Travel

Wildfires have ripped through the U.S. and Europe in recent weeks, the latter of which has faced three successive heatwaves that have left land tinder-dry.  Many resorts, summer camps, wineries, ski areas and national park lodges are designed to be close to nature — where wildfire risk can be highest. Even for those further afield,

Key Points Southwest is actively developing airport lounges—with Denver, Honolulu, and Nashville as possible sites—primarily to grow its co-branded credit card and Rapid Rewards loyalty business. The lounge push is part of a broader strategic shift away from Southwest’s traditional low-cost model, following moves like boarding groups, extra-legroom seats, basic economy fares, baggage fees, and

The Farnborough International Airshow wrapped with a firm order tally that edged past the 2024 gathering but fell well short of the 800 aircraft some in the industry had talked up beforehand. Firm commercial aviation orders totaled around 340, alongside more than 50 preliminary deals, options and purchase rights, with Boeing holding a narrow lead

As the airline industry grapples with highly volatile fuel costs, carriers are either cutting capacity more aggressively or raising airfares.  But American Airlines is taking a different approach. In the second quarter, capacity for American was up 5.4%, and in the third quarter, it projects capacity will be up between 3% and 5%.  Cutting capacity

Travel advisories for the Middle East had eased last month, but the warnings are now back as fighting continues and ceasefire talks break down. Gulf countries are responding to weak tourism and low hotel occupancies with incentives, from airline fare sales to visa liberalization, aimed at bringing travelers back. The U.S. Embassy and Consulate in

Executives at Travel + Leisure Co. explained the logic behind their acquisition of Yes& Vacations and a pending purchase of Spinnaker Resorts, for a combined $343 million upfront. CEO Michael Brown cited inventory as a key rationale on an earnings call Wednesday. The deals add 23 resorts to a portfolio of more than 280, with

I noticed a curious thing in the spate of travel industry partnerships announced this summer. Earlier this month, Expedia became Allegiant’s first authorized OTA partner under a 12-month exclusive deal. The same day, JAL and Marriott Bonvoy launched a status match that hands JAL points to every Bonvoy member who links an account. A day

Developers participating in a Sabre hackathon last Saturday didn’t build another search tool. Their winning agents called hotels for answers that no websites list, pulled scattered reservations together, and rebuilt trips when flight plans get disrupted. For travel executives, two things stand out. One is where AI agents may actually earn their keep: the offline,

Emirates president Sir Tim Clark told Skift Tuesday that retirement is not on the agenda — but that his team knows what to do the day he does leave. Clark’s remarks in response to a question at the Farnborough Airshow push back on speculation about the immediate future of one of the industry’s longest-serving leaders.

Riyadh Air has taken delivery of six widebody aircraft in the space of 30 days as the Saudi startup races to absorb nearly a year’s worth of Boeing deliveries in a matter of weeks. CEO Tony Douglas said all six Boeing 787s are now in service, adding that the airline is due to accept another

Managing student housing has long been left to specialists. But Accor and Meliá appear to be circling the segment, pursuing a mixed-use operational model pioneered by the Amsterdam brand The Social Hub. Meliá CEO Gabriel Escarrer told Spanish outlet El Confidencial on July 13 that the company is in talks to manage student residences owned

The 2026 World Cup is, by rough consensus, the most politically compromised and nakedly commercial tournament ever staged. It is also, by that same consensus, possibly the greatest. Both things are true. Sports. For six weeks, the travel industry has watched alongside everyone else: 102 matches (with two more to come), 16 host cities, three

Key Points The EU ETS overhaul extends carbon permits to international flights for the first time and pulls in private/business jets, but exempts flights over 5,000 km — sparing most U.S. and China routes and prompting criticism that the highest-emitting long-haul flights escape pricing. The airline industry (IATA) and international partners strongly oppose the plan,

After eight years of planning, millions of dollars invested by host cities, and plenty of hype inside the travel industry, North America stepped into the role of World Cup host for the first time in more than three decades. The tournament officially wraps after Spain or Argentina face off at the July 19 final in

Key Points Emanuel is controlling the demand-origination side of travel by owning events, discovery, and ticketing—positioning above hotels, airlines, and OTAs, which only fulfill demand once a consumer has already decided to go. On Location’s World Cup hospitality program broke records with 500,000+ packages across 125+ countries (half to private clients), and its customer prepayments

Key Points Airbnb is offering car rentals for the first time, powered by CarTrawler, in five countries (U.S., France, Italy, Spain, and Australia) with major brands like Avis, Hertz, Budget, and Enterprise. The CarTrawler Credit program rewards bookings with up to 20% (max $200) in Airbnb credits toward stays, experiences, and services, valid for two

Delta Air Lines is launching nonstop flights from Los Angeles to Manila, the capital of the Philippines, as it employs an ambitious growth strategy out of the California airport.  The carrier will start operating the route on March 28, 2027, becoming the only U.S. carrier to offer nonstop service between Los Angeles and Manila.  “Customers

Pressed on The Angle podcast this week about why Hilton runs 28 brands, CEO Chris Nassetta argued the portfolio isn’t sprawl but a data-backed answer to what owners and guests keep asking for. Nassetta’s first defense was that Hilton shows relative restraint compared to Marriott, Accor, and Hyatt. “Our core competitors have like 38, 42,