U.S. hotel growth is slowing due to weak travel demand and economic uncertainty, with Goldman Sachs projecting minimal revenue increases and a 45% chance of recession. Expedia has begun selling Ryanair flights in the U.S. and Europe after resolving a legal dispute, marking a shift in how airlines distribute inventory online. Meanwhile, new maritime regulations will require cruise lines to pay for carbon emissions, pushing the industry toward cleaner operations by 2035. U.S. Hotels Face Slowing Growth, with Weak Demand and Policy Uncertainty: Goldman Sachs New Global Rules to Force Cruise Ships to Pay for Carbon Emissions Ryanair Flights Now Available on Expedia Sites in Latest Milestone 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.

Travel executives are seeing early signs of weakening U.S. travel demand amid economic uncertainty, with hotel prices dropping and travelers opting for cheaper domestic trips. Frontier Airlines plans to cut capacity and anticipates a first-quarter net loss due to softening demand and necessary fare promotions. Meanwhile, Marriott has launched a new emotionally driven ad campaign, “Travel Shapes Us,” focusing on personal experiences rather than traditional hotel amenities. These Travel Tech Execs See Early Signs of Weakening Demand Marriott Unveils New Ad Campaign: 'Travel Shapes Us' Frontier Airlines Cuts Forecast, Cites Weak Demand and Fare Cuts 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.

Delta Air Lines has paused its 2025 outlook due to economic uncertainty and stalled growth, despite gains in international and premium revenue, while also noting a drop in Canadian bookings. Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is launching its first major brand refresh since 1985, including a new app, updated branding, and an expanded global portfolio plan. Meanwhile, the short-term rental industry struggles to track its carbon footprint, with major platforms not requiring hosts to report emissions despite their sustainability goals. ‘Growth Has Largely Stalled’: Delta CEO Sounds Alarm on Tariffs Behind Mandarin Oriental's First Brand Update in 4 Decades — Exclusive The Problem With Tracking Short-Term Rental Emissions: ‘How on Earth Do You Count Them?’ 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.

International arrivals to the U.S. dropped over 11% in March compared to last year, with significant declines from Western Europe, especially Germany, according to new government data. Morningstar has downgraded its 2025 revenue growth forecasts for major online travel companies due to economic concerns and tariffs introduced by President Trump. Meanwhile, Emirates’ president warned of a potential global economic reset, pointing to current financial market instability and challenges faced by major U.S. airlines. U.S. Tourism Data Warning: Visits From Europe Dropped in March Emirates President Warns: 'We Are in Troubled Times,' as Global Reset Looms Growth Outlook for Online Travel Firms Cut in Half: Morningstar 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.