

Skift Daily Briefing
Skift
Everything you need to know about the business of travel today. Each episode covers new travel stories from Skift's editorial team. Listen to the latest developments at hotels, airlines, destinations, online booking sites, and more.
Published Tuesday through Friday by 5am ET. Presented by Lodgify.
For ongoing coverage, please visit Skift.com/news.
Published Tuesday through Friday by 5am ET. Presented by Lodgify.
For ongoing coverage, please visit Skift.com/news.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 27, 2025 • 4min
One Clever Hotel Ad, A Resort Brand’s Climate Warning and Avoiding AI Hype
The Ritz-Carlton’s “Late Checkout” campaign, featuring Josh Hutcherson, won a Gold Lion at Cannes for its creative approach to luxury advertising, outperforming 181 other brands. Meanwhile, Iberostar warned that climate change is the greatest threat to its beachfront properties and called for increased investment in sustainable tourism efforts. At the Skift Data+AI Summit, travel investors emphasized the importance of solving real problems over AI hype and noted that future winners may emerge by building on earlier innovations in the sector.
Ritz-Carlton Ad Gamble Pays Off at Cannes Awards: 'Late Checkout' Takes Gold
3 Travel Startup Investors Warn Founders Not to Fall for AI Hype
'Climate Is Our Number One Risk': Iberostar Pushes for Tourism Sector Action
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Jun 26, 2025 • 4min
Italy's Overtourism Campaign, Trump’s Student Visa Rules and Ritz-Carlton's New Cruise Ship
Italy has launched the “99% of Italy” campaign to encourage tourists to explore lesser-known regions, addressing the issue of overtourism that sees 70% of international visitors concentrated in just 1% of the country. Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department now requires student visa applicants to make their social media accounts public for screening as part of renewed interview procedures. Lastly, the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is expanding its luxury cruise offerings with the debut of a new ship, Luminara, set to sail through the Mediterranean, Africa, and Asia-Pacific regions.
Visit Italy’s Message to Tourists: You’ve Only Seen 1%
State Department Asks Student Visa Applicants to Make Social Media Accounts Public
Ritz‑Carlton to Launch Third Yacht as Hotel-Branded Cruise Race Heats Up
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Jun 25, 2025 • 4min
Spirit's JetBlue Complaint, Carnival's Splashy Marketing and Antarctica's Climate Risks
Spirit Airlines is urging U.S. regulators to block JetBlue and United’s proposed “Blue Sky” partnership, citing serious antitrust concerns similar to JetBlue’s past alliance with American Airlines. Carnival’s heavy marketing investments and private island offerings are driving strong booking growth and enabling premium pricing, according to its CEO. Meanwhile, social media–fueled tourism to Antarctica is booming, but scientists warn it’s contributing significantly to carbon emissions and environmental strain.
Spirit Airlines Urges U.S. to Reject JetBlue-United Partnership
Carnival's Marketing and Private Islands Sustain High Cruise Prices
The Climate Risks of Antarctica’s TikTok Tourism Rise
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Jun 24, 2025 • 4min
Gulf Airport Routing Challenges, Over-Heated Tourism and AI Travel Jobs
Airlines in the Gulf are under pressure as rising Middle East tensions force flight rerouting, disrupting the efficiency of major hubs like Dubai and causing delays and missed connections. Despite 2024 being the hottest year on record, most U.S. travelers are not significantly changing their travel plans due to climate-related risks, according to a Skift Research survey. Skift CEO Rafat Ali has also introduced the Skift AI Travel Tracker, a new series exploring future travel industry roles shaped by artificial intelligence.
Why Just 30 Minutes Can Strain the System: Middle East Airspace Crisis Hits Gulf Hubs
How Extreme Weather Is Shaping Travel Plans
Travel Industry’s AI Talent Wars Are Heating Up
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Jun 20, 2025 • 4min
Boeing’s Political Cash, Bhutan's Crypto Tourism and U.S. Flight Spending
Boeing has intensified its political influence efforts, distributing nearly $1 million through its PAC in early 2025 and maintaining a robust lobbying presence amid renewed scrutiny over its safety practices. Meanwhile, Bhutan has become the first country to roll out a nationwide cryptocurrency-based tourism payment system, allowing visitors to use over 100 cryptocurrencies for nearly all purchases via Binance Pay, with DK Bank converting funds to local currency. In the U.S., flight sales through traditional and corporate travel agencies have declined, but online travel agencies like Booking.com—which now outsells Expedia—have seen steady growth.
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Jun 19, 2025 • 4min
Brand USA's Challenges, Hotel Immigration Crackdown and Air India's Schedule Changes
Brand USA is facing a potential 80% federal funding cut amid a fragile international travel recovery, though CEO Fred Dixon remains cautiously optimistic and has launched a new campaign, “America the Beautiful,” to promote U.S. tourism. Meanwhile, U.S. hotels are bracing for stricter immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, which is worsening labor shortages, especially for resort properties dependent on seasonal immigrant workers. Finally, Air India is reducing international widebody flights by 15% through mid-July due to increased safety inspections, airspace closures, and route diversions linked to the Israel-Iran conflict.
Budget Cut Risks, Sluggish Travel: Brand USA CEO on Managing a Critical Moment
U.S. Hotels Brace for Immigration Crackdowns as Worker Shortage Looms
Air India Scales Back International Flights After Fatal Crash and Rising Regional Tensions
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Jun 18, 2025 • 4min
A Google Hotels Threat, JetBlue Cost Cutting and Dual-Brand Hotels
Google Hotels is facing increasing pressure from competitors like Expedia, Tripadvisor, and Trivago, partly due to changes from the EU's Digital Markets Act and the rise of Google's AI Overviews impacting search visibility. Hotel developers are embracing dual-brand properties to cut costs and boost profitability by sharing infrastructure and appealing to broader market segments, with major chains like Marriott and Hilton leading the trend. Meanwhile, JetBlue is cutting costs amid soft travel demand, with potential route reductions and hiring slowdowns as it struggles to break even this year.
Expedia Makes Gains as Google Hotels Is Increasingly 'Bruised'
Two Brands, One Roof: Why Dual-Brand Hotels Are on the Rise
JetBlue CEO Says Airline Unlikely to Break Even, Cost Cuts to Come
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Jun 17, 2025 • 4min
U.S. Travel Slump, Accor Taps Mbappé and Airbus' Orders
Global travel grew slightly in April, but a 5% drop in North American activity—driven by weaker U.S. consumer sentiment—dampened overall progress. Despite the stronger euro, five million Americans are still expected to travel to Europe this summer. Meanwhile, Accor launched a direct-booking campaign with soccer star Kylian Mbappé to compete with online travel agencies, and Airbus outshone Boeing at the Paris Air Show with 132 orders, including a major deal with Riyadh Air.
Global Travel Grows, but U.S. Drags Down Momentum
Accor Bets on Kylian Mbappé in Loyalty Ad to Cut Out Middlemen
Airbus Dominates Subdued First Day at Paris Air Show
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Jun 13, 2025 • 4min
After the Air India Crash
Air India Flight AI171 tragically crashed shortly after takeoff, marking the first-ever crash of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner and presenting a critical challenge for the Tata Group's ongoing transformation of Air India. The crash undermines recent optimism in India's aviation sector and threatens to derail the Vihaan.AI project, Air India's five-year overhaul plan aimed at restoring trust and enhancing its global image. Additionally, this incident adds to Boeing’s mounting safety concerns, with the 787 program already under scrutiny due to past production issues and whistleblower testimonies about potential safety lapses.
8 Ways the Air India Crash Could Reshape Indian Aviation and Tourism
Air India’s Transformation Faces Major Test After 787 Crash
Air India Crash: What’s at Stake for Boeing
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Jun 12, 2025 • 5min
Hotels Vs. Airbnb Experiences, Wyndham's New Ads and Air India Crash in Ahmedabad
An Air India Boeing 787-8 crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad to London, leading to suspended airport operations and an ongoing investigation with no confirmed casualties yet. Meanwhile, hotel leaders downplayed threats from Airbnb's expansion into experiences, though experts argue hotels are underestimating the appeal of personalized, seamless offerings. Finally, Wyndham launched its first comprehensive ad campaign to promote its loyalty program and all 25 brands under the unified message “Where There’s a Wyndham, There’s a Way.”
Air India Flight to London Crashes in Ahmedabad
Wyndham's New Ad Blitz: 25 Brands, 1 Message
Hotels Shrug Off Airbnb's Push Into Experiences – But They Still Need to Compete
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