Travel

Skift Take America’s economy hotels experienced a case of the first-quarter blues as the budget travel crowd appeared to spend less. Could inflation be to blame? Sean O’Neill U.S. budget hotels performed less well in the first few months of the year than they did a year ago. Does that weakness signal some U.S. travelers

Skift Take Geir Karlsen leads an airline that defied the odds (and many critics) to bounce back from the edge of extinction. Gordon Smith In the modern airline business, companies are usually divided by their “low-cost” or “legacy” models. The upstarts versus the old guard. But is there room for a little Scandinavian pragmatism in

Skift Take Airlines are halting service to Israel as tensions in the Middle East escalate due to Iran’s “imminent attack” on Israel. Meghna Maharishi and Gordon Smith, Skift There has been a dramatic escalation in tensions between Israel and Iran. Reuters reports that Iran has launched dozens of drones and missiles at Israel. The widely

Skift Take If employees were given a choice between receiving a gift voucher or a “Well done!” from their bosses during an incentive trip, which do you think they’d pick? Peden Doma Bhutia Incentive trips are making a comeback, according to FCM Meetings & Events India. The corporate travel firm noted a 30% jump in

Skift Take There are more than a few surprises in the global top 10, with multiple flag carriers, and even a budget airline, vying for first place. Gordon Smith For airlines, timekeeping is about more than keeping passengers happy. Delays can hit the bottom line with additional fuel, labor, and operational costs. Sloppy scheduling can

Skift Take The U.S. airline industry is worried that Chinese carriers enjoy an unfair advantage with access to Russian airspace and China’s government. Meghna Maharishi The U.S. airline industry is asking the federal government to pause the expansion of passenger flights to China, citing “anti-competitive policies of the Chinese government.” The letter, addressed to Transportation

Skift Take United flight attendants are the latest to express their frustrations over stagnant pay and taxing work conditions. Meghna Maharishi Around a dozen United Airlines flight attendants picketed outside LaGuardia Airport on Thursday, demanding better pay and working conditions.  The protest was part of a wider initiative by United’s flight attendants, with picketing at

Skift Take Today’s podcast looks at Delta’s big first quarter, Brazil’s delayed visa requirements, and the factors behind corporate travel agency mergers. Rashaad Jorden Listen Now 🎧 Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Google Podcasts | Amazon Podcasts Episode Notes Delta Air Lines posted a first-quarter profit in what’s normally a sluggish period for airlines — in part due to a

Skift Take MGM Resorts CEO William Hornbuckle made around $37.9 million in pay last year. The financial windfall was a reward for seeing the company notch record revenue and sign a landmark loyalty partnership with Marriott. Sean O’Neill MGM Resorts CEO and president William Hornbuckle made around $38 million in pay in 2023, more than

Skift Take Today’s podcast looks at CEO salaries, Ben Drew’s next steps, and a new Boeing whistleblower. Rashaad Jorden Good morning from Skift. It’s Wednesday, April 10. 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 Several major hotel CEOs took home

Skift Take A Boeing engineer alleged he saw “people jumping on pieces of the airplane” when manufacturing the 787, making it prone to defects. Meghna Maharishi An engineer at Boeing claimed the plane maker dismissed repeated concerns about the quality control of the 787 Dreamliner and 777, some of the most used widebodies in the

Skift Take Today’s podcast looks at Michelin’s new ratings, Spirit’s next steps, and Europe’s short-term rental boost. Rashaad Jorden Listen Now 🎧 Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Google Podcasts | Amazon Podcasts Episode Notes Michelin is rolling out a new hotel rating system worldwide this year. The company has already awarded 24 French hotels its highest rating, “Three Keys,” writes

Skift Take The decision to cancel a major transatlantic route launch with just a few weeks’ notice will not have been taken lightly by the airline. Gordon Smith United Airlines has scrapped plans for a new transatlantic route this summer, just weeks ahead of its maiden flight. The highly unusual decision to cancel the service

Corporations have largely maneuvered out of the workplace upheavals inflicted by the global pandemic. One issue continues to vex managers: How to handle business travel for newly remote employees. Nearly half of companies have revised policies to address travel by remote or hybrid employees, according to a January survey by the Global Business Travel Association. 

Skift Take India’s growing prominence in outbound MICE presents a significant opportunity that Dubai aims to leverage. The new recognition program targeting Indian intermediaries will definitely push agencies to promote Dubai as a preferred MICE destination. Peden Doma Bhutia Dubai Business Events, part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and the city’s official

Skift Take There have been a ton of layoffs in various areas of the short-term rental industry over the last year. Facing headwinds, companies are trimming costs and trying to position themselves to new market conditions. Dennis Schaal TravelNet Solutions laid off around 15 employees Thursday, roughly 7.5% of its 200-member workforce, a decision the

Skift Take Assembly has found customers for a new luggage brand and travel gear, while Stippl wants to expand the use of its social media app for travel planning. Justin Dawes Much of the travel industry around the world is changing rapidly. The variety of startups that raised money this week is an example of

Skift Take Sonder’s second notice of potential delisting is for a different reason than the first notice a year earlier. Neither, though, is a good look for the struggling company. Dennis Schaal Sonder disclosed in a financial filing Friday that it received a Nasdaq notice that it is not complying with the stock exchange’s listing