Skift Daily Travel Briefing

Episode Notes Uber has explored buying the Expedia Group, according to a report this week in the Financial Times. It’s all speculation at this point, but the deal, if it were to happen, would bring about the biggest shakeup the travel industry has seen in years. Travel Technology Reporter Justin Dawes answers 10 questions about it.  Dawes notes there are currently no active discussions between the two companies. But an acquisition would bring Uber closer to becoming a superapp, a single app with multiple services, including transport, social media and food delivery.     However, Dawes adds there would be many roadblocks standing in the way of any deal between Uber and Expedia.  Even if it was just a trial balloon, the news raises other possibilities: Expedia, a big brand with a depressed stock price, could attract other potential acquirers or activist investors.  Next, foreign visitor spending in Japan in the first nine months of 2024 topped the full-year record set last year, writes Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia.  International tourists spent roughly $39 billion between January and September, according to the Japan Tourism Agency. That amount is $4 billion more than the previous full-year record. Japan welcomed close to 27 million foreign visitors during the first three quarters of the year.  Finally, Cathay Pacific recently unveiled the Aria Suite, its new business class cabin. Airlines Editor Gordon Smith provides information about arguably the industry’s most anticipated new business class product.  Smith writes the Aria Suite isn’t exactly a game changer but it’s a solid product that hits all the right notes. It features a sliding privacy door, wireless charging and a 24-inch monitor. Vivian Lo, Cathay Pacific’s head of customer experience and design, said the new-age tech in the suite is almost invisible on purpose. Lo added the airline was looking to create “a cocoon oasis of personal space.”  The first Aria-equipped jet will enter passenger service on Friday between Hong Kong and Beijing.  For more travel stories and deep dives into the latest trends, head to skift.com.  Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ X: https://twitter.com/skift Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Episode Notes Hotel executives gathered at The Lodging Conference recently to discuss emerging trends in the industry. Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill listed five key takeaways from the event as executives look forward to 2025.    O’Neill notes hotel leaders are cautiously optimistic about the economic outlook for next year. Executives generally believe that the Fed’s recent interest rate cut will boost enthusiasm for U.S. hotel development in 2025. Luxury hotels will likely see a boom in guests as global wealth is projected to increase by about a third by 2027.  However, O’Neill writes attracting and retaining talented workers still remains a challenge in the hotel industry.   Next, Airbnb has officially launched an expanded co-host network designed to make it easier for hosts to manage their properties, reports Executive Editor Dennis Schaal.  Co-hosts would be able to manage lists, respond to reservation inquiries and message guests under the program. Airbnb has piloted an online service for several years where hosts can find and hire co-hosts. But Schaal notes it’s the first time the service is available in the Airbnb app and on its website.  Airbnb Chief Business Officer Dave Stephenson said he believes the co-hosting feature will help increase Airbnb’s listings from both new hosts and existing ones.  Finally, Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi provides four takeaways from United Airlines’ better-than-expected third quarter earnings report. United received a substantial boost from business travel’s rebound as the company’s corporate revenues for the company were up 13% compared to last year. However, despite bringing back its Los Angeles-Shanghai route, United isn’t expecting to substantially increase bookings for flights to China. Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella acknowledged demand for China has changed coming out of the pandemic. CEO Scott Kirby said he was optimistic planemaker Boeing could overcome its many issues, which include laying off 10% of its staff. In addition, United said it expects travel to slow during the weeks surrounding Election Day.  For more travel stories and deep dives into the latest trends, head to skift.com.  Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ X: https://twitter.com/skift Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Episode Notes Visit Florida launched a new campaign this week to inform tourists much of the state is ready to welcome visitors after Hurricanes Helene and Milton, writes Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam. Visit Florida will share images and videos of destinations largely unaffected by the hurricanes via social media over the next two weeks. The tourism board has also recently launched social media campaigns with the messaging “Stronger Than the Storm” for in-state audiences and “Florida is Resilient” for domestic markets. Habtemariam reports that Visit Florida plans to survey destination marketing organizations across the state and determine when they will be ready to welcome visitors again.  Next, Sphere Entertainment has announced Abu Dhabi will be the location of its second development, writes Middle East Reporter Josh Corder.  Corder reports the new sphere, which is said to “echo the scale” of the original in Las Vegas, is a joint venture between Sphere Entertainment and officials in Abu Dhabi. The sphere in Abu Dhabi is expected to have a similar capacity to the Las Vegas Sphere of around 20,000 seats. However, details such as the location, opening date or budget haven’t been revealed yet.    Finally, Uber is launching a new black-car service aimed at business travelers, writes Travel Technology Reporter Justin Dawes. Dawes reports the service, called Uber Business Black, includes newer luxury vehicles and more flexible booking options. Riders with Uber Business Black will have access to a 24/7 line to human customer service agents for up to 72 hours after a ride. In addition, the service enables executive assistants to book and change rides on someone else’s behalf.  Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ X: https://twitter.com/skift Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Episode Notes Thousands of Barcelona residents took to the streets this past Sunday to demand the city stop hosting the America’s Cup sailing competition and other huge tourism events. It’s the latest of large-scale protests in Spain against mass tourism, writes Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam. Habtemariam notes protestors burned a replica of the America’s Cup trophy at the end of the demonstration. The group, “No to the America’s Cup,” which organized the protest, alleges the city council and event organizers have misled the public about the number of visitors and economic benefits of the America’s Cup.  The group also argues the event would contribute to an increase in pollution and a surge in rents.  Next, roughly 5,000 hotel workers are on strike across the U.S., with recent walkouts occurring at hotels in Boston and Seattle, writes Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill.  More than 600 workers in Boston, including staff at the city’s largest hotel, joined strikes over the weekend. In addition, 300 workers in Seattle walked off their hotel jobs on Monday. Hotel workers union United Here said roughly 40,000 hotel workers in 22 North American markets have authorized potential walkouts before the end of the year.  Finally, a growing number of destinations are looking to attract Indian tourists by increasing the number of locations serving Indian food, reports Senior Research Analyst Varsha Arora. More than half of Indian travelers consider having access to Indian food crucial, according to Booking.com’s Travel Confidence Index 2023. A report published last year revealed a 25% growth in Indian restaurants globally over the past five years. Arora cites Dubai and Abu Dhabi as two destinations where Indian restaurants have become a staple.  Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ X: https://twitter.com/skift Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Episode Notes United Airlines is adding eight new, off-the-beaten-path destinations to its summer 2025 schedule, betting that travelers will fly to less popular locations, writes Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi.  United’s new destinations for summer 2025 include the capitals of Mongolia, Senegal and Greenland. Maharishi notes many of its new destinations are in contrast to American and Delta, two carriers with summer schedules that typically revolve around more popular routes. However, United isn’t completely ignoring big-name destinations as it’s adding flights to Nice and Venice from Dulles International Airport.  Next, Disneyland guests are paying more for the theme park’s attractions after the Walt Disney Company increased ticket prices on Wednesday, writes Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam.  Prices went up for most single-day tickets under Disney’s tier system, with some increasing by as much as 6.5%. Most of Disneyland’s multi-day ticket prices increased by roughly the same percentage. Habtemariam notes the price hike comes as Americans are increasingly cutting back on travel spending in response to rising cost of living.  Finally, Sharjah, one of the UAE’s seven emirates, is aiming to attract what one official calls “invisible” tourism — unlike neighboring Dubai, writes Middle East Reporter Josh Corder.  Corder notes Sharjah is focused on becoming the national center of cultural tourism with plans to create camps and eco-resorts. Sharjah leaders are also working to preserve large portions of the emirate in its “Heart of Sharjah” project, which aims to restore historic structures.  Sharjah is the most conservative of the seven emirates and the only one that still outlaws alcohol. This is in stark contrast to the rest of the country, which is becoming more and more Western, notably giving the green light for casinos earlier this month. For more travel stories and deep dives into the latest trends, head to skift.com.  Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ X: https://twitter.com/skift Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Episode Notes Marriott has reached an agreement with 49 states and Washington, D.C., to pay $52 million to settle charges related to data security, writes Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill.  O’Neill notes the settlement with the states relates to a database security incident in 2018 in the guest reservations system of Starwood, a hotel group Marriott had just acquired.  And the Federal Trade Commission is requiring Marriott to put in place a new data security program following three breaches from 2014 to 2020 that affected over 300 million people worldwide. Next, 2025 might not be full of blockbuster activity for online travel agencies. The sector is projected to see more stock buybacks but not a lot of mergers and acquisitions, writes Executive Editor Dennis Schaal. A BTIG research report revealed that Airbnb, Booking Holdings and Expedia Group will likely generate between $15 billion and $16 billion in free cash flow next year. Those companies are expected to allot $13 billion of that amount to stock buybacks.  However, the report said the online travel agency industry probably won’t see large-scale consolidation in the near future, with Schaal noting the regulatory environment in the U.S. and Europe isn’t particularly friendly to big-time mergers.  Finally, Hyatt and American Airlines will make significant changes to the collaboration between their loyalty programs, writes Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill.  Both companies will offer more redemption options to their most loyal customers. Starting next year, members who link their programs can earn rewards from the partner program at various loyalty tiers. However, the ability for members to earn miles and points at the same time on stays and flights will end on December 31.   For more travel stories and deep dives into the latest trends, head to skift.com.  Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ X: https://twitter.com/skift Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Episode Notes Marriott International announced on Tuesday that it’s expanding its City Express by Marriott brand into the U.S. and Canada, reports Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill.   O’Neill reports the expansion represents Marriott’s foray into the “affordable midscale” category in the two countries. Marriott bought the City Express brand in Mexico in May 2023, and has run properties under the City Express by Marriott brand in the Caribbean and Latin America. The company hasn’t yet revealed how many deals it’s signed for the brand in the U.S. and Canada.  However, one Marriott executive said the company is optimistic about hotel openings in both countries in the near future.  Next, the Routes World 2024 conference featured several heavy hitters of the Middle East’s aviation industry sharing their plans for 2025. Airlines Editor Gordon Smith provides highlights.  Tony Douglas, the CEO of new Saudi carrier Riyadh Air, said the airline is “well advanced” in obtaining its Air Operator Certificate, a key regulatory milestone required to start commercial operations. He added Riyadh Air would be up and running next year.   Air Arabia CEO Adel Abdullah Ali said the carrier is looking to grow outside its traditional markets in the Middle East, citing Egypt as an example. And Steven Greenway, CEO of Saudi low-cost carrier flyadeal, revealed plans to more than double its fleet size over the next four years.  Finally, Wynn Reports has upped its budget, financial projections and ambitions for its casino project in the United Arab Emirates. Middle East Reporter Josh Corder lists several takeaways from a presentation Wynn gave to investors and analysts on Tuesday.  Corder notes the project is targeting very wealthy consumers. Wynn expects 37% of its gross gaming revenues to come from what it considers ultra-high-net-worth international customers. India and Europe will be among Wynn’s core markets, with CEO Craig Billings noting India is home to a lot of wealth. Wynn also said it expects the gaming market in the UAE to be worth between $3 billion and $5 billion.  Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ X: https://twitter.com/skift Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Airlines and airports are getting ready for Hurricane Milton, a “potentially catastrophic” storm expected to hit southwest Florida on Wednesday, writes Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi. Tampa International Airport and Orlando International have announced they plan to suspend operations in anticipation of Hurricane Milton. Several airlines — including American, Delta and United — have issued travel waivers in Florida. Citi analyst Stephen Trent said cancellations from the storm could cause Southwest and Spirit to suffer a major hit to their earnings because of their exposure to Tampa.  Next, new Mandarin Oriental CEO Laurent Kleitman is looking to double the number of properties in the company’s portfolio, writes Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill, who spoke with Kleitman in his first major interview as CEO.  Mandarin Oriental currently manages 41 hotels, but Kleitman says he sees a sweet spot of between 80 and 100 properties for the luxury hotel brand. Kleitman added Mandarin Oriental will focus on key markets where the company doesn’t have a presence. He cited Budapest and Rome as locations Mandarin Oriental will expand to.  In addition, Kleitman said growing in the Americas is one of the company’s goals. Mandarin Oriental manages only three hotels in the U.S.  Finally, the Skift Travel Health Index for August 2024 reveals that the travel industry is thriving despite concerns about a recession. The global travel industry registered 9% growth from last year, which was led by the Asia-Pacific region and North America. Research Analyst Saniya Zanpure notes the travel boom in the Asia-Pacific region is largely due to the area’s delayed reopening after the pandemic. Meanwhile, passenger volumes in the U.S. are at an all-time high.  Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ X: https://twitter.com/skift Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Episode Notes Accor CEO Sebastien Bazin said the Paris-based hotel group has 47 brands in its portfolio. And the company has plans to add more, writes Middle East Reporter Josh Corder. Bazin said at the Future Hospitality Summit in Dubai that Accor doesn’t have too many brands. He noted in the era of technology, customers have enough resources to discover them all. Bazin also said it’s important that no two brands are the same and that all of them are relevant. As for global growth, Bazin thinks China and India will be the largest markets in the medium- and long-term.  Next, G Adventures launched a new brand this week targeting solo travelers interested in connecting with others on group tours, writes Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam.  The new brand — called “Solo-ish Adventures” — is geared toward travelers not wanting to wait on others to book a trip or feel like a “third wheel” on group tours. The trips, which will run on average 12 days, will feature activities such as cooking classes and food walking tours on the first night to encourage interaction.  Trips to 12 destinations are currently available under the Solo-ish brand, which G Adventures plans to increase to 60 over the next two years.  Finally, Moroccan officials have expressed concern about overtourism when the country co-hosts soccer’s World Cup in 2030, writes Middle East Reporter Josh Corder.  Morocco expects 26 million tourists in 2030, almost double the number from 2023. Tourism Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor said the country is looking at promoting — and investing in — experiences over accommodation, which she believes would give travelers reasons to visit destinations in Morocco outside its major cities.  Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ X: https://twitter.com/skift Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Episode Notes The global hotel industry has seen some markets thrive this year while some others have struggled, reports Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill.  A recent report by CBRE Hotels Research revealed U.S. revenue per available room would grow roughly 1% for the full year. That’s close to a 2 percentage point drop from its forecast in February. O’Neill notes that U.S. urban and airport hotels are set to overperform while those in resort locations will likely underperform relative to their post-pandemic boom.  However, hotels in the United Arab Emirates saw their revenue per available room jump 30% from 2019 levels during the first half of this year. And Saudi Arabian hotels registered a 44% increase during the same period.  Next, Priceline is the first travel company to say it’s incorporating the latest voice tech from OpenAI into its AI chatbot, writes Travel Technology Reporter Justin Dawes.  Users can interact with its AI chatbot Penny by speaking or typing to search for hotels — but not flights or rental cars yet. The first version of Penny Voice went live on Tuesday, and the company said it has plans to unveil updates in the near future.  Finally, online travel agency Klook celebrates its 10th anniversary this month. Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill examines how the company is looking to evolve. Klook — Asia-Pacific’s largest online seller of travel experiences — is expanding into domestic travel and social commerce, among other areas. President and co-founder Eric Gnock Fah said Klook has built up domestic travel offerings. Fah noted all of Klook’s sales pre-Covid were cross-border.  Klook is also leveraging social media for marketing and sales, with Fah attributing much of its recent growth in China to social media-driven sales. Popular chat and payment apps are increasingly letting influencers sell services.  For more travel stories and deep dives into the latest trends, head to skift.com.  Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ X: https://twitter.com/skift Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.