Skift Daily Briefing

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BUSINESS NEWS
UPDATED DAILY

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. For ongoing coverage, please visit Skift.com/news.

4 HR AGO

Expedia Is Rethinking AI, and Google Is Coming for Hotel Bookings

Expedia makes its second acquisition of 2026 and does a reset on its AI strategy, Google officially names hotel booking as the next frontier for agentic shopping, and private equity has discovered the events industry — and the people inside it aren't sure how to feel about it. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why Expedia's CarTrawler deal and AI pivot reveal a company quietly becoming a B2B infrastructure powerhouse, why Google's latest announcements could disrupt the entire hotel discovery and booking funnel overnight, and what a room full of events industry CEOs is making of the private equity money flowing their way. This episode is presented by Lodgify! Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG Expedia To Acquire CarTrawler in Second B2B Deal of 2026 Expedia CEO Ariane Gorin on What Companies Get Wrong About AI Chatbots Google Names Hotels as Next Vertical for Agentic ShoppingPrivate Equity Has Discovered the Events Industry — Now What? Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

6 min
1 DAY AGO

NYC Hotel Workers Land a Historic Deal, and It's Going to Cost You

New York City hotel workers secure a landmark eight-year labor deal, Ryanair's CEO ties his fuel outlook directly to Trump's midterm ambitions, and Cathay Pacific removes the most photographed amenity in airport lounges — and the reason why says a lot about where luxury travel is heading. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why NYC's groundbreaking housekeeper pay deal is about to become the new benchmark for hotel labor negotiations nationwide, how Ryanair's Michael O'Leary is betting Trump will resolve the Iran conflict before elevated fuel prices cost him the midterms, and why Cathay Pacific's decision to swap its iconic cabanas for massage booths reflects a fundamental shift in what luxury travelers actually want. This episode is presented by Lodgify! Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG NYC Hotel Housekeepers' Pay to Hit $61 an Hour Ryanair CEO Ties Fuel Outlook to Trump's Midterm Math Cathay Pacific Removed Its First Class Lounge Cabanas. That Tells You Where Luxury Travel Is Heading. Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

5 min
2 DAYS AGO

Americans Are Desperate to Travel, but Not Everyone Can Afford To

Americans are hungry for summer travel despite rising costs, Brand USA launches a fact-checking platform to win back international visitors, and new Skift Research says most travel brands don't just have one Gen Z problem... they have two. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why this summer's travel demand is strong but deeply uneven across income levels, how Brand USA's new "Get Facts. Get Going." platform is tackling misinformation keeping international travelers away from the U.S., and why the travel brands focused only on reaching Gen Z are missing the harder and more expensive problem. This episode is presented by Lodgify! Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG 'Desperate' to Travel, but Rising Costs Point to 'Uneven' Summer Brand USA Launches Fact-Checking Platform to Win Back International Travelers Travel Brands Think They Have a Gen Z Problem. Most Have Two. Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

6 min
6 DAYS AGO

Travel Inflation Is Surging Faster Than the Economy

Travel prices climb at twice the rate of inflation, the U.S. eases visa rules for World Cup fans, and Abu Dhabi reveals the future home of its massive Sphere venue. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why rising fuel costs are pushing travel prices sharply higher across flights, hotels, and transportation, how the U.S. is trying to remove barriers for international World Cup visitors, and why Abu Dhabi’s new Sphere project is part of a much bigger entertainment and tourism strategy. This episode is presented by Lodgify! Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGTravel Cost Gains Outpace Inflation RateU.S. Waives $15,000 Visa Bond for World Cup Ticket HoldersAbu Dhabi’s Sphere Has a Home on Yas Island Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

4 min
14 MAY

Travel Demand Is Splitting the World Into Winners and Losers

Booking Holdings faces a strategic identity test, Mediterranean destinations absorb redirected travel demand, and United locks in an expensive new labor deal. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why Booking Holdings’ financial filings tell a more cautious story than its AI ambitions suggest, where global travel demand is shifting as the Middle East struggles and the Mediterranean surges, and what United’s costly new flight attendant contract means for the future of airfare pricing. This episode is presented by Lodgify! Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGBooking Holdings Is Running Ahead of Its Own StrategyWhere Travel Demand Is Heading: Middle East Down, Mediterranean UpUnited Is the Last Big 4 Airline to Settle With Flight Attendants. Here's What It Cost. Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

6 min
13 MAY

TikTok Is Officially a Travel Booking Platform

TikTok launches in-app travel booking, U.S. inbound tourism drops sharply, and World Cup pricing spirals into luxury-only territory. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down TikTok Go’s launch in the U.S. and why it could reshape travel discovery and booking, the troubling new numbers behind America’s inbound tourism slump, and how dynamic pricing is turning the World Cup into the clearest example yet of “premium-first” live tourism. This episode is presented by Lodgify! Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGTikTok Go Launches Travel Booking in the U.S.World Cup Costs Reflect the Rise of K-Shaped Live TourismU.S. Inbound International Tourism Slumped in April Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

6 min
12 MAY

Spirit’s Shutdown Is Making Airfare Pain Even Worse

Fuel costs surge, travel companies absorb billions in Iran war losses, and hotel CEOs debate whether the economy is finally catching up to luxury travel. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why airfares are climbing even faster after Spirit Airlines’ shutdown, how the Iran war is reshaping profit forecasts across airlines, cruises, hotels, and short-term rentals, and why hotel executives suddenly can’t stop describing the economy with letters of the alphabet. This episode is presented by Lodgify! Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGHigher Fuel Costs and Spirit’s End Mean Higher AirfaresIran War Costs Have Hit Travel’s Profit ForecastsThe Hotel Industry CEOs Can’t Decide What Letter the Economy Is Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

6 min
8 MAY

Google’s Grip on Travel Faces a New Lawsuit as Tripadvisor Bets on AI

Trivago sues Google over hotel search dominance, Weather.com moves into travel booking, and Tripadvisor explores AI deals while trimming its business. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down Trivago’s new antitrust lawsuit against Google, why Weather.com wants to influence your next trip before you even search for one, and how Tripadvisor is reshaping its business around AI partnerships and strategic selloffs. This episode is presented by Lodgify! Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGTrivago Files Antitrust Lawsuit Against GoogleWeather.com Wants to Turn Forecasts Into Travel BookingsTripadvisor Explores AI Deals and a Sale of TheFork Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

4 min

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TRAILER

New from Skift: Executive Conversations Shaping the Travel Industry

We’re sharing a preview of a new podcast from Skift called Skift Take Sessions. Skift Take Sessions is a weekly, journalist-led podcast built from the most important conversations shaping the global travel industry. Each episode features candid interviews with CEOs and senior leaders across airlines, hotels, and travel platforms, recorded live at Skift events and expanded with context around why the conversation matters now and what we learned. Hosted by Wil Slickers, the show brings listeners inside executive-level thinking from leaders at companies like Hilton, Expedia Group, Airbnb, JetBlue, and more. New episodes drop every week. Listen and follow Skift Take Sessions: Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/skift-take-sessions/id1871511773⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/4oKApv7z0I65VpySjh9rqP?si=2e8f1e3e83e8459d⁠⁠ Skift.com: ⁠⁠https://skift.com/skift-travel-podcasts/

26 Jan

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2 min

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. For ongoing coverage, please visit Skift.com/news.