

Skift Daily Travel Briefing
Skift
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. Presented by Amazon Ads.
For ongoing coverage, please visit Skift.com/news.
Published Tuesday through Friday by 5am ET. Presented by Amazon Ads.
For ongoing coverage, please visit Skift.com/news.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 29, 2025 • 4min
Hilton's Strategy Shift, Spirit's Furloughs and Sri Lanka’s Fee Drop
Hilton is focusing on small- and medium-sized businesses to boost direct corporate bookings, now making up 85% of its corporate travel segment, supported by new tools like Hilton for Business and a global messaging platform. Spirit Airlines will furlough 270 pilots and cut flights starting in November as part of its post-bankruptcy recovery efforts. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka plans to waive visa fees for travelers from 33 countries, including the U.S., aiming to boost tourism by nearly 50% in 2025.
Hilton Pushes Direct Sales by Targeting Small Business Travelers
Spirit Airlines to Furlough 270 Pilots, Prepares to Cut More Flights
Sri Lanka Bets on Visa Fee Waiver for 40 Nations to Hit 3 Million Tourists
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Jul 25, 2025 • 4min
Airfare AI Debates, Hotel EV Demand and Southwest’s Baggage Bonanzas
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom stated the airline will not use AI in fare pricing in a way that undermines consumer trust, distancing itself from Delta’s controversial plan to apply AI to price a portion of domestic flights. Hilton has found that electric vehicle charging stations are now its top booking driver, with travelers actively seeking this amenity more than traditional ones like pools or free breakfast. Meanwhile, Southwest Airlines reported no negative fallout from its new baggage fees introduced in May and expects them to generate over $350 million in earnings this year.
Southwest CEO Says Baggage Fees Are Pacing Toward $1 Billion in Annual Profit
American Airlines CEO on AI Pricing After Delta Backlash: ‘I Don’t Think It’s Appropriate’
Hilton Says EV Chargers Are Top Booking Driver, Beating Pools and Free Breakfast
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Jul 24, 2025 • 4min
Hilton’s Confidence, Accor’ Vegas Entry and Asia-Pacific’s Lifestyle Boom
Hilton reported a slight decline in second-quarter performance, with revenue per available room down 0.5% due to weaker occupancy and policy uncertainty in Washington, though CEO Chris Nassetta expressed optimism for future growth and announced plans to add new brands. Meanwhile, Accor is making a major push into the U.S. market by franchising the nearly 2,900-room Treasure Island in Las Vegas, integrating it into its global ALL loyalty program. In Asia-Pacific, lifestyle hotel rooms have surged fourfold since 2014, and are projected to grow another 34% by 2027, with Marriott and Hyatt expected to lead the region's supply.
Accor’s First Las Vegas Property Will Be Its Largest
Hilton CEO: Flat Quarter, ‘Green Shoots,’ More Brands to Come
Inside Asia Pacific’s Lifestyle Hotel Surge, And Who’s Leading It
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Jul 23, 2025 • 4min
A Weaker U.S. Passport, Travel Lobbying Spending and Delta's AI Airfares
The U.S. passport has fallen to 10th place in the Henley Passport Index—its lowest ranking in 20 years—while Asian countries like Singapore, Japan, and South Korea now lead. Major U.S. travel associations and airlines ramped up lobbying efforts in Q2, though some large hospitality companies like Marriott and Hilton slightly reduced their spending. Meanwhile, Delta is testing AI-driven airfare pricing, prompting criticism from lawmakers who fear it could lead to consumer price discrimination.
U.S. Passport Power Slips: See Which Countries Are Gaining Ground
Travel Companies Spent Big in Q2 on Lobbying — Here’s What They Want
Delta’s Use of AI for Setting Fares Sparks Concern in Washington
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Jul 22, 2025 • 3min
Southwest’s Seating Revolution, Barcelona’s Cruise Crackdown and Biz Travel’s New High
Southwest Airlines will introduce assigned seating and a new eight-group boarding system starting January 27, 2026, ending its longtime open boarding policy. Barcelona plans to close two of its seven cruise terminals in an effort to curb overtourism, reducing cruise capacity by 6,000 passengers by decade’s end. Meanwhile, global business travel spending is expected to reach a record $1.6 trillion in 2025, driven largely by higher spending per trip, with India, South Korea, and Turkey leading market growth.
Business Travel Spending Forecast to Hit Record in 2025
Barcelona to Close 2 Cruise Terminals to Tackle Overtourism
Southwest Sets Date for Assigned Seating, Launches New Boarding Process
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Jul 18, 2025 • 3min
The State of Travel, United’s Rebound and Wyndham’s Takeout Order
Skift Research has released its State of Travel 2025 Report, offering a data-rich look at global travel trends, including regional performance and the growing impact of AI. United Airlines executives say rising demand and a stabilizing global landscape are boosting confidence, despite a recent downward revision to its profit forecast. Meanwhile, Wyndham Hotels has partnered with Grubhub to provide delivery services at nearly 6,000 U.S. locations, reflecting a broader industry move toward outsourcing guest services.
State of Travel 2025
‘Uncertainty Has Declined’: United Sees Demand Rebound
Wyndham’s Grubhub Deal Highlights the ‘Uberization’ of Hotels
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Jul 17, 2025 • 4min
Marriott’s Exec Changes, Amex Cuts Travel Packages and United Revises Forecast
Marriott CFO Leeny Oberg will retire in March 2026, with Jen Mason set to succeed her as the company prepares for a leadership transition. American Express Travel will discontinue its flight and hotel packages by the end of July as part of a website overhaul and shift in customer benefits. Meanwhile, United Airlines has lowered its 2025 profit forecast but noted rising demand and a more stable global outlook.
United Lowers Profit Forecast Despite Less Economic and Geopolitical Uncertainty
Why American Express Travel Will Stop Selling Flight and Hotel Packages: Exclusive
Marriott’s CFO Leeny Oberg to Retire, C-Suite Transition Announced
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Jul 16, 2025 • 4min
AI’s Impact on Travel Jobs, NYC’s Transit Mess and Uber’s Unique Saudi Feature
Skift reports that agentic and generative AI are set to reshape employment in the travel industry, with travel agencies increasing their tech workforce significantly since 2003, though core providers like airlines and hotels still rely heavily on manual labor. Analyst Robin Gilbert-Jones notes that while digitalization has grown, the sector still lacks sufficient tech talent, potentially forcing traditional travel suppliers to ramp up hiring in tech and engineering. In other news, NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani calls for urgent infrastructure upgrades after severe flash flooding, and Uber introduces a “Women Drivers” feature in Saudi Arabia to give female passengers more choice and safety.
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Jul 15, 2025 • 4min
Travel Spending Pullback, Delta's Premium Plan and Hyatt's APAC Luxury Push
Consumer travel spending is decreasing, particularly among lower-income households, as more money is redirected to essential expenses like rent and utilities, according to Bank of America data. Delta Air Lines is exploring tiered business class options in response to growing demand and rising revenues from premium travelers. Meanwhile, Hyatt is expanding its luxury hotel footprint in the Asia-Pacific region, with plans to open nearly 90 new properties and double its presence in India within five years.
Travel Spending Slump: 'Some Households Are Pulling Back Completely'
Basic Business? Delta to Consider Creating Different Tiers of Premium
Hyatt Bets on Luxury in Asia Pacific With 90 New Hotels Planned
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Jul 11, 2025 • 4min
Airbnb Gets Flexible, Delta Revises Forecast, Marriott Goes Net-Zero
Airbnb is introducing more guest-friendly cancellation policies starting October 1, replacing its Strict policy with a more flexible Firm policy that allows full refunds up to 30 days before check-in, along with a new 24-hour grace period for short stays. Delta Air Lines issued a revised 2025 outlook that's lower than earlier projections but better than anticipated, highlighting strong premium demand despite economic uncertainty and soft main cabin sales. Marriott has begun construction on its first net-zero emissions hotel in Vermont, though industry experts warn that recent federal policy changes may hinder future renewable energy projects.
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