Skift Daily Travel Briefing
Skift
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 Amazon Ads. For ongoing coverage, please visit Skift.com/news.
11h ago
Flying taxis move closer to U.S. airspace, Hilton rethinks brand building in an AI-driven marketing world, and micro events emerge as a defining trend for 2026. In the final Skift Daily Briefing of 2025, Sarah Dandashy looks ahead at the forces reshaping travel and hospitality — from electric air mobility gaining regulatory momentum, to why brand loyalty still matters as AI optimizes acquisition, to how smaller, more intentional events are redefining the meetings industry. This episode is brought to you by Amazon! To learn more, go to advertising.amazon.com Articles Referenced: Trump Administration Looks to Ramp Up Flying Taxis Building Brands vs. AI’s Cheap Wins: How Hilton’s CMO Strikes the Balance Why Micro Events Are a 2026 Megatrend Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG 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.
1d ago
United upgrades its app into a predictive travel assistant, online travel agencies face an identity crisis in the age of AI, and World Cup ticket prices come down — but only on paper. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down how United is using AI to reduce travel friction, why Expedia and Booking are rethinking their roles as AI reshapes discovery, and what World Cup pricing really means for fans planning to travel in 2026. This episode is brought to you by Amazon! To learn more, go to advertising.amazon.com 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.
2d ago
Airlines reshuffle leadership at a rapid pace, New York City clears the way for three new casino resorts, and the U.S. continues layering on travel fees that could test inbound demand. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down what’s driving the sudden wave of airline CEO changes, why New York’s casino approvals matter for tourism strategy, and how rising entry fees risk pushing travelers to competing destinations. This episode is brought to you by Amazon! To learn more, go to advertising.amazon.com Articles Referenced: 9 New Airline CEOs in 5 Weeks: What’s Driving the Global Reshuffle? New York City Casinos Get Final Approval. What Does it Mean for NYC Tourism? U.S. Hikes Travel Fees and Entry Requirements. Where Will Travelers Draw the Line? Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG 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.
3d ago
Hotels face a widening cost squeeze, Google turns everyday earbuds into real-time translators, and Spirit Airlines secures a last-minute lifeline to stay airborne. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why rising labor and operating costs are reshaping hotel economics, how live translation tech could remove one of travel’s biggest barriers, and what Spirit’s $50 million rescue means for the future of ultra-low-cost airlines. This episode is brought to you by Amazon! To learn more, go to advertising.amazon.com Articles Referenced: The Ugly New Math Crushing Hotels Google Turns Millions of Earbuds Into Live Translators Spirit Airlines Gets $50 Million Lifeline Following Liquidation Rumors Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG 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.
Dec 12
Hilton accelerates its global luxury expansion, Boom Supersonic leverages AI demand to fuel its aviation timeline, and Expedia steps deeper into the experiences market with its acquisition of Tiqets. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down how Hilton is positioning itself for the next wave of high-end travel, why Boom’s new turbine business could speed up the return of supersonic flight, and what Expedia’s latest deal means for the future of tours, attractions, and full-trip retail. This episode is brought to you by Amazon! To learn more, go to advertising.amazon.com Articles Referenced: Hilton Execs Bet on Luxury as Wealthy Travelers Fuel Global Boom Boom CEO: Powering AI Data Centers Will Speed Path to Supersonic Flights Expedia Agrees to Buy Experiences Platform Tiqets to Bolster Its B2B Offering Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG 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.
Dec 11
U.S. holiday travel is about to break records, the Gulf positions itself as cruising’s next major hub, and America plans new digital screening requirements that could slow inbound tourism. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy unpacks why more than 122 million Americans are expected to travel this holiday season, how a unified GCC visa could transform cruising across the Middle East, and what mandatory social media disclosures mean for visitors from top global markets. This episode is brought to you by Amazon! To learn more, go to advertising.amazon.com Articles Referenced: Alaska Airlines Leans on Hawaiian For Global Expansion Southwest Airlines Exec Defends Changes, Says Network Is a ‘Huge Differentiator’ Marriott CFO: Year-End Softness, Sonder Lessons, and 2026 Rebound Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG 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.
Dec 10
Skift’s 2026 Megatrends are here — and today’s Daily Briefing zooms in on three that are already reshaping traveler behavior: self-driving cars that quietly compete with planes, a luxury bubble that’s becoming the industry’s load-bearing wall, and a new wave of sober-curious travelers redefining what “vacation mode” looks like. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down how autonomous vehicles unlock productive travel time, why luxury demand is propping up entire sectors, and what hotels and cruise lines need to understand about guests who are drinking less — but still seeking elevated experiences. This episode is brought to you by Amazon! To learn more, go to advertising.amazon.com Articles Referenced: Alaska Airlines Leans on Hawaiian For Global Expansion Southwest Airlines Exec Defends Changes, Says Network Is a ‘Huge Differentiator’ Marriott CFO: Year-End Softness, Sonder Lessons, and 2026 Rebound Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG 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.
Dec 9
The middle of the U.S. lodging market collapses, Uber quietly hires travel agents to train its AI, and hotels use smart food-waste tech to cut emissions and costs. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy explores how America priced out the classic middle-class road trip, why Uber is building the invisible infrastructure behind trip planning, and how AI-powered kitchen tools are becoming one of the industry’s most effective sustainability strategies. This episode is brought to you by Amazon! To learn more, go to advertising.amazon.com Articles Referenced: How U.S. Lodging Abandoned the Middle Class Uber’s AI Solutions Arm Is Recruiting Travel Agents AI Food Waste Trackers Help Hotels Avoid Tons of CO₂ Emissions Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG 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.
