Travel

Mid September to early October was the most active time period for travel funding of the year: 13 startups raised $600 million, and then another six startups raised $500 million. The past two weeks have been a bit quieter. Eight travel startups announced fundraises totaling nearly $40 million. Beacon AI: $15 Million  Beacon AI, which is

Skift Take Germany aspires to set the standard for AI’s future in destination marketing. However, we wonder whether Germany’s new AI influencer can actually build an audience and earn their trust. Those tasks are challenging even for humans. Dawit Habtemariam Tourists looking to explore Germany can expect a helping hand from the country’s first AI-generated

Skift Take The Aria Suite is arguably the year’s most anticipated new business class product. Those hoping for pushing-the-envelope innovation may be disappointed, but this solid product hits all the right notes. Gordon Smith “I’ve been pregnant for a very long time, but my baby is finally born,” said Vivian Lo, Cathay Pacific’s head of

In its latest move to attract international travelers, budget carrier IndiGo has entered into a codeshare agreement with Malaysian Airlines. In a codeshare agreement, partner airlines are able to sell seats in flights operated by the other carrier.  IndiGo is not alone in fostering codeshare agreements: other domestic airlines including Vistara and Air India have

Skift Take Lower interest rates could jumpstart transactions and development next year, but the industry isn’t out of the woods yet. Sean O’Neill Hotel industry leaders gathered at The Lodging Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona, last week to discuss emerging trends in the hotel market. Here are the key takeaways from the world’s largest hotel finance

Skift Take Today’s podcast looks at Florida’s delicate tourism campaign, Abu Dhabi’s spherical Vegas duplicate, and Uber’s business travel push. Rashaad Jorden Good morning from Skift. It’s Wednesday, October 16, 2024, and here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.  Listen Now 🎧 Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | RSS Episode Notes Visit Florida launched

Skift Take The head of Uber for Business says his margins are better than the non-business side, so Uber wants to triple-down on investment. Justin Dawes Uber is launching a new black-car service for business travelers, the company told Skift Tuesday. The service, called Uber Business Black, will come with several features designed for busy business

Skift Take The hospitality scene in India is changing, and it’s giving rise to brands like Minimalist Hotels that cater to travelers who look for places that strike a balance between quality and experience. Lavish amenities might not be a priority, but they’re happy to splurge on things like specialty coffee or other premium touches.

Skift Take An uncomfortable truth is emerging in the aftermath of two hurricanes making devastating sweeps through Florida. Natural disasters can be good for business at regional hotels that escape damage. Sean O’Neill While hurricanes bring short-term devastation, they often boost medium-term hotel performance in affected regions. Analysts at investment banks Bernstein, Baird, and Truist

Skift Take In recent years, both the timeshare experience and the demographics of timeshare ownership have evolved considerably. At Skift Global Forum, ARDA CEO Jason Gamel explored how the vacation ownership industry is innovating, modernizing, and expanding its offerings to satisfy the expectations of today’s travelers. ARDA This sponsored content was created in collaboration with

At the Lodging Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona, Larry Cuculic, the CEO of BWH Hotels, leaned forward, his West Point-honed posture softening as he warmed to his subject. “We’re not just a mid-scale brand,” he said. “We now have a brand for every guest, a brand for every developer.” The man helming Best Western’s parent company

Skift Take At the Skift Global Forum in New York, we polled travel industry decision-makers to determine how they approach the rise of experiences, how they think about shifting traveler behaviors, and how technology impacts modern booking processes. Travel Guard This sponsored content was created in collaboration with a Skift partner. Experiences and activities are

Skift Take Airbnb is going after Japan’s domestic travelers, the largest part of the country’s travel market. But it will take time to crack it. Dennis Schaal Japan is a key expansion market for Airbnb, which launched a marketing campaign there Friday. The ads, which include TV, online and print, focus on domestic travelers, Airbnb

Skift Take Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg told employees that the company has to make “tough decisions” during the machinist strike. Meghna Maharishi Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg told employees Friday afternoon that the company would need to delay the launch of the 777X and lay off roughly 10% of its workforce as the machinist strike continues. 

Skift Take Authorities in the United Arab Emirates are tight-lipped about the country’s plans for its emerging gambling industry, but gaming could be lucrative, a topic we discuss in this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast. Rashaad Jorden Gambling has long been taboo in the United Arab Emirates, but officials in the country are quietly

Skift Take Maldives’ decision to introduce RuPay cards in the country in partnership with India may or may not lead to an uptick in Indian tourists. But it could boost its tourism earnings. Bulbul Dhawan Maldives is now supporting payments through cards running on RuPay, India’s card payment network. The decision was announced this week

Skift Take Travelers are increasingly looking to partake in culinary experiences on the road. Rashaad Jorden A growing number of travel brands are finding a good way to reach travelers — and generate revenue — is through their stomachs. So what are key trends in food tourism? We asked our recently upgraded answer engine Ask Skift

Skift Take Global tourism is bouncing back big in 2024, but staying ahead means thinking smart and staying agile. In Asia-Pacific, that means handling the surge in visitors while keeping it sustainable, nailing targeted marketing, and leveling out those seasonal travel waves. Peden Doma Bhutia The global tourism industry is bouncing back in 2024. International