Travel Is Being Stress-Tested. Asia Is Where It’s Adapting Fastest
Geopolitical tensions and Middle East airspace closures are forcing Asian airlines to redesign networks on a daily basis, balancing frequency against rising fuel costs. Regional routes and secondary cities are absorbing displaced long‑haul traffic, while travelers favor fewer, higher‑value trips. AI‑driven discovery platforms and coordinated policy shifts are consolidating distribution power, making speed and precision essential. The Skift Asia Forum will convene industry leaders to share strategies for navigating this volatile environment.
Iran Warns Tourist Sites Could Be Targets Worldwide
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...
Is Marriott Preparing a New Brand? What Its Global Trademark Filings Reveal
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...
Prices of Greener Jet Fuel Rise With Oil Shock, Leaving Airlines Exposed
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...
What OTA Investors Got Wrong About the ChatGPT Checkout Walkback
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 Broke More Than the Middle East
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 Board Chair Greg Maffei to Step Down With Activist Investor in the Wings
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. Travel Breaks 9-Month Losing Streak — But Just Barely
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...
GMH Hotels: Hyatt’s Midscale Push, Delta Demand & Plane Drama
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 and Marriott Pitch Ad Strategies to Target Travelers on Plane and Hotel 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 Lessons Travel Buried After Covid Are Resurfacing in the Middle East
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...
In a Crisis, Travel Companies Count on Humans — Not AI
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 Sees Q4 ‘Uplift’ for UAE Bookings After ‘Major Cancelations’
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...
No Refunds, Long Waits, Canceled Rebookings: Travelers Face Airline Policy Chaos
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...
Who Will Attend Skift India Intelligence Summit — and How It Works
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...
Inside MSC Cruises’ Partnership with ORCA to Strengthen Marine Research
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,...
Oil Hit $100. What Happens to Travel Now?
Oil briefly breached $100 per barrel, pushing jet fuel prices to $3.40‑$3.70 a gallon. Analysts estimate the U.S. airline sector faces an extra $20‑$24 billion fuel bill, potentially $90‑$100 billion globally if prices stay high. At the same time, a new Skift...
Marriott Sees Middle East Travel Dip, Expands AI Tools
Marriott International reported a dip in Middle East travel demand as the Iran war curtails bookings, though the impact is confined to roughly 4% of its global room inventory and development pipeline. CEO Anthony Capuano emphasized that European and other...
New Research: Why All-Inclusive Travel Is Having a Moment
New Skift research, commissioned by Hyatt Inclusive Collection, shows all‑inclusive vacations are gaining broad appeal. 87% of U.S. and Canadian consumers have stayed at or considered an all‑inclusive resort, with 84% of prior guests likely to return. Younger travelers drive...
Hyatt CFO on Global Shocks: Wealthy Travelers Aren’t Canceling Trips
Hyatt CFO Joan Bottarini told investors that the company’s wealthiest guests are rerouting rather than canceling trips amid geopolitical shocks in the Middle East and Mexico. Occupancy fell in the Middle East, but the region represents less than 5% of...
U.S. Citizen Stuck in Qatar Hopes for a Repatriation Flight While Scheduled Service Is Cancelled
U.S. citizens stranded in Qatar face erratic flight cancellations as missile‑driven airspace closures halt regular commercial services. The State Department is orchestrating chartered repatriation flights, using the STEP enrollment to prioritize vulnerable travelers. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has tapped...
How Montreal Quietly Became the World’s Second Most Important Travel Tech Hub
Montreal has emerged as the world’s second‑largest travel‑tech hub, trailing only the San Francisco Bay Area. The city’s firms specialize in B2B infrastructure—payment rails, affiliate routing, compliance APIs, and virtual‑interlining algorithms—rather than consumer‑facing apps. A combination of deep aviation heritage, AI...
Hilton CEO Calls Out Slide in U.S. Tourism but Sees Economic Boost Ahead
Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta warned that the United States’ share of global inbound tourism has halved over the past three decades, falling from roughly 10% to 5%. He attributed the recent dip to short‑term geopolitical shocks, notably the Iran‑Middle East...
IHG To Review Climate Target After Emissions Rise In 2025
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) reported a 7.7% rise in total CO₂ emissions between 2019 and 2025, pushing the company off track for its 2030 science‑based target. While per‑room emissions have fallen thanks to LED lighting and renewable‑energy programs, rapid hotel‑network...
Airbnb Appoints Former Uber Safety Exec as Global Head of Operations
Airbnb has hired former Uber safety chief Gus Fuldner as its new global head of operations, succeeding retiring executive Tara Bunch. Fuldner, who oversaw Uber’s safety and core services, starts on March 16 as Airbnb expands beyond home rentals into...
Indian Airlines Report $576 Million Losses, Despite Growth In Demand
Indian airlines posted a loss of INR 53 billion ($576 million) in FY 2024‑25, nearly five times the loss recorded a year earlier. The loss came despite a 7.7% rise in domestic passenger traffic, as soaring fuel prices, exchange‑rate swings and high operating...
Iran War Is Costing Small Airlines $200,000 Daily, Insurer Estimates
The ongoing Iran war is forcing small airlines to absorb daily losses of $100,000‑$200,000 per aircraft as operational disruptions remain largely uninsurable. Insurers are closely tracking the situation but have not yet raised premiums, opting to revisit risk exposures and...
Airbnb Faces World Cup Shortfall in NYC — New Jersey Is Dominating
Airbnb’s ability to meet World Cup lodging demand in New York City is hampered by the city’s strict short‑term rental bans, driving visitors to seek accommodations across the Hudson River. In New Jersey, short‑term rental occupancy surged 169% on the...
Accor Exec Warns AI Could Weaken Hotels’ ‘Human Connection’
Accor’s European and North‑Africa CEO Karelle Lamouche warned that while artificial intelligence drives pricing, personalization and marketing efficiencies, an over‑reliance could erode the human connection that defines hospitality. She highlighted risks such as disintermediation, commoditisation and loss of brand differentiation if...
Former Sabre Hotel Unit Lays Groundwork for AI Distribution — Exclusive
Aven Hospitality, the former Sabre hotel‑tech unit now owned by TPG, is integrating the Model Context Protocol (MCP) into its SynXis central reservation system. The protocol lets AI agents pull real‑time inventory, pricing and distribution controls from more than 35,000...
Bilt Taps Luxury Hotels to Build Marketplace for Top Spenders
Bilt has launched Bilt Verified, a marketplace that links Forbes‑rated luxury hotels with its high‑spending members. The program offers exclusive perks such as a $100 hotel credit, complimentary breakfast, flexible check‑in/out and room upgrades, while leveraging AI‑driven personalization and deep...
Vrbo Guests Can Pay Fees to Get Refunds When Rain Ruins a Stay
Vrbo has teamed with WeatherPromise to sell a weather‑guarantee add‑on that automatically refunds guests when rain exceeds predefined thresholds during their stay. The coverage price varies dynamically between 3 % and 8 % of the total trip cost, reflecting destination, dates and...
Airbnb Lets Asia Pacific Guests Book Without Paying Upfront: Here’s How It Works
Airbnb has rolled out a Reserve Now, Pay Later option across most Asia‑Pacific markets, letting guests secure eligible homes without an upfront card payment. The feature applies to listings with flexible or moderate cancellation policies and charges guests just before...
Booking CEO Touts Ties With Independent Hotels as Agentic AI and Airbnb Seek Gains
Booking Holdings CEO Glenn Fogel emphasized the platform’s deep ties with independent hotels, which supply the bulk of its room nights, as the company confronts rising pressure from AI‑driven travel agents and Airbnb’s expansion into the boutique‑hotel segment. He announced...
Wyndham Takes $160 Million Hit After European Franchisee Files for Insolvency
Wyndham Hotels disclosed a $160 million charge after its largest European franchisee, Revo Hospitality Group, entered self‑administration in January. The charge covers uncollectible receivables, asset impairments and a write‑down of the Vienna House trademark acquired in 2022. Despite the setback, the...
How Indian Travel Tech Bought Its Way Into the West’s Backyard
Indian travel‑tech firms have spent nearly $1 billion on acquisitions across the U.S., Europe and the Middle East since late 2024, marking a rapid global expansion. Leading players such as Prism (formerly Oyo), RateGain, TBO Tek and Ixigo are buying B2B infrastructure, OTA...
Airbnb Tests Loyalty Benefits. Chesky Says Program ‘Could Be a Massive Accelerant’
Airbnb has begun testing a suite of loyalty‑program benefits that avoid traditional points structures, signaling a strategic shift toward more personalized guest incentives. The company previously explored a “Superguest” program but never launched it, and now it is evaluating models...