Episode NotesGoogle recently announced it won’t get rid of the third-party cookies in its Chrome browser that enable companies to track consumers across other websites. Executive Editor Dennis Schaal examines what Google’s decision means for travel marketers.Skift Head of Research Seth Borko said Google’s move will help smaller travel advertisers. Borko noted larger companies were already devising ways to better use their own first-party data to track consumers if cookie capabilities disappeared. Meanwhile, Brian Harniman — an executive at digital agency From — blasted Google’s explanation for the decision, arguing it acknowledged the tech giant is beholden to its large advertisers. But Amber Carpenter, an executive at vacation rental property manager Vtrips, said Google’s move wouldn’t have much of an impact on travel brands.  Next, travel brands are increasingly showcasing the ways they use AI. But three hotel tech executives argue that AI isn’t living up to the hype, writes Travel Technology Reporter Justin Dawes.Cloudbeds CEO Adam Harris said hotel tech companies are heavily marketing AI tools that aren’t as impressive as they claim. Meanwhile, Mews founder Richard Valtr said he’s seen very little innovation regarding AI.And Stayntouch CEO Jacob Messina said AI will help workers with repetitive tasks, and that will free them up to truly innovate. Finally, dozens of airlines offer premium economy seats. However, Turkish Airlines isn’t one of them, writes Airlines Editor Gordon Smith. Turkish Airlines chairman Ahmet Bolat explained why the company doesn’t have an interest for premium economy, which it scrapped in 2016. Bolat said Turkish Airlines doesn’t need premium economy because he believes its prices for business travelers are already affordable. The carrier shared details of an all-new suite, branded as ‘Crystal Business Class,’ offering direct aisle access for all passengers, a sliding door for improved privacy, and a 76-inch lie-flat bed. Connect with Skift:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/X: https://twitter.com/skiftFacebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnewsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Episode NotesDelta Air Lines is facing mounting pressure from travelers and the U.S. government as disruptions caused by a recent IT outage continue. The Department of Transportation is launching an investigation into the carrier, writes Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi. Delta has canceled more than 5,000 flights after the outage last Friday caused systems relying on Microsoft Windows to crash. Delta CEO Ed Bastian said on Sunday that the airline would provide Delta SkyMiles and travel vouchers as a “gesture of apology.” However, some customers said they haven’t received any vouchers and report long wait times to reach customer service where some have gotten conflicting information. In addition, the Department of Transportation said the Office of Aviation Consumer Protection would conduct the investigation due to the ongoing flight disruptions and reports of customer service issues. Next, Venice implemented a roughly $5 entry fee for day trippers earlier this year as part of its strategy to combat mass tourism. Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam provides three takeaways from Venice’s experiment.Habtemariam notes the number of day trippers to Venice during the 29 days the entry fee was in effect decreased compared to 2023 levels. Venice collected more than $2.5 million in fees, which local officials intend to use to improve the city’s infrastructure. In addition, a city spokesperson said Venice is considering raising the entry fee next year and expanding the number of days it’s in effect. Finally, as business travel spending worldwide is expected to boom this year, American Express data has revealed the five U.S. markets seeing the fastest growth based on commercial customer hotel transactions, reports Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill.As business travel spending in North America has already reached pre-Covid levels, O’Neill reports college towns Princeton, New Jersey and Durham, North Carolina occupy the top two spots in Amex’s rankings. Amex compared business travel spending occurring between April 2023 and March 2024 with the same period a year earlier. Producer/Presenter: Jose MarmolejosConnect with SkiftLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/X: https://twitter.com/skiftFacebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnewsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Episode NotesMallorca recently saw another large demonstration against mass tourism, writes Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam.More than 20,000 protestors marched the streets of Palma de Mallorca on Sunday as Spain continues to emerge as one of the hottest destinations in Europe. Demonstrators called for more affordable housing, fair wages, better conservation of natural spaces, and respect for local culture.The protests have not reduced the popularity of the destinations this summer. International flights bookings for Mallorca are up 6% for July and August. For Barcelona, they’re up 18%. Next, business travel spending worldwide is expected to hit an all-time high by the end of 2024, reports Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill.The Global Business Travel Association said that global business travel spending is projected to reach $1.48 trillion by year-end. That would top pre-Covid levels for the first time. The GBTA found that 68% of business travel managers report spending more in 2024 than last year. The association projects global business travel spending will surpass $2 trillion in 2028.Delta Air Lines canceled roughly 20% of its schedule on Monday as it grapples with the aftermath of the recent major IT outage, writes Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi. CEO Ed Bastian said on Sunday that Delta’s crew scheduling system was unable to process the large number of changes caused by the IT outage. Delta is also experiencing difficulties locating its crewmembers, which is helping cause the ongoing disruptions. Meanwhile, rivals American Airlines and United Airlines have restored their operations since the outage. Producer/Presenter: Jose MarmolejosConnect with SkiftLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/X: https://twitter.com/skiftFacebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnewsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Episode NotesHyatt is close to a deal to buy Standard International, operator of the upscale Standard Hotels, reports Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill. Negotiations between Hyatt and Standard International “are in advanced stages,” according to Bloomberg News. A source at Hyatt said the talks were ongoing and hadn’t been finalized, noting that Hyatt has walked away from deals at the last minute when there are issues. Next, United Airlines Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella has blasted its low-cost rivals, arguing they’ve “largely run their course,” writes Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi. Nocella said during United’s second-quarter earnings call that the growth line of low-cost carriers is highly unprofitable. He added he doesn’t see any new opportunities available in the sector. Maharishi notes a surplus of domestic seats — much of which has been spurred by ultra-low-cost carriers — have dragged down United’s third-quarter outlook. Finally, Skift Meetings Executive Editor Andrea Doyle and Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam examine how destinations estimate the number of visitors they attract. It's an important number: Politicians look at visitor counts when determining how much money to allocate to tourism promotion. But comparing data from different cities is difficult. A tourism executive from Las Vegas said there’s no one single method for estimating visitor numbers. One tourism board consultant said they’ve had to modify their definition of a visitor to satisfy a client. Connect with Skift:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/X: https://twitter.com/skiftFacebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnewsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Episode NotesVirgin Atlantic is pulling out of China after serving the country for 25 years. Virgin becomes the latest Western carrier to retreat from China, writes Airlines Editor Gordon Smith.Virgin Atlantic cited “significant challenges and complexities” as the reason for its decision. The carrier’s final round-trip service to China will be London-Shanghai flights on October 25. Smith notes the closure of Russian airspace has made Virgin Atlantic’s journeys even longer and helped increase the company’s operating expenses. Virgin Atlantic’s decision comes weeks after Qantas said it was pulling out of mainland China later this month.Next, business travel spending by U.S. companies may finally top pre-Covid levels by the end of this year, writes Reporter Christiana Sciaudone.A newly released report by Deloitte found that U.S. companies’ business travel spending is expected to grow between 8% and 12% this year. A Deloitte executive said that figure is projected to increase in 2025 as well due an increase in trips and higher airfares and hotel rates. In addition, the Global Business Travel Association predicted earlier this year that most travel buyers expected their company’s business travel spending and volume to increase this year compared to 2023. Finally, Apollo Global Management’s pending acquisition of The Travel Corporation could be a sign of more private equity deals to come in the tour operator and travel agency sectors, writes Executive Editor Dennis Schaal. A source familiar with The Travel Corporation said multiple private equity firms had also expressed interest in the company.The source added that travel agencies geared toward luxury consumers are attractive targets coming out of the pandemic. The Travel Corporation is a family owned business and one factor driving the sale was that there was no heir apparent, the source said.For more travel stories and deep dives into the latest trends, head to skift.com. To find these stories and more insight into the business of travel, subscribe to the Skift daily newsletter at skift.com/daily.Connect with Skift:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/X: https://twitter.com/skiftFacebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnewsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Episode NotesAmsterdam, one of the world’s most visited destinations, wants fewer tourists. The city’s Deputy Mayor Sofyan Mbarki discussed Amsterdam’s strategy to decrease visitor numbers and attract better-behaved travelers with Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam.  Mbarki said more rental units need to be reserved for residents instead of tourists, and that Amsterdam plans to introduce new short-term rental regulations. The city is also placing limits on cruise ships and development of new hotels. And Amsterdam is once again running a “Stay Away” campaign, which aims to deter tourists from partying in the city’s Red Light District.  Next, United Airlines flight attendants will vote on whether to authorize a strike as negotiations with management have stalled, writes Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi. Flight attendants have been demanding better pay and working conditions since the pandemic. The Association of Flight Attendants, which represents United flight attendants, said it’s the first vote to authorize a strike at United since 2005 bankruptcy negotiations. However, Maharishi notes a strike isn’t imminent due to current regulations. United flight attendants have expressed frustration about, among other issues, not having received a pay raise since 2020.  Finally, private equity firm Apollo Global Management has acquired The Travel Corporation, a company that owns 18 travel brands, writes Travel Experiences Reporter Jesse Chase-Lubitz. The agreement between Apollo and TTC is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2024. TTC, one of the world’s largest privately held travel companies, has been family-owned for more than a century. Apollo would acquire notable TTC tour brands such as Trafalgar, Contiki and Insight Vacations. Get more travel news at https://skift.comProducer/Presenter: Jose Marmolejos

Episode NotesLast-minute travel booking sites have often done well during economic downturns. Executive Editor Dennis Schaal provides information about companies like last-minute vacation rental site Whimstay, which has announced discounted inventory deals with several major travel brands.  Whimstay recently unveiled a partnership with Expedia Group and Vrbo that will furnish the company with up to 250,000 new listings. Whimstay, which targets Millennial and Gen Z travelers, gets its inventory from property managers eager to offer rooms at discounted rates rather than see them unoccupied. Schaal notes the partnership, to be implemented during the third quarter of this year, will enable travelers to access discounts on Whimstay, especially when they book within 30 days of the stay.    Next, tours and activity brand Viator has unveiled two new ads with the catchphrase “Regret Less. Do More” that highlight travel mishaps and how Viator could have helped avoid them, writes Travel Experiences Reporter Jesse Chase-Lubitz. One ad features a family on an empty, rundown bus in London while the other shows two people hanging from a cliff after a mountain biking trip goes haywire. The campaign emphasizes Viator’s offerings, such as guided tours and an option for free cancellations. Viator said it wants to avoid the temptation of producing typical ads with smiling people against beautiful backdrops. Finally, international air travel from China is making progress in its recovery from the pandemic. But getting back to 2019 levels is taking longer than anticipated, writes Reporter Christiana Sciaudone.Sciaudone notes the number of flights between China and the U.S. will be a quarter of pre-Covid levels this year due to China’s weak economy and geopolitical tensions between the two countries. In addition, a study by the Asian Development Bank found that the aviation industry should prepare for a “possible permanent reduction in future growth” in air travel from China. Get more travel news at https://skift.comProducer/Presenter: Jose Marmolejos

Episode NotesDespite a record number of people traveling this summer, quarterly results from Delta — one of the most profitable U.S. airlines — fell short of expectations, writes Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi.Delta reported record revenues for the second quarter but profits dropped 29% largely due to a surplus of seats and higher fuel costs. President Glen Hauenstein said domestic seat growth this summer has surpassed demand, affecting main cabin revenues. Hauenstein added that Delta expects to take a $100 million revenue hit this summer to the Paris Olympics. Next, 12 companies in the travel industry raised at least $100 million during the first half of 2024, writes Travel Technology Reporter Justin Dawes.Dawes notes a big jump from the same period last year, when only two travel startups raised that amount of money. Travel startups raised roughly $2.8 billion through the end of June, more than double the figure last year. Skift Research predicts that 2024 will see fewer deals than 2023, but their larger average size is expected to boost overall funding compared to last year’s record low. Finally, the Banyan Group is on a growth spree. The Singapore-based luxury hotel operator is set to open a record number of properties this year, reports Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill. Banyan Group will have opened 10 hotels and resorts by December, and its flagship brand Banyan Tree is set to open five hotels this year — including its first in Japan. In addition, Bayan Group plans to expand into the Bahamas as well as launch a platform helping homeowners rent out their residences. For more travel stories and deep dives into the latest trends, head to skift.com. 

Paris is expecting to see a small bump in overseas visitors for the upcoming Summer Olympics, but no large-scale boom, writes Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam. Less than 15% of the projected roughly 11 million Olympic visitors will be foreign, according to the city’s tourism board. Paris tourism chief Corinne Menegaux had previously told us that most Olympic ticket holders will be French. Habtemariam notes many travelers are avoiding the popular tourist destination because of the Olympics.  Meanwhile, international flight bookings to Paris for the Olympic period — from July 26 to August 11 — have increased by 8% from the same timeframe last year. That figure is a substantial decrease from the last pre-Covid Summer Olympics. Next, speaking of the French capital, Qantas will debut a roughly 17-hour nonstop flight from Perth to Paris on Friday, writes Airlines Editor Gordon Smith and Reporter Pranjal Pande. The Perth-Paris flights will operate four times a week prior to the second week of August, after which flights between the two cities will operate three times a week. Qantas currently operates ultra-long-haul flights from Perth to both London and Rome. The company has said that roughly nine in every 10 seats on its Perth-London route have been occupied. Finally, Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill provides more information about Marriott’s new online travel booking portal for small- to medium-sized businesses. The new booking platform is part of Marriott’s strategy to increase direct bookings from corporate travelers. A Marriott executive said existing booking tools don’t satisfy the needs of business travelers. Small- and medium-sized businesses have become a larger part of the company’s guest mix coming out of the pandemic. O’Neill notes Marriott sees an opportunity to simplify the often complicated business travel process, with companies increasingly looking for more efficient solutions. For more travel stories and deep dives into the latest trends, head to skift.com. 

Episode NotesAir travel is breaking records. But a recent Newsweek poll found that 44% of respondents won’t be traveling anywhere in the next three months, while 53% said they would’ve gone on vacation if the cost of living had been cheaper. Meanwhile, luxury hotel occupancy was up 1.8% in the first five months of 2024 while economy hotel occupancy was down 3.4%Next, Marriott has debuted an online travel booking portal for small-to medium-sized businesses. It’s part of the company’s strategy to attract more direct bookings for business travelers, reports Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill.  Marriott’s new platform will enable users to book hotels, flights and car rentals without having to rely on third-party services such as American Express Global Business Travel. The hotel giant’s business travel model provides customers discounted rates at Marriott properties worldwide as well as access to Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program benefits, among other features. Finally, the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada is scaling down funding programs that support the country’s 10 provincial First Nations tourism bodies, writes Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam. Habtemariam reports the organization will receive $6.5 million from the federal government this year, a $4 million decrease from last year. CEO Keith Henry said he believes several First Nations tourism bodies won’t survive for much longer unless the organization secures funding from additional sources. Habtemariam adds the organization’s staff of 40 will be cut in half by September. Get more travel news at https://skift.comProducer/Presenter: Jose Marmolejos