Skift – Technology - Latest News and Information
An Iranian military official warned that tourist sites worldwide could become targets amid escalating tensions with the United States and Israel. The statement has heightened concerns about the safety of global travel destinations. Simultaneously, the U.S. Travel Association highlighted vulnerabilities in travel security, noting that TSA officers are working without pay during a partial government shutdown. Industry leaders are urging the government to fund TSA staff to preserve security and traveler confidence.
Marriott has filed worldwide trademarks and secured web domains for a prospective brand called “Matter Hotels by Marriott.” The filings, spanning the U.S., Europe, and Latin America, cover hotel, spa, dining and entertainment services, indicating a full‑service concept. Executives have...
Oil‑supply disruptions in the Middle East have pushed both conventional jet fuel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) prices higher, narrowing the premium that SAF traditionally commanded. In March, SAF in Western Europe traded around $2,500 per metric ton, down from...
OpenAI’s decision to withdraw direct booking capabilities from ChatGPT calmed OTA investors, sparking a short‑term rally in Expedia and Booking Holdings shares. However, the deeper narrative is the migration of travel discovery to AI tools, where travelers now rely on...
The Iran war has rippled through the global travel ecosystem, breaking airline networks and exposing fragile post‑COVID fixes. AI‑driven customer‑service tools proved inadequate when travelers needed urgent, human assistance. A concurrent U.S. partial government shutdown left TSA staff working without...
Tripadvisor’s board chair Greg Maffei and director Albert Rosenthaler will step down in June, ending a decade‑long tenure for Maffei. Their resignations coincide with activist investor Starboard Value acquiring a 9% stake and signaling intent to nominate its own directors....
U.S. inbound tourism ended a nine‑month decline in February, posting a modest 0.8% rise to 2.2 million international arrivals. The rebound was powered primarily by Asian markets, with China’s arrivals jumping 35.8% year‑over‑year. In contrast, visitor numbers from Western Europe, Africa...
Hyatt is accelerating its entry into the mid‑scale segment with new brands such as Hyatt Select, Hyatt Studios and Unscripted, aiming to close the gap with Marriott and Hilton in smaller markets. United Airlines and Marriott are turning seat‑back screens...
United Airlines and Marriott are urging advertisers to shift spend toward in‑flight and in‑room screens, arguing that travelers are most receptive while en route or staying at a destination. Both companies have built proprietary platforms—United’s Kinective Media and Marriott Media—that...
The Middle East airspace shutdown last week canceled more than 49,000 of 92,000 scheduled flights, forcing Dubai International to run at a fraction of its usual capacity. Governments scrambled to charter evacuation flights while travelers were stranded across continents. Airline...
Travel firms invested heavily in AI‑driven customer service after COVID, but the February 28 Middle East airspace crisis exposed a stark gap between promises and reality. Over 43,000 flights were cancelled, forcing millions of passengers into long queues with human...
Minor International, operator of 18 UAE hotels, suffered major booking cancellations after the Iran war but reports a slight uplift in fourth‑quarter reservations as travelers rebook. The company is redirecting marketing toward more resilient source markets such as Russia, India...
Airlines in the Middle East and Asia are grappling with a surge of flight cancellations caused by the Iran war, leading to widespread confusion over refunds and rebookings. Carriers have adopted divergent waiver policies—some, like Emirates and Qatar Airways, issuing...
The Skift India Intelligence Summit will convene about 100 senior travel executives in Delhi on March 26 to dissect the forces reshaping India’s travel economy. Attendees will explore the country’s record outbound travel, a domestic hotel occupancy near 70 % with ADR...
MSC Cruises is launching its inaugural Alaska season in summer 2026 with a science‑led partnership with marine‑conservation group ORCA. A dedicated Marine Mammal Observer will be stationed on the upgraded MSC Poesia to identify whales in real time, guide navigation,...
