Skift Daily Travel Briefing
Skift
Today's essential travel news delivered in under 4 minutes
- 3 minutes 49 secondsHilton Expands Luxury, Boom Advances Supersonic, Expedia Buys Tiqets
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.
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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
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12 December 2025, 9:00 am - 4 minutes 23 secondsRecord U.S. Holiday Travel, Gulf Cruises Rise, U.S. Adds Social Media Checks
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.
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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
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11 December 2025, 9:00 am - 4 minutes 15 secondsSelf-Driving Competes with Air, Luxury Bubble Grows, Travelers Drink Less
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.
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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
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10 December 2025, 9:00 am - 3 minutes 47 secondsMiddle-Class Lodging Fades, Uber Trains AI with Agents, Hotels Cut Waste with AI
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.
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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
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9 December 2025, 1:25 pm - 3 minutes 36 secondsAlaska Goes Global, Southwest Rebrands, Marriott Eyes 2026
Alaska Airlines pushes into long-haul flying, Southwest reshapes its identity for a new era, and Marriott signals confidence despite a softer quarter.
On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down Alaska’s unexpected global ambitions, Southwest’s transition from quirky challenger to convenience-first carrier, and Marriott’s outlook as it prepares for a stronger 2026 boosted by international demand, luxury travel, and major global events.
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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
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Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
5 December 2025, 9:00 am - 4 minutes 18 secondsCanadians Turn Away, Hotel Loyalty Evolves, Eventbrite Gets $500M Reboot
Canadian travelers are pulling back from the U.S., hotel loyalty enters a new era of personalization, and Eventbrite gets a $500 million reboot.
On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why the U.S. is losing its most reliable inbound market, how loyalty programs are shifting from points to experiences, and what Eventbrite’s acquisition signals for the future of event tech.
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Articles Referenced:
- The Unraveling of U.S.-Canada Travel
- The Great Reinvention of Hotel Loyalty
- Bending Spoons to Acquire Eventbrite in $500 Million Cash Deal
- Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG
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4 December 2025, 9:00 am - 3 minutes 52 secondsTSA Adds $45 ID Fee, Expedia Hires AI Chief, Delta Expands Elite Perks
TSA introduces a new $45 fee for travelers without Real ID, Expedia hires its first Chief AI and Data Officer to accelerate its tech shift, and Delta sweetens perks for its top-tier loyalists.
On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down how identity verification is changing at airports, why Expedia is making a bold AI move, and how Delta is doubling down on premium customers as loyalty becomes a bigger revenue engine.
This episode is brought to you by Amazon! To learn more, go to advertising.amazon.com
Articles Referenced:
- TSA to Charge $45 to Flyers Without Real ID or Passport
- Expedia Hires Former Google VP as First Chief AI Officer
- Delta Adds More Perks for Top-Tier Flyers: Here’s What to Know
- Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG
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3 December 2025, 9:00 am - 4 minutes 8 secondsMarriott Leads, Hilton Gains, AI Pricing Probed, Flying Taxis Take Off
Marriott keeps its global lead as Hilton accelerates, AI airfare pricing draws scrutiny in Washington, and flying taxis move from sci-fi to real-world service.
On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down the shifting race among the world’s biggest hotel groups, why lawmakers are uneasy about the future of AI-driven pricing, and how Joby’s electric aircraft are positioning Dubai — and possibly the U.S. — for commercial air taxi launches as early as 2026.
This episode is brought to you by Amazon! To learn more, go to advertising.amazon.com
Articles Referenced:
- Hotel Giants Race to Add Rooms: Marriott in the Lead, Hilton Gains Ground
- Inside Aviation's New Third Rail: AI Pricing
- Joby’s Air Taxi Milestones Are Real – But Big Hurdles Remain
- Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG
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Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
2 December 2025, 9:00 am - 4 minutes 43 secondsApple Boosts Bag Tracking, Capital One Buys Hopper Tech, Travel Skips COP30
Apple and Delta team up to make baggage tracking smarter, Capital One moves to take control of its travel tech as Hopper shifts deeper into B2B, and major travel brands are noticeably absent from COP30.
On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why Apple’s quiet systems-level influence is reshaping lost-bag operations, what Capital One’s software acquisition means for Hopper’s future, and how the travel industry’s no-show at this year’s climate summit could have long-term consequences.
This episode is brought to you by Amazon! To learn more, go to advertising.amazon.com
Articles Referenced:
- Capital One Set to Acquire Hopper Travel Software and Hire Key Hotel and Engineering Staff: Scoop
- Apple and Delta Join Forces on New Baggage Tracking Tech — Exclusive
- Why Major Travel Brands Skipped the COP30 Climate Talks
- Honorable Mention: Good Morning Hospitality, A Skift Podcast
- Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG
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Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
26 November 2025, 9:00 am - 3 minutes 49 secondsWorld Cup Bookings Surge, Qantas Eyes 21-Hour Flights, Hotel Loyalty Evolves
World Cup fever is already driving massive booking spikes, Qantas prepares to launch its 21-hour Project Sunrise flights, and hotel loyalty finally enters its clarity era.
On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why short-term rental demand is surging months before the match schedule is even set, how Qantas is pushing the limits of ultra-long-haul travel, and why loyalty programs are shifting from confusing points charts to transparent value and experiential perks.
Articles Referenced:
- Short-Term Rental Demand Climbing Ahead of World Cup
- Project Sunrise: The Business of Breaking Aviation's Final Frontier
- More Clarity, More Experiences: What’s Next for Hotel Loyalty
- Honorable Mention: Good Morning Hospitality, A Skift Podcast
- Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG
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Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews
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Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
25 November 2025, 9:00 am - 3 minutes 36 secondsBrand USA Funding Returns, Airlines Eye 2026, Peek Expands Experiences
Brand USA edges closer to restored funding, airlines brace for an uncertain 2026, and Peek makes a major play in the fast-growing experiences sector.
On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down the bipartisan effort to revive U.S. tourism marketing, the industry outlook heading into the next cycle, and how Peek’s new acquisitions and funding round signal a broader digital shift in tours and activities.
Articles Referenced:
- Brand USA Funding Would Be Restored After 80% Cut Under New Bipartisan Bill
- Airlines in 2026: Flying into Trouble, or Still Holding Altitude?
- Experiences Company Peek Announces Two Acquisitions, $70 Million in Funding
- Honorable Mention: Good Morning Hospitality, A Skift Podcast
- Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG
Connect with Skift
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews
X: https://twitter.com/skift
Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
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