Skift Daily Briefing

Skift Travel News
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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.

  1. Why United Is Talking Merger While Everyone Else Plays Defense

    20 HR AGO

    Why United Is Talking Merger While Everyone Else Plays Defense

    Travelers are using AI to plan trips but stopping short of letting it book, hotel owners are getting squeezed while brands post record profits, and a potential United and American merger could reshape the airline industry. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy⁠ breaks down why merger talk signals strategy under pressure, how Chris Nassetta is framing a bullish hotel outlook, and what the emerging AI travel stack means for platforms like Expedia Group and Booking Holdings. This episode is presented by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Lodgify!⁠⁠⁠⁠ Articles Referenced:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Honorable Mention: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@AskAConcierge on IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠JetBlue Rumors Now American What a United Mega Merger Would Mean⁠⁠ Hilton CEO Argues the Bull Case Despite Iran War and Weak World Cup Signals⁠⁠ The Five Layers of the AI Travel Stack and the Fight Over Which One Matters⁠ 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
  2. Travelers Still Don’t Trust AI to Book Trips

    1 DAY AGO

    Travelers Still Don’t Trust AI to Book Trips

    Travelers are using AI to plan trips but stopping short of letting it book, hotel owners are getting squeezed while brands post record profits, and a potential United and American merger could reshape the airline industry. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why AI still has a trust gap at checkout, how the hotel business model is creating tension between brands and owners, and why even talk of a merger between United Airlines and American Airlines is a major signal for the future of aviation. This episode is presented by Lodgify. Articles: Honorable Mention: AskAConciergehttps://skift.com/2026/04/14/expedia-ai-survey-travel-discovery-booking-8-percent/https://skift.com/2026/04/13/the-squeeze-inside-the-crisis-crushing-americas-hotel-owners/https://skift.com/2026/04/13/united-airlines-floated-possible-merger-with-rival-american-report/ Connect with SkiftLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnewsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnewsBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.socialX: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

    5 min
  3. Delta Is Building Its Future Around Premium

    2 DAYS AGO

    Delta Is Building Its Future Around Premium

    Delta doubles down on premium cabins with a billion-dollar investment, tax refunds fall short of boosting travel as expected, and a luxury hotel pioneer returns with a new membership-driven model. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why airlines are building around high-paying travelers, what softer tax refunds mean for travel demand, and how luxury hospitality is shifting toward exclusivity and community. This episode is presented by Lodgify! Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGDelta One’s First Upgrade in a DecadeTravel Spending Boost From Tax Refunds Falls ShortThe Man Who Built Six Senses Is Back With a New Luxury Concept 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
  4. Travel Demand Just Hit a Pause

    6 DAYS AGO

    Travel Demand Just Hit a Pause

    Travel demand stalled in February as uncertainty reshapes decisions, countries add new guidance for visiting the U.S., and Meta’s AI signals a bigger shift in how trips get chosen. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why travel is becoming a confidence-driven decision again, what international travelers need to know before coming to the U.S., and how AI is moving the battleground for travel from booking to inspiration. This episode is presented by Lodgify! Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGSkift Travel Health Index FlatlinesWhat Countries Are Telling Travelers About Visiting the U.S. Right NowMeta’s New AI Model and the Future of Travel Discovery 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
  5. Fuel Prices Are Forcing Airlines to Change Fast

    9 APR

    Fuel Prices Are Forcing Airlines to Change Fast

    Delta warns the current fuel shock may force structural change across airlines, as leadership risk emerges at top carriers and AI shifts from experimentation to core infrastructure. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why rising fuel costs could accelerate consolidation, what happens when airline strategy is tied too closely to one leader, and why the next phase of AI in travel is about reliability, not hype. This episode is presented by Lodgify! Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGDelta CEO Sees Fuel Crisis Spurring Structural ChangesWhat Happens to America’s Best Airlines When Their CEOs LeaveAI Infrastructure and the Future of Travel Orchestration 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.socialX: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

    5 min
  6. Travel Demand Is Dropping and Companies Are Reacting Fast

    8 APR

    Travel Demand Is Dropping and Companies Are Reacting Fast

    The UAE moves to stabilize tourism as demand drops, Hyatt ties executive pay to fixing direct bookings, and Carnival doubles down on value-driven travel. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down how the UAE is managing tourism through disruption, why Hyatt is putting real accountability behind direct booking goals, and how Carnival is leaning into proximity and pricing to win travelers right now. This episode is presented by Lodgify! Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGUAE Preparing Tourism Sector Support PackageHyatt Ties C-Suite Pay to Direct Bookings and Lifestyle Hotels GoalsChristine Duffy on Carnival’s Value Strategy 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
  7. Airlines Might Let You Take Calls Mid-Flight

    7 APR

    Airlines Might Let You Take Calls Mid-Flight

    British Airways is testing in-flight phone calls with Starlink, as luxury hotel brand Montage doubles down on slow growth and hotel giants sit on billions in unredeemed loyalty points. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why in-flight calls could reshape cabin etiquette, how Montage is scaling luxury without losing its identity, and what the growing “loyalty IOU” really means for travelers. This episode is presented by Lodgify! Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGBritish Airways Will Allow In-Flight Calls With StarlinkHow Montage Is Scaling Luxury Brands — Slowly, and With PurposeThe $7 Billion Loyalty IOU: What Marriott and Hilton Owe Members Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnewsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnewsBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.socialX: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

    4 min
  8. U.S. Travel Just Got More Complicated

    3 APR

    U.S. Travel Just Got More Complicated

    New U.S. entry rules and fees are adding friction for travelers, as hotel giants quietly reshape midscale stays and buffets face a sustainability overhaul. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down what travelers actually need to know about new U.S. entry requirements, why more hotels will look familiar, but feel more consistent, and how food waste cuts could change the classic hotel breakfast. This episode is presented by Lodgify! Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGU.S. Travel Restrictions 2026: What Travelers Need to KnowIHG, Marriott, Hyatt Lean on Conversions for Midscale GrowthHotels Target Buffets in Push to Cut Food Waste 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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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.

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