Two of this year’s 10 biggest startup fundraises so far happened in the past two weeks. Between $200 million in venture capital and other financing, the alternative jet fuel company Twelve completed one of the largest rounds ever for its sector. And Engine, a business travel platform, raised $140 million in a sector that’s seeing fast growth worldwide. Skift has now reported on 16 travel...
On March 28, Skift Future of Lodging Forum attendees are invited to an opening reception packed full of excitement and networking. Our exclusive party is taking place from 6-8 p.m. at the modern and dynamic Google UK located in Central Saint Giles, and is the perfect way to kick-off your leading hospitality-focused conference experience. We’ll provide the cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, you bring...
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IHG has opened its first net zero hotel, which it says is the first of its kind in Western Europe. Located near the airport in Exeter, UK, Voco Zeal Exeter Science Park has 142 rooms and runs entirely on renewable energy. While IHG owns the brand, the hotel itself is owned by Zeal Hotels, a hotel development company. Tim Wheeldon, managing director at Zeal, said building a net zero hotel takes...
Hilton on Monday released the latest edition of its annual consumer survey. While the project was aimed at consumer media outlets, the report also highlighted some key trends for industry insiders. Hilton’s 2025 Trends Report, based on an Ipsos survey of 13,000 adults across 13 countries, includes touchstones for travel marketers looking to align campaigns with emerging traveler preferences...
Soho House’s share price closed Friday up 3%, with investors modestly liking what the membership club operator had to say about its recent performance. “It’s been a solid start to 2024 … with strong demand in membership and high growth in membership revenues,” said CEO and director Andrew Carnie during an earnings call. The cheer sharply contrasted with February...
Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) — the company belonging to Asia’s richest man Mukesh Ambani — is set to foray into the hospitality industry under its new arm Reliance SOU, engaging in hotels, resorts, and service apartments that will provide short-term lodging facilities. According to the details available with the registrar of companies, the company is planning to develop hotels and resorts...
Hyatt Hotels is joining forces with Spanish tourism group Grupo Piñero in a 50-50 joint venture that will add 23 resorts to Hyatt’s all-inclusive portfolio, the companies said Monday. The deal is expected to close in the coming months, subject to the usual conditions. No financial terms were disclosed. At a later date, Hyatt will begin managing Grupo Piñero’s Bahia Principe Hotels...
Online Travel This Week Very quietly over the last year-and-a-half, Amazon has been scaling up its Amazon Ads business to target the travel and hospitality sector. Brands including Avis and Disney, as well as destination management organizations, including TravelTexas.com, are among the travel and hospitality organizations that Amazon Ads touts in case studies or other marketing materials for its...
The third edition of Skift Global Forum East begins in Dubai tomorrow evening. As Skift’s work in the region becomes more extensive with every passing year, I wanted to write out my observations on the main challenges I see the region’s industry has to overcome. As an Indian-American living in New York, my ties to the Middle East and the larger MENA region run deep. My parents once called this...