The proposed $3.9 billion Wynn Al Marjan has caused a development frenzy in Ras Al Khaimah, the once-quiet man-made island– located about 70 minutes drive from Dubai International Airport. Just about every major hotel operator has a project underway, and as Bloomberg reported last month, developers have snapped up every available plot. Much of the excitement stems from hopes for gaming –...
Sonder, the San Francisco-based startup that operates hotels and leases apartment buildings for short-term rentals, made its stock market debut Wednesday in a special purpose acquisition company merger, and saw its share price drop about 8 percent. The Nasdaq, where Sonder trades, was slightly down, 1.6 percent for the day. Founded in 2014 by Francis Davidson, Lucas Pellan, and Martin Picard...
Hotels Q&A: Accor’s Maud Bailly On How Sofitel Is Redefining Luxury Hospitality There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to luxury hospitality, but Accor believes it’s up to major brands in the space to push the envelope. After a major rebranding, Sofitel has taken up the mantle of redefining luxury by investing heavily in team training, taking a stand for sustainability, and more. Accor Group...
IAG, the parent company of British Airways and Iberia, announced Thursday that it was terminating its proposed takeover of Air Europa. The company had offered concessions to European Union regulators in June after they warned that the acquisition could be anticompetitive. Some of these concessions included ceding 52% of Air Europa’s flights to its rivals. Air Europa is the third-largest carrier...
The shift from desktop to mobile created new winners in various industries. Will the current innovations around artificial intelligence do the same? That’s unlikely, according to Spencer Rascoff, co-founder of Zillow and CEO of 75 & Sunny Ventures. Rascoff discussed the impact of AI on the travel industry in a conversation with Skift Editor-in-Chief Sarah Kopit at the Skift Global Forum...
Israeli-based tour guides are facing a wave of cancellations as the country unites in response to the fatal missile attacks on Saturday. As of Monday, more than 1,000 people had lost their lives. Intrepid Travel has canceled tours to Israel and the Palestinian Territories until 31 October. The Travel Corporation also confirmed all its October departures had been canceled as of Saturday, noting it...
Hotel chains are quietly developing plans to bypass traditional booking intermediaries, aiming to increase direct bookings from corporations and businesses. Why it matters: This move could disrupt how business travel is sold today, potentially squeezing out traditional travel management companies and online travel agencies. Why hotels are pushing for change: Some hotel executives believe they can...
Gibraltar, the longtime UK territory at the southern tip of Spain known famously for its tourist hot spot The Rock, could be joining by year’s end the European Union’s Schengen region, a change in border restriction that could boost future tourism prospects. A new treaty that is close to being negotiated would allow Gibraltar to join Schengen, made up of 26 European countries that have abolished...
Business Travel
The State of Corporate Travel and Expense 2025
A new report explores how for travel and finance managers are targeting enhanced ROI, new opportunities, greater efficiencies, time and money savings, and better experiences for employees with innovative travel and expense management solutions.
Navan + Skift | 20 hours ago
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Megatrends, our annual forecast of the top travel industry trends, is back for another highly-anticipated program in New York City, London, and online next month. Last year, we welcomed approximately 500 attendees to New York City and London, and heard from top travel executives from companies like GetYourGuide, Marriott International, Expedia Group, and more while we explored the following...