Skift Daily Briefing

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1244

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Sep 2026

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About the show

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. For ongoing coverage, please visit Skift.com/news.

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60 recent

September 4, 20263 min

The Southwest You Grew Up With Is Gone

Southwest announces airport lounges and keeps reinventing itself into something almost unrecognizable, Uber cuts 3,300 jobs and pulls focus back to its core as travel ambitions take a back seat, and Emirates unveils a premium economy seat that signals where the real airline revenue war is being fought. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why Southwest's lounge announcement is the latest sign of an airline giving customers fewer and fewer reasons to fly someone else, what Uber's reorg means for its travel products that were never really the point, and why airlines racing to upgrade the middle of the plane is the most important yield story in aviation right now. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGSouthwest to Launch Airport Lounges in 2027Uber to Lay Off 3,300 Employees, Reducing Management Jobs by 20%Emirates Pushes Premium Economy Upmarket as Business Class Gets Sliced Up 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.

September 3, 20264 min

Travel's Biggest Names Just Walked Into the White House

Travel industry executives meet with President Trump to push for more inbound tourists, Uber cuts 3,300 jobs while doubling down on robotaxis and quietly sidelining its travel ambitions, and Southwest opens airport lounges , but it's really a credit card strategy wearing an airport badge. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Tasmin Lockwood, Skift's Climate and Experiences Reporter, breaks down why the industry wants the World Cup's welcome mat to become permanent policy, what Uber's reorg signals about where travel fits in its actual priorities, and why Southwest's lounge announcement is less about hospitality and more about the next phase of a much bigger reinvention. This episode is brought to you by ZS Articles Referenced:Connect with Tasmin LockwoodTravel Execs Meet Trump at the White HouseUber to Lay Off 3,300 Employees, Reducing Management Jobs by 20%Southwest to Launch Airport Lounges in 2027 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.

September 2, 20264 min

Airbnb Just Poached Booking.com's Hotel Boss

Airbnb names a former Booking.com hotel chief as its new chief business officer as its hotel push accelerates, AirDNA launches a dynamic pricing tool aimed at the 85% of short-term rental hosts still leaving money on the table, and JetBlue bets its comeback on a new domestic first class with mattress foam and custom cocktails. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Tasmin Lockwood, Skift's Climate and Experiences Reporter, breaks down why Airbnb's latest hire is a clear signal that its hotel ambitions just got serious, how AirDNA is betting simplicity can unlock dynamic pricing for the hosts that every other tool hasn't reached, and why JetBlue thinks premium cabins can do what cost-cutting alone hasn't. This episode is brought to you by ZS Articles Referenced:Connect with Tasmin LockwoodAirbnb Names Ex-Booking.com Hotel Boss and Viator President as Chief Business OfficerAirDNA Enters Revenue Management Market With Host Dynamic Pricing Tool — ExclusiveJetBlue Unveils New Domestic First Class Seats 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.

September 1, 20263 min

That Stunning Hotel You Found on TikTok Might Not Be Real

A bombshell estimate flips the script on who actually leads in B2B hotel bookings, Marriott presses its sales teams to close a $1.55 billion gap in group bookings for 2027, and AI-generated hotel videos on TikTok are misleading travelers about properties they can actually book. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Bailey Schulz, Skift's Global Tourism Reporter, breaks down why a new analyst estimate suggesting Booking Holdings leads Expedia in B2B room nights could reshape how the industry thinks about OTA competition, what Marriott's internal stretch goal reveals about the group booking market heading into 2027, and why TikTok Go's AI-generated hotel videos are a real problem for travelers and property owners alike. This episode is brought to you by ZS Articles Referenced:Booking Holdings vs. Expedia in B2B: Bombshell Estimate Says Booking Leads in Room NightsMarriott Presses Sales Teams on $1.55 Billion Gap to Goal for 2027 GroupsAI-Generated TikTok Go Hotel Videos Connect with Bailey Schulz 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.

August 28, 20263 min

Google Just Made Hotel Booking Part of the Chat

Google Just Made Hotel Booking Part of the Chat Google launches hotel booking inside its AI chat with major chains and OTAs on board, passport renewals are about to get dramatically easier for millions of Americans, and Dollywood opened its doors the day after Dolly Parton passed and the story of that park is one worth telling. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why Google's new AI hotel booking tool could succeed where Book on Google failed a decade ago, how the State Department's online renewal proposal would save Americans time, money, and two trips to a government office, and why Dollywood's $500 million expansion without a single licensed character is one of the most remarkable stories in the theme park industry. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGGoogle's Agentic Hotel Booking Tool Comes to AI ModePassport Renewal Expansion for Americans OverseasDolly Parton, Dollywood, and Theme Park Success 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.

August 27, 20263 min

Dolly Parton Left Behind a Legacy That Draws 2 Million Visitors a Year

Dollywood bucks the theme park industry's closure wave as operators honor Dolly Parton's legacy with a $500 million expansion, Harry Styles' Madison Square Garden residency is giving NYC hotels and short-term rentals a meaningful boost, and there's a reason boutique hotel founders almost always end up selling to the big chains. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Bailey Schulz, Skift's Global Tourism Reporter, breaks down why Dollywood's culture-first strategy is outperforming parks built on licensed characters, how a two-month residency in one city can move a market without needing Taylor Swift numbers, and why distribution economics make it nearly inevitable that boutique hotel founders eventually sell. Articles Referenced:Connect with Bailey SchulzDolly Parton, Dollywood, and Theme Park SuccessHarry Styles' Residency Is Giving NYC a Demand BoostWhy Every Boutique Hotel Founder Eventually Sells 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.

August 26, 20263 min

Wall Street Is Finally Buying Into Airbnb's Growth Story

A familiar face may be headed back to lead NYC Tourism, Wall Street is warming up to Airbnb's growth story after five straight quarters of double-digit gains, and three South Korean budget airlines are merging into one low-cost giant. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Bailey Schulz, Skift's Global Tourism Reporter, breaks down why Fred Dixon's potential return to NYC Tourism comes at a tough moment for inbound visitors, what's driving Airbnb's structural acceleration and why some analysts are still not fully convinced, and what South Korea's budget airline merger means for the country's aviation landscape. Articles Referenced:Connect with Bailey SchulzBrand USA's Fred Dixon in Talks to Return to NYC TourismWall Street Is Starting to Believe Airbnb's Growth StoryThree South Korean Carriers Are Merging Into One Low-Cost Giant 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.

August 25, 20263 min

Black Tomato Just Did the Opposite of Every Other Travel Company

F1 confirms its Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is on despite war jitters, luxury tour operator Black Tomato sells 75% of itself to its own staff instead of private equity, and Thailand tries once again to collect a tourist fee it's been attempting since 2020. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Bailey Schulz, Skift's Global Tourism Reporter, breaks down why Abu Dhabi's bet on marquee events like F1 keeps paying off, how Black Tomato's employee ownership move is a pointed contrast to travel's private equity wave, and why Thailand's latest tourist fee attempt faces the same question it always has — how to actually collect it. Articles Referenced:Connect with Bailey SchulzF1 Confirms Abu Dhabi Grand Prix — Events Calendar Is Propping Up TourismBlack Tomato Founders Sell 75% to Employee Ownership Trust but Keep Control — ExclusiveThailand's Six-Year Tourist Fee Saga Returns With a $14 Price Tag 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.

August 21, 20264 min

Google Just Bought Spirit's Data for $10 Million and Got a Steal

Google scoops up Spirit Airlines' pricing and booking data in bankruptcy for a fraction of its value, the UK launches a crackdown on hidden travel fees with fines up to 10% of global revenue, and Delta's pilot scheduling talks break down with the busy fall travel season right around the corner. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why Google's Spirit data purchase is a bargain with enormous AI implications, what the UK's drip pricing crackdown means for travelers and why the U.S. still hasn't figured this out, and why Delta's reliability problems aren't going away before fall. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGGoogle Scoops Up Spirit's Data in Bankruptcy Sale to Train AIThe UK's Hidden Fee Crackdown Is Coming for TravelDelta Pilots Detail Why Scheduling Talks Hit an Impasse 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.

August 14, 20264 min

If the World Cup Couldn't Fix U.S. Tourism, What Will?

Overseas visits to the U.S. fall for the fourth straight month despite the World Cup, travel creators are pivoting hard to shorter and cheaper trips because that's what their audiences can actually afford, and a big question worth asking about AI travel tools: who are they really working for? On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why the World Cup's failure to move the inbound tourism needle is a serious warning sign for LA 2028, how high fares and economic uncertainty are reshaping what travel content actually gets made, and why the dream of an AI assistant that truly shops for you may never survive the business models of the companies building it. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGOverseas Travel to the U.S. Has Fallen for Four Straight Months Despite the World CupContent Creators and Domestic Travel TrendsThe AI Agent Should Belong to the Traveler 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.