Skift Daily Briefing

Presented by Brand USAEpisode NotesActivist fund Elliott Investment Management has called for a major shakeup at the top of Southwest Airlines after recently taking a $2 billion stake in the carrier. However, Southwest CEO Bob Jordan has no plans to resign, writes Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi.  Jordan said at a Politico event on Wednesday that he would consider Elliott’s feedback, adding that Southwest is ready to adapt its business model. Maharishi reports Elliott has been calling for Jordan and Chairman Gary Kelly to step down due to Southwest’s recent struggles. The carrier has yet to turn a profit this year. Next, hotel companies’ investments in wellness have grown enormously in recent years. Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill takes a look at emerging trends in hotel wellness.A report from consulting firm RLA Global revealed hotels with wellness offerings saw healthy growth in 2023. So-called upper upscale hotels performed best in wellness last year compared to luxury and upscale segments. In addition, a report from investment bank Truist found that spa treatment revenue per occupied room was up at least 30% relative to 2019 levels. Finally, cruise lines are expected to disclose all mandatory fees and taxes to U.S. consumers starting July 1 to comply with California’s junk fee law, writes Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam.California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill last October banning junk fees. The law applies to all businesses with offices or customers in the Golden State. Consumers can sue companies allegedly breaking the law for at least $1,000 in damages. Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Line all plan to meet the requirements of the new law. Habtemariam reports total prices won’t change — only the advertised prices shown upfront on cruise company channels will. Get more travel news at https://skift.comProducer/Presenter: Jane Alexander

Presented by Brand USAEpisode NotesIAG Loyalty has big plans to expand its frequent flyer currency Avios. IAG Loyalty CEO Adam Daniels discussed those ambitions and more in an interview with Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi. Daniels said one of IAG Loyalty’s goals is to make Avios a global currency. Avios has already entered into partnerships with Qatar Airways and Finnair, carriers outside of the IAG family. IAG’s airline brands include British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus. Daniels added Avios is in discussions with other airlines as well as hotel groups.Daniels also addressed the trend of devaluing frequent flyer miles. He acknowledged one criticism of loyalty programs is that collecting miles has been easier than using them. Daniels said IAG Loyalty is looking to change that.   Next, Marriott recently reached a deal with the U.S. Justice Department to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, reports Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill. Marriott will make improvements to its reservation processes to make it easier for guests to reserve and stay in rooms they need to accommodate their disabilities. O’Neill notes that Marriott aims to list all accessible rooms through its booking system. The Justice Department had investigated Marriott’s reservation practices after complaints from individuals with disabilities. Although Marriott contended it has complied with all ADA requirements, the company will pay a $50,000 civil penalty under the deal. Finally, Southwest Airlines is vehemently defending its strategy after activist fund Elliott Investment Management took a $2 billion stake in the company, writes Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi. Maharishi reports Elliott — now one of the airline’s largest investors — is pushing for major leadership changes at Southwest, including a shakeup at the top. Southwest said its board of directors and executive team are reviewing Elliott’s proposal. In addition, Southwest said it was taking steps to return to profitability, such as making new technology investments and cutting underperforming routes. Get more travel news at https://skift.comProducer/Presenter: Jose Marmolejos

Presented by Brand USAEpisode NotesApple unveiled new travel-related features for several of its products on Monday at the 2024 Apple Worldwide Developers Conference. Travel Technology Reporter Justin Dawes provides details about Apple’s updates. Dawes notes the Apple Watch will have a new translation app, live update features for flights and Uber, and a setting to alert users before it rains. In addition, Siri is getting a connection to OpenAI, which will enable users to ask Siri anything they can ask ChatGPT, including trip planning info for free. And travelers will be able to use Apple Vision Pro virtual reality headsets on not just planes — but trains as well. Next, InterContinental Hotels Group would like its property mix to include more premium, lifestyle and luxury brands. However, IHG is downplaying its plans due to its investors’ preference for mid-market and extended-stay brands, reports Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill. Although O’Neill notes moving upmarket is tantalizing for several reasons, IHG is responding to the demand it sees from hotel owners and investors. In addition, IHG’s Americas CEO Jolyon Bulley said that some owners who want to do deals are concerned about the state of the lending environment. O’Neill adds that conversions are more appealing to some investors because of obstacles in the market. Finally, Mallorca has seen massive protests over mass tourism that many residents believe has helped make housing unaffordable, among other problems. Travel Experiences Reporter Jesse Chase-Lubitz delves into the widespread anger on the island.Protests have erupted even in towns far from Mallorca’s most popular beaches, with Chase-Lubitz citing one small town without tourist attractions that’s been swarmed by tourists seeking lodging. One university professor and Mallorca native said the tourism boom has made it hard for residents to find affordable housing. The island’s capital city Palma de Mallorca and four other cities have seen residential property prices jump more than 10% this year. Chase-Lubitz adds several other incidents have fueled widespread Mallorcan anger about tourism, including a fight involving a group of young British men earlier this month. Get more travel news at https://skift.comProducer/Presenter: Jose Marmolejos

Presented by Brand USAEpisode NotesAuthorities in Venice believe the roughly $5 entry fee it charges visitors has benefited the city. And a top tourism official told Skift Venice could raise the amount, writes Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam. Simone Venturini, the city’s deputy mayor for tourism, said the fee is part of Venice’s strategy to preserve its beauty and pivot away from being “a cheap tourism capital.” Venturini added that everything has gone smoothly since the entry fee was implemented in April. He said the city is considering hiking it to roughly $10. Venturini said the entry fee mainly targets local day-trippers. He also disputed the notion that the majority of Venetians object to it, stating a protest that attracted 200 people didn’t represent the views of most residents.  Next, U.S. hotel demand growth is projected to slow down — even in the luxury sector, reports Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill. Data firms STR and Tourism Economics project a roughly 2% increase in average daily rates this year. That’s down from a previous estimate of 3%. STR President Amanda Hite said hotel industry figures believe there isn’t as much weekend demand for leisure as expected. Hite added she was surprised about the revised projection in the luxury segment. O’Neill notes the luxury sector faces greater risks due to a shift in the guest mix from leisure travelers toward more group bookings and business travelers. Finally, population shifts across the U.S. could drive vacation rental growth in certain markets, writes Reporter Elizabeth Casolo.AirDNA Chief Economist Jamie Lane said at the Skift Short-Term Rental Summit this year that the “mass exodus” of people from certain locations would impact where guests stay. Lane said that would result in people vacationing in entirely different markets, with Casolo citing Texas and Florida as states that have seen population growth. Lane added AirDNA had identified up-and-coming hot sports for vacation rentals. The four highest-ranked destinations AirDNA listed were all in Texas. Get more travel news at https://skift.comProducer/Presenter: Jose Marmolejos

Episode NotesBooking.com is targeting U.S. travelers to tap into the increasing demand for short-term rentals, writes Reporter Christiana Sciaudone. Eric Bergaglia, Booking.com’s vice president of Homes & Growth Segments, said at the Skift Short-Term Rental Summit that the company needs to be more U.S.-centric in how it develops products. Sciaudone reports Booking.com is focusing on in particular payments, liability insurance, damage policy to appeal to American consumers.  Bergaglia said that U.S. consumers aren’t as aware of Booking.com as those in other markets worldwide are.  Next, population shifts across the U.S. could drive vacation rental growth in certain markets, writes Reporter Elizabeth Casolo. AirDNA Chief Economist Jamie Lane said at the Skift Short-Term Rental Summit that the “mass exodus” of people from certain locations would impact where guests stay. Lane said that would result in people vacationing in entirely different markets, with Casolo citing Texas and Florida as states that have seen population growth. Lane added AirDNA had identified up-and-coming hot spots for vacation rentals. The four highest ranked destinations AirDNA listed were all in Texas. Finally, Marriott Bonvoy’s Homes & Villas unit is seeing a surge in international reservations — especially in non-traditional destinations, writes Travel Experiences Reporter Jesse Chase-Lubitz. International reservations are 38% of the unit’s total — up from 14% in 2021, according to Vice President Jennifer Hsieh. While Hseih said Italy, France, and Spain remain popular for guests, she added Marriott is seeing booking jumps in destinations such as Curaçao and the Greek island of Paros. Homes & Villas’ international listings have jumped 39% in the past year. Hsieh also addressed the matter of standardization. She said travelers aren’t looking for standardization in the home product design — instead they’re focused on consistency in cleanliness, safety and security. Get more travel news at https://skift.com

Episode NotesHotel tech has a long way to go before it can satisfy travelers’ demands, two executives said at the Skift Data + AI Summit in New York on Tuesday, writes Reporter Christiana Sciaudone.Chris Hemmeter, managing director at Thayer Ventures, and Kurien Jacob, partner and managing director of Highgate Technology Ventures, explained how hotel tech needs to evolve. Jacob noted how the travel industry is behind tech-wise – “room assignment can be automated,” he said. Hemmeter said the hospitality industry has been playing catch up while the traveler has changed. Next, large numbers of travelers are making plans for the summer. But one thing many of them won’t be doing is using trip-planning apps, writes Sciaudone.Gilad Berenstein, founder of investment firm Book Bay Capital, said the travel industry hasn’t proven there’s a lot of consumer demand for a trip-planning app. He noted that Google Maps and Google Calendar are the world’s most popular trip-planning tools. Skift Research found earlier this year that 78% of American travelers haven’t used ChatGPT or another AI-based app to plan a trip. As Sciaudone writes, one problem in the travel industry is the lack of shared information among potentially competing companies. Berenstein said the hotel industry in particular needs to be involved in the full journey.  Finally, Marriott is looking to do more than sell hotel rooms. The hotel company wants to tap into generative AI to reinvent itself as a travel retailer that creates personalized experiences, writes Sciaudone. Marriott Executive Vice President Drew Pinto said at the Skift Data + AI Summit that the company is undergoing its largest-ever tech transformation. Sciaudone reports that Marriott is transitioning to Amadeus IT and “attribute-based booking,” in which customers will be able to personalize their stay. Pinto likened creating a personalized stay to building a Mr. Potato Head. Get more travel news at https://skift.com.

Presented by Brand USAEpisode NotesWyndham wants to shed its reputation for focusing on economy hotels in the U.S. The hotel group is looking to increase the number of upscale properties in its portfolio, reports Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill.  Wyndham CEO Geoffrey Ballotti said at a conference in New York on Monday that while the company loves the economy sector, it’s increasingly moving upscale. Ballotti added that Wyndham has added properties in Montreux, Switzerland and Detroit to its new lifestyle hotel brand HQ. Wyndham has also acquired several upscale brands across the world, including in Austria and India. Next, Spirit Airlines Chief Financial Officer Scott Haralson is leaving the company to assume the same role at Hertz, writes Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi. Spirit announced on Monday that Haralson will step down on June 14. Brian McMenamy, a vice president at Spirit, will be the carrier’s interim CFO. Haralson’s departure comes as Spirit has struggled to turn a profit since the pandemic, with its collapsed merger with JetBlue Airways and issues with Pratt & Whitney engines weighing on Spirit’s outlook. Finally, Accor wants to take advantage of India’s booming middle class, writes Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia.CEO Sebastien Bazin noted during its recent earnings call that India’sdemographic profile, especially its growing middle class, is its greatest asset. He added that at least 200 million Indians will enter the middle class within the next 10 years.  Accor currently operates 62 hotels in India across four segments: luxury, premium, mid-range, and economy. The company expects to open nine more properties this year.Despite Accor’s optimism about India, the company’s India business currently represents only 2% of its global operations. Bazin acknowledged that Accor would have to revamp its strategy in India and hopes to reveal more this year. Get more travel news at https://skift.comProducer/Presenter: Jose Marmolejos

Presented by BrandUSAEpisode NotesThe market for unlimited in-flight Wi-Fi connectivity is set to boom as airlines look to make it easier for travelers to stay connected in the skies. Reporter Ajay Awtaney provides background into the history of in-flight Wi-Fi.Awtaney writes in-flight internet connectivity has come a long way since what he calls painfully slow service more than 20 years ago. As technology has improved over the past two decades, airlines have used advertising or sponsorship deals — such as a partnership with a streaming service — to make in-flight Wi-Fi more affordable. More carriers in recent years — including Delta Air Lines — have offered free Wi-Fi to members of their loyalty programs. In addition, Airbus unveiled in 2022 the HBCplus system, which makes it easier for airlines to provide in-flight Wi-Fi.  Next, Airbnb hadn’t said much about its experiences offerings amid recent struggles. But the company’s Chief Financial Officer Ellie Mertz has explained what went wrong and how it plans to fix those problems, writes Executive Editor Dennis Schaal. When asked at a Bernstein conference why Airbnb experiences hasn’t been a success, Mertz said outside of packaged tours, consumers don’t go to a site and book everything — flights, lodging, cars, etc. — at the same time. Mertz also said Airbnb needs to ensure experiences are “appropriately priced” and that proper timing and personalization are keys to a successful experiences product. Finally, Skift recently reviewed the pay for more than two dozen top bosses at U.S. destination marketing organizations. However, Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam notes a lot of factors go into the link between CEO pay and the performance of a tourism board. Habtemariam reports it’s hard to assess how much credit destination marketing organizations should get for tourism, adding a tourist may visit for reasons unrelated to marketing. One place the value is more clear: Meetings and conventions. “They are hugely important. That’s the only organization that can talk collectively with meeting planners,” said Vijay Dandapani, a member of NYC Tourism’s board of directors and CEO and president of the Hotel Association of New York City.But you can’t paint with too broad a brush. As one former DMO leader told us: “Some of these CEOs are probably underpaid, some of them are probably overpaid,” she said.

Presented by BrandUSAEpisode NotesAmerican Airlines CEO Robert Isom has paid tribute to outgoing Chief Commercial Officer Vasu Raja. But Isom has indicated it was time for Raja to go amid American’s struggles, reports Airlines Editor Gordon Smith.Isom admitted at a conference on Wednesday that American has dug itself a hole during the second quarter, with the company’s financial outlook having been downgraded. While praising Raja’s creative thinking and passion, Isom acknowledged that American needed a reset. The company has underperformed compared to rivals Delta and United across multiple key metrics, including operating margin — an important measure of profitability. Next, Glenn Fogel, CEO of both Booking Holdings and Booking.com, was the highest-paid travel CEO in 2023, reports Executive Editor Dennis Schaal. Fogel received a total pay package of $46.7 million last year, according to the Wall Street Journal. Delta Airlines CEO Ed Bastian came in second among travel CEOs, with a pay package of $34.2 million. The Wall Street Journal also scored each S&P 500 company’s total shareholder return versus its industry, with Booking Holdings and Delta among the four travel companies that got a top score.  Finally, luxury cruise line Viking has issued its first earnings report since going public earlier this month. Senior Hospitality Reporter Sean O’Neill lists several takeaways from its quarterly earnings.O’Neill notes Viking presented a generally upbeat report. The company, which largely targets affluent, English-speaking travelers over the age of 55, said it’s sold 91% of its possible passenger cruise days this season. In addition, Viking executives said they’ve sold $2.5 billion in advance bookings so far for the 2025 season.  

Presented by BrandUSAEpisode NotesGoogle has made further inroads in the travel industry in recent months with several AI-powered products it’s launched. Travel Technology Reporter Justin Dawes delves into four of them.Dawes notes that Google has incorporated new AI features into software for physical products, including mobile phones. A new feature on Android devices enables users to translate content on the screen without having to switch apps. Travel technology firm Sabre recently unveiled a new AI-powered retailing platform for airlines called SabreMosaic, which is meant to help airlines create and sell personalized retail experiences. Meanwhile, Alaska Airlines is planning to launch a trip planner built with tech from Google. IHG Hotels & Resorts has plans to release a trip planning tool powered by Google’s AI within its One Rewards mobile app later this year.Next, New York City hotel rates have hit record highs in large part due to a supply crunch, writes Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill.The average nightly room rate in New York City during the first quarter was $231, a nearly 7% jump from last year, according to data firm CoStar. O’Neill notes one major factor behind the soaring room rates is local authorities essentially banning short-term rentals in the city. The New York Times reported short-term rentals represented roughly 10% of the city’s travel lodging before the crackdown.  The city’s move to convert thousands of hotel rooms into lodging for migrants has also contributed to the soaring room rates. The practice has removed about 2% of the city’s net hotel rooms from the market compared to pre-Covid levels. Finally, Air France will open an ultra-exclusive airport lounge ahead of the Paris Olympics, reports Airlines Editor Gordon Smith. While Smith writes the concept of airlines offering exclusive services for premium guests is far from new, he notes Air France is pushing those boundaries further with its new ultra-luxe offering, La Première lounge. Passengers in the lounge have access to a spa as well as a menu curated by prominent chef Alain Ducasse. In addition, Air France’s premium guests can reserve space in three completely private suites that are adjacent to the main La Première lounge. Each suite includes a double bedroom, outdoor patio and a dedicated butler on the patio. Get the latest travel news, analysis, and research at https://skift.com/Producer/Presenter: Jose Marmolejos