The End of the Expat Lifestyle and How That Will Impact the Travel Industry
One of the casualties of globalization, hyper-connectedness, direct flights, rising levels of nationalism — and a global pandemic — […]
Group That Operates TWA Hotel Buys Chinese Tech Firm After President Trump’s National Security Order
The recently redeveloped TWA Hotel is owned by MCR Development, a U.S. hotelier that has just bought hotel tech […]
Corporate Travel’s Downturn Will Deliver This Financial Blow Across All of Travel
Many international organizations are keeping their travel freezes in place for the rest of the year. Pawel Chu / […]
Travel Agencies Scoop Up Laid-Off Agents With New Consulting Divisions
Bench Accounting / Unsplash Skift Take: Corporate travel agencies spot a potentially lucrative side hustle by utilizing displaced agents. […]
United Airlines Eliminates Ticket Change Fees for U.S. Domestic Flights
Economy Plus seating on a United Airlines CRJ700 plane. The airline promised to permanently halt change fees. United Airlines […]
Best Hiring Practices for Hospitality Businesses
Hiring someone to work in your hospitality business isn’t as simple as completing a satisfactory interview. It would help […]
Safety First During COVID-19 Includes Existing Precautions
The coronavirus pandemic has impacted many people and businesses. With the virus able to spread easily to people from […]
How Hotels Can Reduce Their Impact On The Environment
Each year we seem to be facing harsher and harsher consequences from the climate crisis – and the public […]
Shifting Google Dance Partners and 9 Other Coronavirus Travel Stories This Week
Google announced it would be offering vacation rentals in a blog post on March 26, 2019. Google Skift Take: […]
New Guide Provides Roadmap to Travel Recovery in a Post-Pandemic World
Skift Take: In March 2020, Covid-19 became the biggest disruptor in modern travel. Now, six months on, international borders […]
United Airlines Unveils New Algorithm to Help It Target Empty Flights
United Airlines is canceling some flights at the last minute to save costs. United Airlines Skift Take: In normal […]
Robots Came For Your Jobs, Now They’re Coming for Your Vacations: Here’s How
A Challau robot on a footpath in the UK. Propelmee, a UK startup, will test in mid-September at several […]
MGM Resorts to Lay Off 18,000 Staffers Beginning Monday
MGM Resorts International is set to lay off 18,000 staffers beginning Monday. Ken Lund / Flickr Skift Take: MGM […]
The Safety Pitch From This Dallas Charter Airline Includes Open Air Terminals
JSX is a public charter airline that mainly flies in the Western United States. JSX Skift Take: JSX might […]
Reliable Robotics Raises $25 Million for Pilotless Planes: Travel Startup Funding This Week
The Reliable Robotics team poses with an autonomous aircraft at its hangar in San Martin, California. Reliable Robotics Skift […]
What Would an IHG-Accor Merger Look Like Anyway?
The InterContinental Kuala Lumpur, one of IHG’s premier hotels. Skift Skift Take: Another day, another rumor that Accor and […]
Isn’t It Time to Redesign Hotel Awards?
Current version of the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards Skift Skift Take: It is surprising that hotel awards […]
Just Like That, AirAsia Group Says It’s a Digital Lifestyle Company — Or Not
AirAsia is doing food delivery and other e-commerce services to diversify away from its airline business. AirAsia Skift Take: […]
United Warns It Will Lay Off 20 Percent of Its Pilots Without More U.S. Aid
United Airlines could face a 20 percent cut in its pilot workforce if it makes good on furloughs. Skift […]
Flight Centre Takes Aim at Essential Services Travel for the Road to Recovery
Flight Centre Travel Group posted an overall loss of $370 million for its 2019/20 financial year. Flight Centre Skift […]
Cash-Strapped Delta Faces Repaying $300 Million on Behalf of Struggling Brazilian Carrier Gol
Gol Airlines Boeing 737 Smart Junco / Flickr Skift Take: Delta Airlines is in no position to clean up […]
U.S.-Based Hipcamp Acquires Australia’s Youcamp as Travelers Heed Call of the Great Outdoors
Sky Mountain yoga retreat near Bear Lake State Park in Idaho. Hipcamp, a San Francisco-based startup, has acquired Youcamp, […]
The Tourism Industry Wants a ‘Stretch Season’
The travel industry hopes people still take road trips into autumn. Dino Reichmuth / Unsplash Skift Take: The virus […]
Corporate Travel, Private Equity and Lots of Messiness Down Under in Oz
Virgin Australia was ready to ramp up its program in July, but plans fell through after a coronavirus outbreak […]
Join Us at Skift Forum Asia as an Online Conference October 15
Skift Take: Skift Forum Asia takes shape as a virtual conference this year, with speakers from across the region […]
Google Jumps Into Contactless Hotel Technology Push
Google is partnering with hotels in the U.S. and the UK in offering Nest Hub devices as a contactless […]
Hotelogix Merges With 2 Hotel Tech Firms to Lead Rollup in India
The Oberoi Rajvilas in Jaipur. India based companies focusing on hotel tech, Hotelogix, AxisRooms, and RepUp, have merged. Oberoi […]
Capital One Acquires Freebird’s Flight Disruption Tech
A woman at an airport wearing a mask during the coronvirus pandemic. Capital One acquired Freebird, a business-to-business startup […]
The Event Industry Is Being Confronted By Its Napster Moment
Photo by Darth Liu on Unsplash Skift Take: All types of business events are in danger of their revenue […]
Booking Is In, Airbnb Is Out of Google Vacation Rentals
A Kaui, Hawaii vacation rental as seen on March 19, 2013. Booking.com is now participating in Google vacation rentals. […]
Finally, Airbnb IPO Will Signal a New Era of Accounting and Accountability
Skift Take: As a public company, Airbnb would be a dream for reporters, analysts, and investors because of the […]
Croatia Welcomed Americans This Summer — How’d That Work Out?
Dubrovnik, Croatia Morgan / Unsplash Skift Take: Croatia has taken a more liberal approach than other European nations to […]
American’s Pandemic Job Losses Could Top 40,000 Without More Relief, Airline Warns
American Airlines said it wants new government funding so it can avoid more furloughs. Steve Lynes / Flick Skift […]
Desks, Donuts and Food Deliveries: Corporate Travel Expenses Look Different This Year
Employees have been shopping around to set up their new home-working environments. Beazy / Unsplash Skift Take: This six-month […]
All U.S. Hotel Sectors Saw a Profit in July — Yes, Really
Both the full-service and limited-service hotel sectors in the U.S. saw a profit in July, and even urban markets […]
Swiss Tax-Free Airport Shopping Firm Sold for $2.6 Billion to Private Equity-Backed Buyer
A line at Schiphol airport in The Netherlands to claim a refund on value added tax for purchase made […]
Airbnb Escalates House Party Crackdown a Week After Filing for an IPO
The Hollywood Hills area of California was the site of a tragic shooting at a house party in an […]
Gunmaker Smith & Wesson’s Parent Sees Opportunity With New RV Vacation Boom
Anthony Lake in Baker County, Oregon. It’s in the Elkhorn Mountains of Northeast Oregon along the Elkhorn Scenic Byway […]
Corporate Travel Agencies Still Busy Helping Repatriate People — And Even Pets
Vietnam Airlines operated repatriation flights for German and European citizens. BreakingTravelNews / Flickr Skift Take: Evacuations are difficult at […]
U.S. Tightens Restrictions at Mexico Border for American Citizens and Permanent Residents
A U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officer interviews people entering the United States from Mexico at the border crossing […]
Las Vegas in Crisis and 9 Other Coronavirus Travel Stories This Week
A sign for the Las Vegas Monorail as seen on October 16, 2009. Michael Dorausch / Flickr.com Skift Take: […]
Latin America’s Despegar Is on a Buying Spree Despite Pandemic Challenges
Ipanema Beach in Rio de Janeiro. Despegar is dealing with the coronavirus calamity, with a recovery yet to begin […]
New Sites and Apps Aim to Dispel Confusion About Travel Restrictions Worldwide
Passengers of a flight from Amsterdam wearing protective face masks arrive at the Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport, following the […]
MakeMyTrip Bets on the Pandemic Speeding Up India’s Shift to Online Travel
Hotel Desert Tulip in Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, India. MakeMyTrip Group, the online travel company based in India, reported significant […]
Carnival Faces First Big Pandemic Test as Two of Its European Lines Set Sail Again
The AIDAluna, owned by Carnival Corp. Kevin Hackert / Flickr Skift Take: Carnival is on the cusp of restarting […]
How Will Emerging Economies Reliant on Tourism Survive the Crisis?
Fishermen in Bali Thomas Depenbusch (Depi) / Flickr Skift Take: Many emerging economies have built their growth strategies on […]
Why Being Grounded for Months Was the Best Pandemic Outcome for This Airline
A Copa Boeing 737-700. The airline is retiring this fleet type. Dave Montiverdi / Flickr Skift Take: U.S. airlines […]
ExcelLand Raises $14 Million for Hotel Robots: Travel Startup Funding This Week
ExcelLand’s third-generation robot, designed for use in hotels. The robotics company joined Omio, Trell, and Trafi in disclosing recent […]
Ransomware Attacks on Travel Companies Spread, Sparking Complacency Fears
Illustration of computer hacking. Ransomware attacks on Carnival, CWT, Garmin, and Travelex suggest that the travel sector might be […]
Google Defends Its Debt Collection Practices in Travel
Google hasn’t given travel advertisers a break on past-due bills generated during the height of coronavirus-induced lockdowns. Getty Images […]
UK Corporate Travel Agency Breaks New Ground With a Subscription Model
Subscription models provide a more stable revenue stream for corporate travel agencies. Gerrie Van Der Walt / Unsplash Skift […]
Accor Shows Interest in Merger With IHG to Create Global Hotels Behemoth: Report
Accor has expressed interest in merging with hotel rival IHG Skift Skift Take: It would be the biggest industry […]
Surging Covid Cases Didn’t Deter Americans From Taking Summer Vacations: New Skift Travel Tracker Survey
Skift Take: Despite rising Covid-19 cases, 35 percent of Americans traveled in July. But most are not taking their […]
Hotel Mortgage Delinquencies Reached Record Levels in July
The roughly 23 percent of hotel mortgages in default in the United States in July set a record, but […]
How This Australian Corporate Travel Agency Managed to Escape With Just a $6 Million Yearly Loss
Sydney, Australia. The country has been relatively cut off since imposing travel restrictions earlier this year. Jamie Davies / […]
Airbnb Suspends Domio’s Host Accounts and Listings Following Fraud Allegations
This is a short-term apartment rental that Domio managed at Caoba, a building in downtown Miami at 698 N.E. […]
Airbnb Files Paperwork for Its Long-Awaited IPO
An Airbnb street sign. The company filed for an IPO. Airbnb Skift Take: The next chapter in the Airbnb […]
U.S. Airports Grapple With Reversal of Fortunes as Long Bumpy Ride Awaits
Empty airports are the new norm in aviation. Designer Joanna Gonzalez / Skift Skift Take: Even if Congress coughs […]
Marriott Named in London Class Action Lawsuit Over Personal Data Hack
Executives at Marriott’s corporate headquarters could not have been too happy with the news of a class action lawsuit […]
The Rest of Europe Pulls Away From London in Modest Tourism Comeback
London’s empty Oxford Street. FP Creative Ltd / Unsplash Skift Take: No place in Europe is having a great […]
Travel Booking App Omio Will Use Part of $100 Million in New Funding to Go Shopping for Acquisitions
A simulated image of new ICE high-speed trains that Deutsche Bahn ordered from Siemens this year. Rail is a […]
Private Jet Operators Are Stealing Passengers from U.S. Airlines
FxAir is a private jet operator. Pictured is one of its aircraft cabins. Fxair Skift Take: Private jet operators […]
Airports Push for New Contactless Tech and Automation as Budgets Shrink
Inside the terminal at a French airport owned by Groupe ADP. Some airports are prioritizing contactless and other technology […]
Google Cut Off an Online Travel Company and Sent In the Bill Collectors
Skift Take: With parent company Alphabet generating $79 billion in revenue in the first half of 2020, Google is […]
Why Reputation Management Is Important for Hotels
93% of travel and hospitality business owners think online reviews are among the most important factors affecting the future […]
Sabre’s New Executive Role Signals a Refresh on Customer Service for the Travel Tech Company
A view of the meal service in first class on an Emirates Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. Emirates is one of […]
Can Scotland Create a Regional Travel Tech Hub for a Post-Coronavirus World?
Scottish Highlands Robert J. Heath / Flickr Skift Take: Countries lack a playbook in coping with the pandemic’s affect […]
Scottish Tourism Receives Hi-Tech Boost to Help Smooth Road to Recovery
A new organisation launches today (Tuesday) to help Scotland’s beleaguered tourism sector make a sustained recovery driven by technological […]
Google Quietly Debuts Game-Changing Tours and Activities Advertising Product
Picture is a screen grab of a 2-minute video tribute to the Eiffel Tower. Google just made a big […]
Win A Ticket To The Direct Booking Summit Berlin!
Hotel Speak has partnered with Triptease and the Direct Booking Summit EMEA in Berlin to offer one lucky reader […]
Will Las Vegas Resorts Survive a Year of No Conventions?
Analysts expect Las Vegas could go as long as a year without hosting a major event like the Consumer […]
The Travel Industry Needs to Talk About Ventilation in Coronavirus Fight
Stay outdoors? Shanna Camilleri / Unsplash Skift Take: An overwhelming consensus has emerged that Covid-19 doesn’t spread as easily […]
Japan’s Top Messaging App Has a Pandemic-Mindful Strategy for Domestic Tourism
A user in Tokyo looks at information about the country’s domestic tourism campaign via the LineTravel.jp superapp. Line Travel […]
German Health Minister Warns Against Irresponsible Vacations in Spain
Tourists in Mallorca, Spain as seen on September 18, 2013. Germany has designated much of Spain a coronavirus risk […]
TravelStore Handled 650,000 Hotel Bookings Sheltering Frontline Workers and Released Inmates
Naval Medical Center, San Diego. Official U.S. Navy Page / Flickr Skift Take: This high number of hotel bookings […]
Marriott Derides 2021 Work From Home Policies and 10 Other Coronavirus Travel Stories This Week
Pictured is a woman working from home on April 9, 2020. Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson said the hotel industry’s […]
The State Of Educational Travel In a World Gone Virtual
Some countries are waiving travel restrictions for overseas students. StephanieHau / Unsplash Skift Take: Overseas students bring in the […]
U.S. Airlines Could Regret Taking Billions More In Government Bailouts
Southwest Airlines tests a new cleaning process during the Coronavirus outbreak. Most U.S. airlines support a new round of […]
Distressed Hotel Asset Sales in Thailand May Turn Into a Gold Mine for International Chains
Pictured is the Bangkok skyline. Developers are looking to buy hotel assets going out of business because of the […]
TUI May Sell Pieces of Its Business After Losing Nearly $1 Billion in Its Q3
A file photo of TUI Blue Falesia, Portugal. TUI Group is looking to sell off pieces of its business. […]
How Hotels Can Keep Consumers Engaged While Planning for COVID-19 Recovery
Without question, the travel and hospitality industry has been one of the hardest hit by the COVID-19 crisis. Almost […]
How The German Hospitality Industry Can Recover From The Pandemic
Hospitality has faced an unprecedented crisis. Although the industry was at the peak of its cycle, the capabilities of […]
Identifying Customer Needs Is Key To Any Reopening Plan
As restrictions begin to ease more and more in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the hotel industry is […]
Loge Raises $15 Million for Camp-Themed Hospitality: Travel Startup Funding This Week
One of Loge’s lodge-like property near Mt Shasta. The hospitality startup has raised $15 million in fresh funding. Loge […]
Airbnb and Vrbo Significantly Outperformed the Hotel Industry But for How Long?
Short-term rentals are outperforming hotels in select global markets, but a travel downturn in the fall stands to hurt […]
7 Vexing Questions About an Airbnb IPO
Airbnb touts short-term rentals in non-urban areas as a preferred option for families and others during the coronavirus era. […]
What Trump’s WeChat Ban May Mean for the Travel Sector
An image of a WeChat app user. Many U.S. based travel companies are reviewing an executive order from President […]
When Work From Home Turns Into Work From a Hotel Suite: The New Corporate Travel
MGM Resorts has devised packages that turn rooms at its properties, including Aria, into offices. MGM Resorts Skift Take: […]
Airline, Hotel and Cruise Stocks Generated $1 Billion in Profits for Short-Sellers in July
Pictured are Lufthansa aircraft. Hedge funds reaped huge profits in July betting against the airline. Bloomberg Skift Take: One […]
Google Adds Trip-Planning Features for Pandemic-Weary Travelers
A screenshot of a new “free cancellation filter for hotel” feature on Google’s travel-related set of search tools. The […]
Hotel Leaders Issue New Call for Federal Aid as Leisure Travel Lifeline Winds Down
The U.S. hotel industry continues to call on Congress to pass a bill providing another round of coronavirus economic […]
Tesla and Microsoft Are Looking For Corporate Travel Agencies to Adopt Customized Business Models
A Tesla Model X in Paris, France on March 1, 2020. The car-maker would like to see travel management […]
Accor and SBE Begin Global Expansion of Delano Hotel Brand Despite the Pandemic
SBE and Accor’s first European location for the Delano hotel brand is slated to be in Costa Smeralda on […]
OpenTable Gets New CEO in Executive Shuffle
Coltivare Restaurant, Ithaca, New York, on January 6, 2019. OpenTable appointed Debby Soo as CEO. Jo Zimny Photos / […]
Southwest’s Reduced Schedule Means Its Share-Grab Formula May Not Work This Time Around
Southwest Airlines will fly less than expected this fall. Pictured are some of the airline’s Boeing 737s. David Paul […]
Executive Q&A: How Contactless Technology Can Help Airlines Become More Covid-19 Compliant
Skift Take: Border closures, flight cancellations, and a host of Covid-19-related restrictions have made consumers less confident about flying. […]
Hostelworld Sees Modest European Booking Growth in a Smaller Sector
The Alfriston Hostel in Polegate, East Sussex, UK as seen on April 24, 2010. Hostelworld reported an uptick in […]
What Happened to Travel Bubbles?
Who’s allowed in — and who’s not? Rajesh India / Flickr Skift Take: Remember travel bubbles? Three months ago, they […]
Avis and Hertz Face Big Setbacks as Airports Still Remain Desolate
An Avis branch at SeaTac Rental Car Facility, Washington. Atomic Taco / Flickr Skift Take: With international travel still […]
The Unlikeliest Comeback of This Pandemic Poised to Happen: Airbnb’s Long-Awaited IPO
Airbnb’s long-awaited IPO may finally be happening. Skift Skift Take: Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky said last year he could […]
Extended Stay America Outperforms Other Hotels by Doubling Down on Longer Stays
Extended Stay America attributes its relative strength above competitors to focusing less on shorter leisure bookings. Chris Hunkeler / […]
IHG Still Signed One New Hotel Deal a Day in the First Half of 2020
IHG, parent company of brands like Holiday Inn, is struggling with depleted travel demand during coronavirus. But the company […]
How Covid-19 Is Reshaping Consumer Behavior — and What That Means for Travel Brands Right Now
Skift Take: The Covid-19 pandemic has altered nearly every aspect of the travel business as new habits, concerns, and […]
Our Columnist Flew to Dubai — This Is What He Learned About a Reopening
Dubai Skyline. Trey Ratcliff / Visual Hunt Skift Take: Dubai is offering a master class on safety, operational protocols, […]
Gogo in Talks to Sell Its In-Flight Wi-Fi Business
A passenger uses in-flight internet service on a flight. Gogo, the in-flight internet company, is in talks to sell […]
Barry Diller’s IAC Takes $1 Billion Stake in MGM Resorts With Eye on Online Gaming
The Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, New Mexico, is part of MGM Resorts International. MGM Resorts International Skift Take: […]
What Is the Future for Metasearch in Corporate Travel?
Metasearch websites are making inroads into the corporate travel sector. Romain Mathon / Unsplash Skift Take: The concept makes […]
Royal Caribbean Says U.S. Infection Rate Will Determine When Cruises Can Resume
Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas nathanmac87 / Flickr Skift Take: All of the cruise lines are working hard […]
Marriott CEO Bemoans Work-From-Home Policies Impacting Trajectory of Hotel Recoveries
Marriott is coming off its worst quarter in the history of the company, but company leaders are encouraged by […]
How an Israeli Startup Wants to Help Hotels Up Their Online Booking Game During Crisis
An image of the marina view from Herods Tel Aviv by the Beach, a hotel that was available for […]
Southwest Airlines’ Corp Travel Biz: A Year On, Down But Not Out
Southwest Airlines cold weather operations in Salt Lake City, Utah. Stephen M. Keller / Southwest Airlines Skift Take: The […]
Love Is Not Tourism, Indeed: Germany to Allow Unmarried Couples to Reunite Starting Monday
Cities like Berlin across Germany will allow unmarried couples separated by travel bans prompted by coronavirus to reunite. Skift […]
Singapore Deploys Drones to Monitor Social Distancing: Will Other Tourist Destinations Follow?
Airobotics drones (one pictured here) are being deployed in Singapore to make sure people keep their distance. Nir Elias […]
Booking.com’s Deep Cuts and 12 Other Coronavirus Travel Stories This Week
Shown here is Sequana Tower, Accor corporate headquarters in Issy-les-Moulineaux, France. Accor Skift Take: In another busy week of […]
U.S.-China Tensions Could Roil Internet Usage Rules, Hurting Online Travel: Booking CEO
Booking Holdings CEO Glenn Fogel spoke with CNBC’s Seema Mody on August 7 about the company’s earnings. CNBC Skift […]
Hotels Aren’t Putting People Back to Work Like Other Industries
The U.S. hotel industry’s extraordinarily high unemployment rate has come down from highs seen in April, but industry leaders […]
How Hotels Benefit from Outside Consultants
As society slowly returns to normal and more people start traveling, those in the hospitality industry will need to […]
Tripadvisor Sees a Traffic Rebound But Revenue Still Lagging
Viroth’s Hotel in Siem Reap, Cambodia, won in the “world’s number-one op hotel” category in Tripadvisor’s annual Travelers’ Choice […]
Sabre Preps for a World Where Global Corporate Travel Lags a Broader Rebound
A United Airlines 787 Dreamliner. This week United said it had extended its global distribution agreement where it provides […]
Airside Raises Millions From Bain Capital for Digital Identity Tools: Travel Startup Funding This Week
Inadmissible aliens, some seeking asylum, are processed by CBP officers at the San Ysidro Port of Entry. In addition […]
New Etihad Airways Wellness Ambassador Assigned to Make You Feel Safer in the Skies
An Etihad Wellness Ambassador. The ambassadors will make guests feel safe and comfortable on board and will help make […]
How One Upscale Australian Hotel Group Used the Crisis to Rethink Everything
A view from a king suite at View Hotels Sydney Harbourview property in Sydney, Australia. The upscale independent hotel […]
Booking Holdings Says Leisure Hotels Are Able to Hold Rates Without Having to Offer Deep Discounts
A jetty for guest arrivals at the Baros Maldives, a luxury property in the Baros resort island in the […]
Hilton CEO Sees All of the Hotel Giant’s Business Returning to Previous Demand — Eventually
Despite a $432 million second quarter loss, Hilton continues to build out a development pipeline for a post-pandemic travel […]
Europe Sees Modest Rebound in Cheap Flight Bookings: New Skyscanner Data
Young Asian woman with backpack in international airport looking at the flight information timetables board. Skyscanner, the travel price-comparison […]
U.S. Drops Global Travel Warning for Americans, Sending Airline Stocks Soaring
The U.S. Thursday lifted a global travel advisory that cautioned Americans against traveling abroad during the coronavirus pandemic. Richard […]
Choice Hotels Sees Revenue Surge From Guests Who Live Within 25 Miles of Its Hotels
Choice Hotels is pivoting to local travel, as a quarter of June revenue came from visitors who lived less […]
Thailand’s 60th Tourism Anniversary Turns to Nightmare as Longstanding Travel Agencies Start Closing
The Grand Palace in Bangkok. Raymond Ling / Flickr Skift Take: Five months without revenue would challenge even the […]
Even Norwegian Cruise Line’s CEO Is Surprised People Are Booking Cruises
Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Cruise Line Skift Take: Norwegian Cruise Lines says it has enough liquidity to weather a […]
How to Keep Your Front Desk and Hotel Guests Safe During Covid-19 Pandemic
The Covid-19 pandemic has affected hotels all over the world. It’s incredibly difficult to keep running a business while […]
Travel Brands Doubled U.S. TV Advertising in July
A screenshot of a Southwest Airlines Wanderlust TV commercial. Airlines increased their advertising in July 2020. Southwest Airlines/iSpot.tv Skift […]
Airlines, Travel Agencies Ponder How Best to Spend Tech Dollars in These Lean Times
An interior image of a business class cabin on an Air Canada Boeing 787 jet. The carrier has been […]
This Newly Public $500 Million Company Is Set Up to Go Shopping for Travel Acquisitions
The New York Stock Exchange as seen on March 1, 2013. Go Acquisition Corp. went public on August 5, […]
U.S. Airlines Will Get $25 Billion Payroll Aid If Key Lawmakers Have Their Way
A member of a ground crew walks past American Airlines planes parked at the gate during the coronavirus disease […]
Revamping Hotel Strategies During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The travel and hospitality industries are some of the hardest hit since the COVID-19 pandemic started. Around the world, […]
Starwood CEO Touts Resiliency of Extended Stay Hotels During Pandemic
Starwood Property Trust continues to see notably above-average performance in its extended stay hotel sector investments, like InTown Suites […]
New spots for travel escapades in Kigali
As Kigali is developing rapidly, with new shopping malls, office buildings and, of course, the convention centre which lights […]
Virgin Australia Will Cut 3,000 Jobs Under Revamp by New Owner Bain Capital
Virgin Australia continues to suspend flights to Los Angeles and Tokyo. Brendon Thorne / Bloomberg Skift Take: This exit […]
Traveler Confidence in Public Health Officials Plummets
Who’s keeping Americans safe? Skift Skift Take: Travel companies in the U.S. are up against a vexing foe: declining […]
Lobbying for Business Travelers in D.C. Takes on New Challenges These Days
Access to the Capitol, which houses Congress, has been restricted since the start of the coronavirus outbreak. Stephen Walker […]
Struggling Tourist Destinations Pitch Themselves to New Digital Nomads as Remote Work Locales
Come to Bermuda, stay a while? Bermuda Tourism Authority Skift Take: The pandemic may accelerate the existing trend of […]
Expedia and Airbnb Bosses Have Conflicting Visions About the Future of Travel
Skift Take: Sometimes CEO views of where online travel is headed seem more about the capabilities of their companies […]
Booking.com Relaunches a Scaled-Down Attractions Vertical Powered by TUI’s Musement
A tour boat in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, as seen on October 21, 2015. Booking.com now offers tours like these […]
Tourism and Aviation Among the Sectors Giving Insurers the Most Concern in the Pandemic
Empty plane interior with few people and stewardess during coronavirus pandemia. Underwriters said aviation is one of the most […]
Hyatt CEO Says China Offers Proof Hotels Don’t Need a Vaccine to Recover From Coronavirus
Hyatt leaders Tuesday touted significant recovery in their Greater China portfolio (pictured: the Grand Hyatt Taipei) despite a major […]
Accor’s Pandemic Shakeout Includes Shedding 1,000 Jobs, Possible Sale of Iconic Paris HQ
For sale: Sequana Tower, Accor’s corporate headquarters in Issy-les-Moulineaux, Paris. Accor Skift Take: The cost cutting program, unfortunately, was […]
Virgin Atlantic Files Chapter 15 Petition in U.S. to Assist Its Rescue in the UK
Virgin Atlantic and TUI Airways aircraft are seen at Manchester Airport, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease, Manchester, […]
Booking.com Restructuring Will Pare Its Workforce By Up to 25 Percent
The Booking.com presence at Web Summit 2019 on November 05, 2019. Booking.com announced deep job cuts on August 4, […]
The 2020 Digital Transformation Report
Skift Take: In this report, Skift and Amazon Web Services explore the state of digital transformation in the travel […]
Best Western CEO Says U.S. Hotels Need 6-Month Lifeline From D.C. to Survive, Not Just to Recover
The next six to nine months are a crucial survival breaking point for the U.S. hotel industry, Best Western […]
Majority of Brits, Germans and French Would Skip Holidays if Masks and Testing Required: New Survey
No wonder these tourists are lonely. Many Europeans say they would skip vacations if required to wear masks and […]
Corporate Travel Agencies Remake On-Site Operations at Companies
With office rents rising, some corporations might think twice about dedicating chairs to travel advisors. Arlington Research / Unsplash […]
Travel Blogs Rode a Loyalty Wave: What Comes Next?
The Points Guy moved into new office space in 2017. It racked up big revenues on credit card referral […]
China, Italy, and the U.S. — A Tale of Three Hotel Industry Recoveries
China’s hotel industry recovery from the pandemic continues to propel forward while the U.S. stagnates amid rising cases. Li […]
The 1 Thing Your Business Needs To Recover Quickly
This article was originally published in French on Bilan. At a time of fairly steady recovery, depending on where […]
China Tourism Leans on Cross-Province Group Tours as Bellwether of Recovery
Domestic travelers at Yu Gardens in Shanghai before Covid-19. Will there be as many? Photo courtesy of Abercrombie and […]
The Hotel as Cultural Diplomacy: More Important Than Ever Going Forward
The lobby of the Royal Mansour Hotel in Marrakech, Morocco. The Royal Mansour Hotel Skift Take: Cultural diplomacy is […]
Why Hilton and Other Hotels May Not Like This Joe Biden Tax Proposal
The 1031 exchange is a popular real estate investor tool used to defer taxes on the sales of hotels […]
How a Pandemic Helped Expedia’s Vrbo Fix Its Google Problem
A vacation rental that had been listed on Vrbo as seen on May 1, 2011. Vrbo is leading Expedia […]
Traveloka Raises $250 Million for Online Travel: Travel Startup Funding This Week
Traveloka’s head office in Jakarta. Traveloka Skift Take: Jakarta-based agency Traveloka, South Korea-based agency MyRealTrip, and Colombia-based agency Awake […]
Has the Pandemic Killed the Freebie Trip for Travel Influencers?
Free trips no more? Hello Lightbulb / Unsplash Skift Take: The comped influencer trip has long been a divisive […]
Amadeus Isn’t Seeing a Significant Pickup in Airline Ticket Sales Yet
In July 2020, Qingdao, China, finished work on its new airport – which is twice the size of London’s […]
From Pop-Up Policies to Bio-Safety Wellness — Managing Corp Travel Takes On New Complexities
Happy travelers from Singapore’s Energy Drilling Management, who are using International SOS’s new ICC AOKpass — an app that […]
Airbnb Sets Up Clash With Expedia Over Number of Legal Rentals in San Diego
Pictured is a vacation rental in San Diego County, California as seen on November 29, 2016. . In the […]
A 33 Percent Drop in U.S. GDP and the Ominous Signs for Travel’s Recovery
U.S. GDP decreased at a record rate in the second quarter of 2020. A closer look shows rough news […]
The $600 Check Gap and 11 Other Coronavirus Travel Stories This Week
Food handed out at the a food bank in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada as seen on February 16, 2016. Some […]
Corporate Travel Giant CWT Paid $4.5 Million in Ransom to Cyber Hackers: Reports
Cyber hackers, like the one depicted in this photo illustration, made big demands of CWT. Oleksii / Adobe Skift […]
Hottest Boutique Hotel Themes in 2020
As the country begins to open up again and people are chomping at the bit to travel, you may […]
Successfully Tapping Into The Emotional
The process of dividing the larger, homogeneous market into distinct consumer segments based on varying attributes is not a […]
Imagining Travel in the Year Ahead: Skift’s 8th Anniversary Edition
A burst of light at sunrise in the Catskill mountains near Woodstock, New York. Rafat Ali / Skift Skift […]
This Stationary Life …
Skift Take: We have always assumed constant movement is better. I am questioning that now, in an extended lockdown […]
Russia Leads Rebound Helped by International Flights: Latest Skift Recovery Index
Skift Take: Skift Research keeps analyzing how the travel recovery is shaping up. It’s needed, because demand remains volatile […]
Wyndham Plans to Woo Independent Hoteliers Closer to When the Bills Come Due
Wyndham executives expect a wave of new franchise agreements to come later this year, as independent hotel lenders look […]
Evolving the Online Travel Advertising Playbook for a New Era
Skift Take: Digital advertising is an essential component of the online travel industry. But now, with business as usual […]
Booking’s Ad Play on Trivago Shows How to Create Opportunity From Crisis
Pictured is the Il Boro Tuscany property in France on August 24, 2019. Trivago is seeing increased demand for […]
Finding the Right Formula for Promoting Luxury Pandemic Staycations in Asia
Capella Singapore: Who says locals won’t holiday at home? Capella Singapore Skift Take: Asia’s luxury hotels are competing for […]
Wyndham Destinations Looks to Put Millennials Into Urban Timeshares
Wyndham Destinations continues an urban push with a new timeshare resort slated for Atlanta (rendering above). Wyndham Destinations Skift […]
Major Online Travel Exec: Negotiating With Google Is Almost Pointless
Skift Take: Deep-pocketed Google clearly didn’t appease suffering travel advertisers in any meaningful way because it didn’t have to […]
Lyft, Other Car Services Cater to Grounded Corporate Travelers
Lyft has launched Lyft Pass to help companies better manage employee travel. Lyft Skift Take: The latest round of […]
Preserving Cash Is Top Priority for JetBlue Airways
JetBlue is focusing on cash preservation. Pictured is an Airbus jet. JetBlue Airways Skift Take: JetBlue is planning for […]
Executive Q&A: Why Covid-19 Will Bring a Shift Toward Personalized, Experiential-Based Loyalty Programs
Skift Take: The Covid-19 pandemic has shown that travel brands need to rethink consumer trust and loyalty to adapt […]
What the End of the $600-a-Week U.S. Unemployment Check Will Mean for Travel’s Displaced Masses
A hallway. Many unemployed hospitality workers have been relying on the extra $600 a week in unemployment relief the […]
IHG’s Race to Avoid Defaulting on More Than 100 Hotels: What’s the Fallout?
IHG is in default and risks a franchise agreement termination at 103 hotels, including the InterContinental San Juan (pictured). […]
Software Helping to Set Hotel Room Rates Put to the Test During the Pandemic
A hotel front desk. Adobe Skift Take: Hotels need to put aside their frustrations with software for forecasting and […]
Disney Parks’ Lost Summer May Become a Lost Year
Guests can see Minnie Mouse and other characters during breakfast at Topolino’s Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera, at […]
Ways to Attract More Business Travelers to Your Hotels
COVID-19 may have slowed the world down a bit but the world of business continues to function. Sure, companies […]
Why the Ryanair CEO Thinks He Has This Pandemic Mess All Worked Out
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary is reluctant to make any short-term predictions due to the second waves of coronavirus now […]
Tourism’s Jagged Reopening May Be Worse Than Not Reopening At All
A queue of people for a beach in Spain. Nacho Doce / Reuters Skift Take: It’s understandable that tourism […]
Hotel Owners’ New Financial Realities Thwart Pandemic Tech Push by the Major Brands
There is a path forward for the hotel industry to embrace technology and cut costs, but labor unions will likely limit how far disruption can go. World Wide Gifts
Unused Airline Tickets Are Driving Corporate Travel Agencies Crazy Right Now
Travel managers are figuring out how best to use millions of unused tickets. Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Skift […]
How India’s SpiceJet Is Using Tech to Innovate During the Pandemic
A SpiceJet Boeing aircraft in India. SpiceJet Skift Take: SpiceJet has championed reforms of airport processes that have already […]
Boutique Hotelier Hoxton Seizes on Social Distancing by Offering Glamping Pop-Up
The Hoxton is the latest hotel brand to venture into the growing glamping sector of hospitality. The Hoxton Skift […]
Americans Can Travel — But Should They?
Americans are free to travel, but do they have a moral and ethical obligation not to. Denys / Adobe […]
Cruise Lines Have No-Sail Disorder and 12 Other Coronavirus Travel Stories This Week
Sunset over the Pacific as seen on the Nieuw Amsterdam on October 2, 2018. Cruise lines have been criticized […]
Google Made Advertising Concessions to Travel Partners But They’re Still Angry
Google and some of its advertising partners have clashed over Google’s coronavirus relief efforts. Felice Maranz / Bloomberg Skift […]
Borders Are Open: It’s Peak Holiday Season in Europe But Are Europeans Really Traveling?
An empty beach on the Cote d’Azur. Matej Duzel / Flickr Skift Take: Europe opened its internal borders six […]
Gett Lands $100 Million for Ground Transit for Corporate Travelers: Travel Startup Funding This Week
A traveler uses Gett to book a ride. Gett Skift Take: Two startups that raised funding this week: Gett, […]
Pandemic Spurs American Airlines to Make Long-Needed Changes to Coastal Strategy in U.S.
An American Airlines employee watches over jets in Los Angeles. American will shrink its presence in L.A. Brandon Wade […]
How Southwest Plans to Shrink by 25 Percent But Not Lay Off Workers
Southwest Airlines operations during the coronavirus outbreak. Will it lay off workers? Stephen M. Keller / Southwest Airlines Skift […]
Spirit Airlines Is Betting on Its Recession-Resilient Low-Cost Model: Will It Work This Time?
A Spirit Airlines Airbus A319. Low fares may help the airline weather through the pandemic. Glenn Beltz / Flickr […]
Kayak CEO Hints Company May Get Into the Hotel Business
A hotel sign as seen on August 29, 2008. Kayak CEO Steve Hafner spoke to Skift on July 20, […]
Alaska Airlines President Wants Competitors to Stop Dumping Cheap Seats
A Horizon Air turboprop on the ground. Horizon is a subsidiary of Alaska Airlines. Alaska Airlines Skift Take: Consumers […]
Introducing the Skift Health Score: Assessing the Viability of 100 Public Travel Companies Each Month
Skift Take: How are the global travel companies weathering the once-in-a-century coronavirus storm and what are their prospects for […]
Private Equity Investor Blackstone Downplays Its Pain From Battered Hotels
Blackstone attributes its continued real estate strength to only 13 percent of its portfolio coming from the hotel and […]
Airbnb Mulls Trendy, Non-Traditional Way to Take Itself Public
A cottage on Mayne Island, British Columbia, Canada that was listed on Airbnb. CEO Brian Chesky said unique inventory […]
Travel Managers Are Resetting Their Moral Compass on Liability Risk
Travel is slowly restarting with new safety measures in places, including United Airlines’ latest requirement for passengers to wear […]
Skift Forum Europe Video: Key Strategies DMOs can use to Drive Economic Growth
Skift Take: In this video conversation from Skift Forum Europe 2020, we learn more about how Destination Canada’s business […]
Hotel Union Unite Here Says Mask Mandates Aren’t Enough for Worker Safety
One of the hotel industry’s largest labor unions is refuting a corporate push to limit daily housekeeping in light […]
Travelport Strikes Deal With Creditors That For Now Could Save It From Bankruptcy
A man wears a protective mask as he walks on Wall Street during the coronavirus outbreak in New York […]
United Execs Predict Airlines Will Only See Half the Demand Until a Vaccine Arrives
A United Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The company says that the company will only reach half demand until a […]
Cruise Lines’ Booking Practices in a Pandemic Are ‘Astonishing’: CDC Official
Cruise ships in the port of Miami. James Good / Flickr Skift Take: Cruise lines have been selling tickets […]
Leveraging Customer Data and Traveler Insights to Drive Covid-19 Recovery
Skift Take: In this video from the 2020 Skift Loyalty Summit, we learn about the results of a Covid-19 […]
Empathy Manor: a home away from home
Are you living in Kigali or just passing through? Do you enjoy time alone for meditation or are you […]
Podcast: Travel Loyalty Is Changing Because Consumers Are Changing First
Picture (from left) is Skift airline reporter Brian Sumers, The Points Guy’s Brian Kelly and George Hobica of Airfare […]
Launching New Skift Pro Exclusive: Dennis’ Online Travel Briefing
Read the Complete Story On Skift
U.S. Hotels Push Hard for Industry-Specific Relief Fund From Congress
The U.S. hotel industry’s leading lobbying group outlined Tuesday key measures it wants included in the next round of […]
United and American Air CEOs Ask European Governments to Loosen Restrictions on Transatlantic Travel
A passenger walks in Frankfurt’s airport, where Lufthansa is the largest tenant. Ralph Orlowski / Reuters Skift Take: This […]
Travel’s Loyalty Renaissance: Moving from Points to Personalization
Skift Take: In this video from Skift’s Travel’s Path Forward: Loyalty summit, we learn more about how loyalty strategies […]
United Airlines Reports ‘Most Difficult’ Quarter in Nearly 100 Years
A United Airlines Boeing 787 in Frankfurt. Kevin Hackert. / Flickr Skift Take: United Airlines said it had the […]
The Last Minute, On-Demand Business Trip Finds New Acceptance in Corp Travel
Company employees need to book meetings at shorter notice due to coronavirus-related travel restrictions. Bram Naus / Unsplash Skift […]
The Latest Corporate Travel Agency Invention? ‘The Journey Manager’
Global travel management companies are emphasizing the complexities of corporate travel. Mantas Hesthaven / Unsplash Skift Take: This travel […]
Passengers Now Need a Negative Covid Test Certificate Before Flying to China
China’s aviation authority believes pre-departure testing will lower the risk of importing coronavirus cases. GVS / Adobe Skift Take: […]
Has Postponing the Summer Olympics Stifled Japan’s Ambitious Tourism Plans?
The ‘One Year to Go’ ceremony celebrating what was supposed to be one year out from the start of […]
Online Family Travel Club Launched by Wall Street Journal Alums Unbowed by Pandemic
A family at a South African beach in KwaZulu-Natal province. The Expedition is a new subscription-based, online club of […]
Cruise Ships Return to Danube With Strict Safety Rules Onboard
A river cruise vessel sails past Hungary’s Parliament building on the Danube in Budapest. Tudor Stanica / Unsplash Skift […]
Demand for Buyout Packages High Among Pilots
Airlines are looking to downsize their workforce with early departure packages. Michael Probst / Associated Press Skift Take: These […]
IHG Bets on Ultra-Luxury Even in This Economy by Expanding Regent Hotels
IHG is sticking by plans to nearly double its seven-hotel Regent (pictured: a Regent guest room) brand portfolio in […]
A Pandemic Tip for Hotel Brands: Treat Your Workers the Way You Treat Guests
Treating your frontline workers in a way that instills pride is more important than ever now. Davit85 / Adobe […]
UK Airlines Appeal to Government to Suspend Passenger Tax to Boost Demand
Passengers wearing protective face masks disembark a British Airways aircraft at Terminal 5 in Heathrow Airport. Hannah McKay / […]
Canada’s Porous Border and Quarantine-Cheating U.S. Tourists Raise Anxieties
Traffic entering Canada across the border was up 30 percent last week versus the end of May. That has […]
Leaner South African Airways Can Stay Independent: Government Official
South African Airways will stay out of stricter government control. Roger Ward / Reuters Skift Take: Officials in South […]
Big Hoteliers Battle for Travelodge UK and 11 Other Coronavirus Travel Stories This Week
A Travelodge property. Major hotel chains are vying to acquire the budget hotel group. Travelodge Skift Take: In coronavirus-related […]
Egypt Reports Coronavirus Case Drop But Still Hasn’t Qualified for European Travel
Saqqara, Egypt on February 13, 2011. Coronavirus cases were falling in Egypt in July 2020. Vasenka Photography / Flickr.com […]
India to Restart U.S. Passenger Flights July 23
An aerial view of Mumbai. U.S. passenger service can resume to India beginning July 23, 2020. Adobe Skift Take: […]
Panama Extends International Flights’ Suspension Until Late August
A Copa Airlines Boeing 737-700 as seen on July 22, 2013. Panama has suspended international flights until around August […]
Delta Pilots Face Decision: Accept Furloughs or Agree to Reduced Minimum Pay
Delta pilots will stay off furloughs if they agree to lesser pay. Skift Skift Take: These are labor negotiations […]
Rio’s Famed Beaches Sparkle More With Less Visitors During Pandemic
Ipanema Beach in Rio De Janiero, Brazil. The beach is getting a breather during the pandemic. Marcos Fernandes / […]
CDC Extends No Sail Order Banning Cruises Until October
After two coronavirus cases abroad its ships, Princess Cruise Lines suspended operations. Jeff Chiu / Associated Press Skift Take: […]
Beekeeper Raises $10 Million for Frontline Worker Communications: Travel Startup Funding This Week
A SixtyHotels property in the SoHo neighborhood of New York City. The property uses Beekeeper software as a hub […]
British Airways Retires Entire Fleet of 747s With Immediate Effect
A British Airways 747 at London Heathrow. JamesZ_Flickr / Flickr Skift Take: The so-called “queen of the skies” jumbo […]
European Students Exempted From Travel Ban in First Sign of U.S. Reopening International Travel
European students who have a visa will be allowed to enter the U.S. unipavia / Flickr Skift Take: The […]
Cathay Pacific Expects $1.3 Billion First-Half Loss Due to Pandemic
A Cathay Pacific Boeing 777-300ER plane lands at Hong Kong airport after it reopened following clashes between police and […]
Navigating the Patchwork Recovery of the Asia-Pacific Hotel Business
China and New Zealand (pictured: Queenstown, NZ) are leading the rebound across an Asia-Pacific region in varied states of […]
U.S. Travel Industry Delivers $23 Billion Aid Package Wish List to Congress
The U.S. Travel Association Friday lobbied Congress for $23 billion in federal aid to the industry and tax credits […]
Theme Parks Face Tough Tech Investment Choices
Since Walt Disney World Resort theme parks in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., began their phased reopening July 11, 2020, […]
Tripadvisor Is a Media Business So Why Did It Unload These 8 Brands?
This November 2004 screenshot shows Booking Buddy’s hotel compare tool. Booking Buddy was one of the brands that Tripadvisor […]
Critics Fear Japan’s Domestic Tourism Campaign Will Cause Infection Spike
Passersby wearing protective face masks are seen on the street amid the coronavirus disease outbreak, in Tokyo, Japan. Issei […]
Undersized JetBlue Wants to Leverage This Crisis to Grow at Big Airports
A JetBlue Airways Airbus A321 on the ground in Hamburg, Germany, before delivery. Kevin Hackert / Flickr Skift Take: […]
Carnival and Royal Caribbean Receive UK Coronavirus Aid After Cruise Snub in U.S.
The Harmony of the Seas in the port of Southampton, UK Robert Pittman / Flickr Skift Take: Given the […]
Hyatt Still Bullish on Building New Hotels in Current Economy
Hyatt’s six-hotel expansion across the U.S. Sun Belt (rendering of a planned Atlanta property to open in 2021) comes […]
Travel Companies Are Hiring Despite Epic Job Losses
Some luxury hotels in Chicago were working in February 2020 with Heartland Alliance, a nonprofit that helps refugees find […]
American Airlines Will Send Furlough Notices to 25,000 Employees
An American Airlines gate agent at New York JFK. Brandon Wade / American Airlines Skift Take: Someday, the U.S. […]
Judge Tosses Out Pandemic Lawsuits Filed by Grand Princess Cruise Passengers
The Grand Princess, shown at sea in 2019. Princess Cruises Skift Take: Good riddance. Let’s hope other frivolous suits […]
U.S. Travelers Pull Back on Travel Plans Even as Restrictions Lift: Skift’s New Travel Tracker Survey
Skift Take: With 33 percent of Americans taking at least one trip, June travel tells a promising story of […]
Payments Firm for Airport Luxury Goods Shops Could Sell for $2.6 Billion
Woman with face mask shopping. Private equity firm Silver Lake disclosed concessions it offered to push through the $2.6 […]
Tourism in Emerging Countries Faces Slow Recovery From Virus Wipeout
A woman wearing a protective mask carries glasses of fruit juice by the swimming pool after the Government eased […]
Just What Is a HEPA Filter and Why Is It Giving the Travel Industry Hope?
American Airlines A300 Main Cabin. HEPA filters help keep the air blowing through the cabin safe for passengers. Cory […]
Public Health Be Damned — Domestic U.S. Tourists Flout Quarantine and Mask Orders
A sign urging the use of face masks in Taos, New Mexico Andrew Hay / Reuters Skift Take: Tourist […]
Many Miami Beach Visitors Ignore Pandemic Safety Practices
A woman wearing a mask to help reduce the spread of coronavirus disease walks through a restaurant in Miami […]
Skift Forum Europe Video: The Future of Tourism
Skift Take: In this video from Skift Forum Europe 2020, we learn more about how the Red Sea Development […]
Orlando Takes Center Stage as Disney and the NBA Push Ahead Into Florida’s Virus Spike
Disney World in Florida. The resort began reopening on July 11, as coronavirus cases in Florida grow. Jeffrey Zeldman […]
Airlines Canceled 355 Orders for Boeing 737 Max Jets in First 6 Months of Year
Airlines canceled more than 355 Boeing Max orders in the first half of the year. Elaine Thompson / Associated […]
Ryanair Launches New Assault Against Unauthorized Bookings Over Refunds
A Ryanair aircraft stands on the tarmac at Frankfurt-Hahn Airport Germany, September 12, 2018. Ryanair chastised third-party websites for […]
IHG, Hilton, Marriott Among Hotel Giants Battling for UK Budget Hotel Chain
Hotel companies from around the world are zeroing in on a struggling group of British budget hotel owners to […]
Major Wealth Fund Invests in Near-Instant Virus Testing at 3 Airports
Passengers of a flight from Amsterdam wearing protective face masks arrive at the Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport, following the […]
Asia Enacts New Round of Coronavirus Travel Restrictions Amid Rising Case Count
Asian cities (like Tokyo, pictured) and countries are rushing to enforce a new round of coronavirus preventative measures amid […]
Should Anyone in the U.S. Be Traveling Right Now? Industry Trade Group Responds
A passenger walks through Reagan National airport. Kevin Lamarque / Reuters Skift Take: As cases surge in the U.S. […]
We May Never See as Many Business Travelers as Before: Delta Air Lines CEO
A maintenance worker disinfect the aircraft surfaces on a Boeing 757. The airline is cleaning airplanes more thoroughly. Delta […]
Singapore and Malaysia to Reopen Cross Border Travel Next Month
Singapore is looking to reopen its border with Malaysia. Singapore Tourism Board Skift Take: The coronavirus hit Asia first, […]
Southwest Airlines Warns of Possible Layoffs If Passengers Don’t Return
Southwest has raised its cleaning standards, but business has been slow to come back. Southwest Airlines Skift Take: Southwest […]
Precedent-Setting or a Footnote? Expedia and Union Reach Pact on Short-Term Rentals
Katherine Teats House, a historic landmark, in San Diego. Expedia Group and Unite Here Local 30 reached a tentative […]
Hong Kong Disneyland Will Close Down Again Amid Threat of Third Wave of Coronavirus
Walt Disney Co. plans to once again suspend operations at its Hong Kong Disneyland Resort amid a potential third […]
Skift Forum Europe Video: Designing a New Era of Conversational Commerce
Skift Take: In this video conversation from Skift Forum Europe 2020, we learn more about how LivePerson is helping […]
Corporate Travel Agents Plot Return to Life After Zoom
A business traveler in Paris. Gideon / Flickr Skift Take: Industry watchers say corporate travel will slowly begin a […]
Vietnam and China Agree to Resume Commercial Flights
Hello once more: Glimpses of Phu Quoc resort island from the window of an airplane. James Pearson / Reuters […]
Why This Is a Seminal Moment for Asia’s Domestic Travel Market
A local couple kayaking in Penghu, Taiwan. Photo: Klook Skift Take: The big migration to domestic travel has begun. […]
Travelport Seeks Sharper Distribution Edge Despite Pandemic’s Hit to Revenue
Southwest Airlines operations during the coronavirus outbreak in April 2020. Southwest added participation in Travelport’s reservation systems this year. […]
Flights in Spain Doubled in First Week of July But Still Well Off Pre-Pandemic Levels
An Iberia aircraft at Madrid’s Barajas airport. Iberia Airlines Skift Take: Spain is seeing its flight traffic increase, but […]
UK Events Industry Warns 30,000 Jobs Are at Risk as Uncertainty Looms Over Restart Date
London’s ExCel Center Heather Cowper / Flickr Skift Take: As of yet, there are no plans to immediately open […]
Ireland Considers Quarantine Crackdown on Foreign Travelers Amid Growing Scrutiny
Ireland is considering tougher enforcement on a 14-day quarantine to foreign travelers from countries it deems unsafe from the […]
Thinking Post-Crisis: Expert Hotelier Advice On What Your Hotel Needs To Focus On To Bounce Back
The rules of the game have changed. Thanks to the COVID-19 crisis, we’ve entered a new world order, and […]
Announcing Skift Global Forum 2020 as an Online Conference
Skift Take: Skift Global Forum 2020 will truly live up to its promise of being global — and affordable […]
Hilton Expands New Cleaning Standard in Pitch to Host Meetings and Events Pre-Vaccine
Hilton’s new EventReady standard aims to safely host meetings and events with coronavirus preventative measures in place. Hilton Skift […]
Hungary Imposes Quarantines on Arriving Citizens and Other Travelers
The Hungarian side of the Hungary-Romanian border as shown on November 3, 2019. Hungary has now imposes tough restrictions […]
The Great Contactless Experiment at Dallas-Forth Worth Airport
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (pictured) is working with American Airlines – whose home base is DFW – to roll […]
Disney World Parks Reopen in Florida as Pandemic Charts Uncertain Course
Crowds walk along Main Street toward Cinderella Castle and Tomorrowland at Disney’s Magic Kingdom on the final day before […]
Hotels Worry About Legionnaires’ Disease as Buildings Reopen From Pandemic Closures
Pedestrians walk past the Opera House Hotel where a cooling tower has been tested and disinfected following a deadly […]
Turkey Changes the Tourist Magnet Hagia Sophia From a Museum to a Mosque
An interior shot from the Hagia Sophia, or Ayasofya, which has had a history as a museum, a mosque, […]
A New Controversial Surcharge and 10 Other Coronavirus Travel Stories This Week
Singapore Airlines is leveling a surcharge for certain bookings. Bloomberg Skift Take: In coronavirus-related travel stories this week, Skift […]
European Countries Are Confusing Travelers With Inconsistent Border Controls
Tourists take a selfie a day before Italy and neighboring EU countries open up borders for the first time […]
From a WhatsApp Channel to Latin America’s Latest Online Travel Startup
Santiago, Chile, is home to many of the country’s startups. Francisco Kemeny / Unsplash Skift Take: Despite rising coronavirus […]
Facebook Users Still Dream of Getaways: Here’s the List of Travel’s Most Popular Videos in June
An image from a trip to Norway on February 6, 2017. Travel brands’ Facebook videos are heavily weighted toward […]
Hotels Weigh How Many Brands Are Just Too Many in Travel’s Worst Year Ever
Hotel companies have piled on new brands in recent years, and analysts say coronavirus isn’t likely to deter the […]
A Rare Travel Winner This Summer Weighs 10 Tons, Gets 18 Miles to the Gallon
An RV in Lime Park, Colorado. The industry could see more customers in the coming months. Adam Clark / […]
Rio de Janeiro’s Famous Beaches Will Only Reopen After a Vaccine Is Found
Ipanema beach in Rio de Janeiro. Mayor Marcelo Crivella said many beachgoers don’t wear masks and break social distancing […]
China’s Aviation Industry Suffers $4.9 Billion Loss in Second Quarter
China Eastern Airlines aircraft are seen parked on the tarmac in Hongqiao International Airport in Shanghai, following the coronavirus […]
Zolo Raises $56 Million for Co-Living: Travel Startup Funding This Week
Co-living means living with a lot of color, at least in India. Here’s an example of extended-stay lodging from […]
Your City Was Home to a Superspreader Hotel: What Hospitality Can Learn From Boston’s Comeback Plan
A Boston conference tied to coronavirus cases around the world isn’t deterring travel groups in their push to once […]
Disneyland Paris Will Require Masks on Reopening
The logo of Disneyland Paris is seen in Marne-la-Vallee, near Paris, as the theme park prepares to reopen its […]
Hopes Dashed for a Quick U.S. Airline Recovery Amid Coronavirus Spikes
Several U.S. airlines report the recovery has slowed. Pictured is the United Airlines terminal lobby in Boston. United Airlines […]
Accor Still Keen to Find Investors for Its Software Business Despite Pandemic Fallout
Mövenpick Cebu, a beachfront hotel on Mactan Island, in Cebu, Philippines, is affiliated with the Accor Hotels Group, which […]
A Little-known Tax Strategy Could Increase Revenue For Hoteliers
Cost Segregation benefits hotel owners in the tens of thousands or more. Running a hotel is no easy task […]
Spain’s eDreams Odigeo Sees Revenue Hit Due to Crisis
Image of a French town. Frederic Jutant / EDreams Odigeo Skift Take: Analysts expected the revenue loss. They liked […]
American Airlines Delays Resuming Hong Kong Flights Over Mandatory Coronavirus Testing
American Airlines delayed a planned resumption of service between Dallas and Hong Kong over mandatory coronavirus testing for arriving […]
Rivals Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line Team Up on Restart
Norwegian Cruise Line took part in a “Healthy Sail Panel” debate. Richard Martin / Flickr Skift Take: Cruise lines […]
Travelers Signal a Cautious Approach in New Global Sentiment Survey
Minor Hotels, owner of Anantara and other brands, uses Oracle Hospitality’s software to run its operations. Anantara Skift Take: […]
Assessing the Damage: The Airline Industry’s Grim First Half
Skift Take: There’s no getting around it: The first half of 2020 has been grim for airlines. Hopes for […]
Nigeria Restarts Domestic Flights and Eases Other Restrictions
The airport in Lagos, as well as Abuja, has reopened, while some other airports can resume flights from July […]
5 Color Schemes, 5 Hotels: How Hotel Color Schemes are Selected
Comfort, cleanliness, location – these are all critical aspects of any good hotel stay. Many hotel guests simply focus […]
Choice Hotels Won June on U.S. TV Among All Travel Advertisers
A Choice Hotels TV spot, The Open Road is Open Again. Choice Hotels was the most-seen brand across the […]
New Booking Data Shows Lopsided Global Recovery Frustrating Travel Outfits
Raffles Hotel and Resorts opened its Raffles Bali property in July 2020, with 32 ocean view villas in Jimbaran. […]
Wyndham Sees Opportunity at the Top of the World With Plans to Open First Hotel in Nepal
Wyndham’s Indian subcontinent growth strategy is focused on the economy scale of the market. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Skift […]
Free Report: Adapting Marketing, Content & Brand For Hotels
In the second of our Cutting Through The Noise series of reports we begin to consider scenario-based brand, marketing […]
How Singapore’s Meetings and Events Industry is Going Virtual During the Coronavirus
Skift Take: Singapore’s meetings and events were put on pause earlier this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. But […]
Is This the End of the Single Meeting Business Trip?
There’s a focus on what constitutes a business-critical trip as companies emerge from the lockdown. Rawpixel / Flickr Skift […]
United Airlines Warns 36,000 Workers They Could Be Laid Off or Furloughed
United Airlines will issue furlough and lay off notices to about 36,000 workers, including airport customer service agents. United […]
Skift Report: A Data-Driven Look at Hospitality’s Recovery
Skift Take: The Covid-19 crisis is creating an unprecedented challenge for the hotel industry. Despite the challenges, there’s also […]
How Fraudsters Bilked American Airlines and Citibank in Frequent Flyer Schemes
American Airlines said fraudsters bilked it and Citibank out of frequent flyer program miles. Pictured is one of the […]
Air New Zealand Pauses New Bookings to Ease Burden on Quarantine Facilities
The government is stepping in to manage bookings for Air New Zealand, to ensure there are adequate numbers of […]
Lufthansa Starts Deep Job Cuts After State Rescue
Lufthansa aircraft parking on north-west runway at Frankfurt Airport due to corona crisis on March 23, 2020. Oliver Roesler […]
Dubai Expects Slow Recovery Amid Reopening to Foreign Visitors
Dubai reopened to foreign travelers Tuesday, but local tourism officials don’t expect increased bookings to come until at least […]
Expedia to Deliver Early Payday to Private Equity Investors
Expedia Group is looking to refinance $3.2 billion in private equity debt at a lower interest rate. Getty Images […]
Most U.S. Airlines Sign Letters of Intent for Their Share of $25 Billion in Federal Aid
Spirit Airlines is one of many U.S. carriers expecting to take more federal government money. JTOcchialini / Flickr Skift […]
Choice Hotels Goes Deeper on U.S. Job Cuts Amid Longer Recovery Expectations
Choice Hotels permanently laid off all U.S. corporate employees that had previously been placed on a 60-day furlough. Choice […]
Skyscanner Shows Tenacity to Overcome Challenges Selling Airline Tickets on Mobile
Cat King, commercial director at Skyscanner, spoke at an internal event at the Edinburgh-based online travel company. Skyscanner Skift […]
Thailand Rethinks Travel Bubble Plans on Virus Worries
Tourism to destinations such as Phuket is crucial to Thailand’s economy, with the sector contributing 11 percent to the […]
Iconic Hotel Architecture from Around the World
What makes a hotel iconic? Unarguably, it is the timeless architecture of the world’s most famous hotels that make […]
Marketing Your Hotel Online During Coronavirus Closures & Beyond
Jazz Bovill of Arise explores how online marketers in the hospitality industry can accept the “new normal”, plan for […]
Content Ideas for Hotel Blogs Amid The Pandemic
The recent coronavirus outbreak has not been kind to the hotel and tourism industries. Shelter in place orders, social […]
COVID Strategy Series: Hotel Marketing Quick Wins
Pivot your hotel marketing strategy to work around the coronavirus crisis If you’re like many in the industry, you’ve been […]
How Hotel Technology Enhances Hospitality
Over the past three months, I have spoken to many hundreds of hoteliers. Initially, there was a huge amount […]
Crisis Management: What Hotels Can Learn From “Friends”
The One Where Warner Regains Control “So no one told you life was gonna be this way.” If you […]
How to Improve your Hotel Experience With Gifts for Guests
Running a hotel can be hard and getting the marketing for your hotel right can be even harder. It’s […]
How Hoteliers Can Save Money While Still Providing Excellent Service
The COVID-19 impact has had a major impact on people in all industries. One industry in particular that has […]
Getting Started in the Hotel Industry
If your dream is to own and operate a hotel, there are many opportunities for a substantial profit. With […]
Optimize Your Hotel Website’s Key Pages To Boost Engagement & Direct Bookings
Before we jump into which pages your hotel website needs and how to write them, let me answer a […]
Skyscanner Shows Tenacity to Overcome Challenges Selling Airline Tickets on Mobile
-Sean O’Neill
Choice Hotels Goes Deeper on U.S. Job Cuts Amid Longer Recovery Expectations
-Cameron Sperance
Most U.S. Airlines Sign Letters of Intent for Their Share of $25 Billion in Federal Aid
-Brian Sumers
Expedia to Deliver Early Payday to Private Equity Investors
-Dennis Schaal
Dubai Expects Slow Recovery Amid Reopening to Foreign Visitors
-Cameron Sperance
Lufthansa Starts Deep Job Cuts After State Rescue
-Sean O’Neill
Air New Zealand Pauses New Bookings to Ease Burden on Quarantine Facilities
-Matthew Parsons
How Fraudsters Bilked American Airlines and Citibank in Frequent Flyer Schemes
-Brian Sumers
Skift Report: A Data-Driven Look at Hospitality’s Recovery
-Oracle Hospitality
What a New Surcharge From Singapore Airlines Could Mean for Other Carriers
-Matthew Parsons
5 Essential Tips to Manage Online Reputation of Your Restaurant
92% of diners read restaurant reviews. Most of the time, when a family wants to…
The post 5 Essential Tips to Manage Online Reputation of Your Restaurant appeared first on Are Morch, Hotel Marketing Coach.
Vacation Rental Brand Vrbo Emerges as Expedia Star With Pandemic-Era Bookings
-Dennis Schaal
Skift OTA Summit Preview: Evolving the OTA Advertising Playbook for a New Era
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AirAsia Suffers Record Loss as the Crisis Bites
-Sean O’Neill
Hilton’s Diversity Strategy Underscores Recruiting Efforts in a Time of Deep Job Cuts
-Cameron Sperance
Paris Tour Guides Protest Outside Louvre Over Lack of Support
-Matthew Parsons
Bali Holds Mass Prayers Ahead of Reopening to Tourists
-Matthew Parsons
Optimize Your Hotel Website’s Key Pages To Boost Engagement & Direct Bookings
Before we jump into which pages your hotel website needs and how to write them, let me answer a question you may have: why bother revisiting your hotel website copy? There’s a simple answer: Your website is like your hotel’s online calling card and it’s your key to getting more commission-free direct bookings. Leverage it […]
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Content Ideas for Hotel Blogs Amid The Pandemic
The recent coronavirus outbreak has not been kind to the hotel and tourism industries. Shelter in place orders, social distancing, and travel restrictions have essentially kept guests away. Everyday life has been changed, vacation plans and corporate travel has been put on hold. Hotel chains wanting to remain relevant essentially had to rethink their business […]
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Marketing Your Hotel Online During Coronavirus Closures & Beyond
Jazz Bovill of Arise explores how online marketers in the hospitality industry can accept the “new normal”, plan for the future and make the most of hotel closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Introduction In the space of two months, the hospitality industry has changed beyond recognition. Following government guidelines on coronavirus, hotels, restaurants, pubs, cafes […]
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5 Tips to Build A Winning Hospitality Business in 2020
2020 has changed the way the hospitality business will operate for the foreseeable future. It’s…
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