Skift Take In the Nordics, the hotel sector’s future is brighter thanks to a growing market for office conversions. Sean O’Neill Scandic Hotels Group reported results for the first-half of the year, and the operator of about 280 hotels is now targeting expansion through its Scandic Go brand and conversions of office buildings. The company
Travel
Skift Take The ultra-low-cost carrier lowered its revenue outlook for the second quarter, blaming softer ancillary sales. Meghna Maharishi Spirit Airlines is anticipating a bigger quarterly loss in the second quarter, citing lower-than-expected ancillary sales. While Spirit didn’t go into specifics, ancillary fees for perks like checked baggage, carry-ons and seat selection are typically a
Skift Take Apollo Global Management is set to acquire The Travel Corporation’s (TTC) portfolio with an expected closure in Q4 2024, pending regulatory approvals. Jesse Chase-Lubitz Apollo Global Management, an asset management company and private equity firm, and The Travel Corporation (TTC), a private travel company that owns 18 travel brands, announced an agreement for
Skift Take Amadeus is working on several generative AI pilots in partnership with Microsoft. Justin Dawes Amadeus has learned a lot about AI in the past year. The company has been experimenting with how the latest advancements of AI will define the next generation of its services for travel companies. A year ago, Amadeus was focused
Skift Take Viator’s “Regret Less. Do More.” campaign uses data-driven insights and highlights travel planning pitfalls. Jesse Chase-Lubitz Viator unveiled its latest brand campaign with two new video ads on Monday. The online travel agency for travel experiences takes aim at common travel planning disasters and uses a catchphrase theme of “Regret Less. Do More.”
Skift Take By 2024, Asia’s travel and tourism revenue is projected to hit a whopping $326 billion. To cash in on this boom, travel providers need to tackle Asia’s patchwork of payment options. Peden Doma Bhutia Pelago, the travel experiences arm of Singapore Airlines Group, on Monday announced a partnership with Primer, a global payments-infrastructure
Skift Take Indian travelers now seek flexible accommodation options, and the alternative stay industry is racing to keep up with the demand. StayVista claims to bridge the trust gap that has historically plagued the sector. Peden Doma Bhutia The demand for alternative accommodations in India is at an early stage but continues to grow. According
Skift Take If Vrbo’s new host cancellation policy looks familiar, it’s not dissimilar from the one Airbnb imposed a few months ago. Dennis Schaal Vrbo last month reversed a longstanding policy on guest refunds and host cancellations, tipping the benefits toward guests and away from hosts when there are major travel disruptions. Under the new
Skift Take In a break from the strategy of many U.S. airlines, Emirates’ Skywards program is being used to boost loyalty for the airline without a heavy financial focus. Ajay Awtaney and Gordon Smith, Skift Emirates flies almost a million passengers every week, making it one of the world’s largest international airlines. As part of
Skift Take Vasu Raja’s severance package includes a payout of his base salary until January 31, 2025 and flight benefits. He’s also eligible to receive a lump sum payout of $968,750 after the severance period ends. Meghna Maharishi The details are out on former American Airlines chief commercial officer Vasu Raja’s severance package. Raja will
This sponsored content was created in collaboration with a Skift partner. A tourism boom in 2023 saw Spain welcome 85 million international visitors, surpassing even the most optimistic forecasts and breaking its pre-pandemic record. Continuing with this momentum, 14.5 percent more international passengers traveled to the country in the first quarter of 2024 compared to
Skift Take Banyan Group, the Singapore-based luxury hotel operator, is on a growth spree. It is also going asset-light faster than you can say “fee-based income.” Sean O’Neill Banyan Group is set to open a record number of luxury hotels and resorts this year. The Singapore-based luxury hotel operator also plans to expand into the
This sponsored content was created in collaboration with a Skift partner. The Saudi government’s $1 trillion investment in tourism is starting to yield returns. The country welcomed over 100 million visitors in 2023, with a combined total spend of $67 billion, achieving its tourism goal seven years ahead of schedule. Air connectivity is at an
Skift Take Airbnb loves publicity, but not when it involves stories about hidden security cameras inside its properties. Dennis Schaal A months-long CNN investigation found that Airbnb has worked to keep thousands of complaints about properties with hidden indoor security cameras out of the public domain. Airbnb banned indoor cameras in March. “A CNN investigation
Skift Take The 2024 Paris Olympics may be a big draw – but not for international tourists. Dawit Habtemariam Sports fans around the world aren’t rushing to Paris for this summer’s Olympic Games. International flight bookings for the event period, from July 26 to August 11, have increased by a modest 8% from the same
Skift Take This November, Skift Global Forum East will return to Dubai to uncover the future of the travel industry in the Middle East and beyond. Rafat Ali We are excited to announce the third annual Skift Global Forum East, returning to the dynamic city of Dubai on November 19-20. Following the tremendous success of
Skift Take In recent months, several big-name airlines have been accused of greenwashing. Could independent, AI-driven data put an end to the confusion for consumers and corporate travel departments? Gordon Smith Air France, Lufthansa, and Etihad Airways each have something in common. The answer? They’ve all fallen foul of the advertising regulator for making claims
Skift Take Barcelona, one of the world’s most popular destinations, just got a rude awakening about how it manages tourism. Dawit Habtemariam Thousands of protestors marched in Barcelona over the weekend against overtourism. Nearly 3,000 people took to the street on Saturday. More than 140 organizations, including neighborhood associations, ecologists and housing activists marched under