Travel

In Saudi Arabia’s latest tourism campaign, Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi aims to bust the stereotypes global travelers may have about the kingdom. The campaign emphasizes that Saudi Arabia has a lot to offer and is a welcoming destination, said Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority. Saudi has been hyperfocused on cutting its

Skift Take Even without a CEO, Jumeirah’s “2030 Mission” for growth remains on track. Josh Corder Jumeirah Group has appointed a chief brand officer to “spearhead the evolution of the brand,” the luxury Dubai hotel chain said Thursday. Michael Grieve will lead Jumeirah’s “2030 Mission” to reach 50 hotels globally, around double what it currently

Skift Take Hilton’s small LXR brand is enjoying a growth spurt this year as it aims to appeal to a new breed of luxury travelers. Sean O’Neill LXR is a Hilton brand with 14 luxury hotels and resorts. Last week, Hilton announced a deal for an LXR resort in Saudi Arabia, and it has seven

Skift Take A crazy twist in the world of travel and AI, here’s a tool that seems to actually work as intended. Justin Dawes Kayak this week released a tool that it says can read flight fare information from a screenshot and then search for a better price.  It sounds like a useful tool. But

Skift Take Nearly every other country has a tourism minister or tourism secretary. In a halfway fix, the U.S. Congress passed funding bills Friday that included money to hire an assistant secretary of commerce for travel and tourism. Sean O’Neill The U.S. Senate passed key government funding bills Friday evening — with one that included

Skift Take As the Indian traveler drives demand to lesser explored domestic destinations, major brands are finding opportunities to grow in the Indian hinterlands. Bulbul Dhawan The hospitality industry in India is undergoing a rapid expansion. According to data from real estate services firm JLL, a total of 131 hotels opened in the country between

Skift Take Solo travel has grown enormously in popularity in recent years, so here’s a look at the factors driving its boom as well as what solo travelers are interested in. Rashaad Jorden Travelers worldwide have increasingly expressed an interest in embarking on solo adventures in recent year. Skyscanner’s Travel Trends 2023 Report found that

Skift Take Today’s podcast looks at the power of Tiktok travel, United’s pilot pause, and the Digital Markets Act’s effects on Google. Rashaad Jorden Good morning from Skift. It’s Friday, March 8. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today. Listen Now 🎧 Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Google Podcasts | Amazon Podcasts Episode Notes Millions

Skift Take One of Boeing’s biggest customers said it has paused pilot hiring in the spring due Max 10 delivery delays. Meghna Maharishi United Airlines is pausing pilot hiring in the spring due to aircraft delivery delays from Boeing. New-hire classes will be paused in May and June, and some may resume in July, according

Skift Take Today’s podcast looks at who is behind the Tripadvisor sale, how safe India is for solo female travelers, and how AI could kill the Top 10 list. Rashaad Jorden Good morning from Skift. It’s Thursday, March 7. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today. Listen Now 🎧 Subscribe

Skift Take The NTSB chair told a Senate committee that Boeing had not yet provided records on its documentation regarding the opening and closing of the door plug on Alaska’s Max 9 and the names of certain workers. Meghna Maharishi The chair of the National Transportation Safety Board told a Senate committee on Wednesday that

Skift Take India was the fifth biggest source market for Kenya in 2022. It, therefore, plays an important role in the African nation’s strategy to recover its tourism sector from the pandemic. Bulbul Dhawan The Kenya Tourism Board has launched a marketing campaign in India. Under the campaign, the tourism board will provide travel agents

Skift Take American unveiled an interesting strategy during its investor day Monday afternoon — bolster its loyalty program and presence in small U.S. cities. Meghna Maharishi American Airlines is rethinking its strategy.  Rather than emphasizing capacity across long-haul international routes – like Delta Air Lines and United Airlines do — American is looking to small

Skift Take The resort marked Mankind Pharma family’s foray into hospitality in 2022. Post acquisition, it is now Chalet Hotels’ second property in North India. Bulbul Dhawan Hotel developer Chalet Hotels has announced that it is in the process of acquiring Courtyard by Marriott Aravali Resort. The 158-key resort, located near Delhi, is under the

Skift Take The addition of the Boeing 737 Max 10 in American’s order is a vote of confidence in the U.S. manufacturer’s yet-to-be certified plane. Gordon Smith American Airlines has announced a blockbuster new aircraft order, from not one but three different manufacturers. A total of 260 new jets are on the way, in a

Skift Take Malaysian officials aren’t giving up in their quest to find answers to one of aviation’s greatest mysteries. Rashaad Jorden Malaysia is pushing for a renewed search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, the transport minister said on Sunday, as the 10th anniversary of its disappearance in one of the world’s greatest aviation mysteries approaches.

Since Sébastian Bazin became its CEO in 2013, Accor has had a series of transformations and done a lot of acquisitions, such as Mövenpick, Fairmont, and Mantra, and joint ventures, such as Ennismore. But Accor detailed last July something of a five-year-plan, with detailed commitments on performance benchmarks it intends to meet. That was a

Skift Take There’s a lot of money pouring into next-generation flight technology with promises of huge revenues in the future. Justin Dawes There’s a lot of money pouring into next-generation flight technology. This week, there was an investment into renewable jet fuel and a propulsion system for flying taxis. Four travel tech startups have announced