War in Ukraine appears to have finally made an impact on European hotel revenue. European hotel performance was 27 percent off 2019 levels last week compared to a 13 percent decline the week prior, according to STR data. The 13 percent decline was an improvement from three weeks ago, and analysts at the time were unsure why hotel performance was improving during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The...
If you think the most energetic vibe in hotel development is mainly in upscale and luxury properties, think again. Hotel groups like Marriott, Hilton, and IHG see some of their brightest long-term possibilities in the mid-market. They’re keen to develop brands that serve budget-minded, middle-class guests with limited services but a consistent delivery of essentials. Exhibit A is Four...
If there’s a slowdown in travel, Viking’s CEO doesn’t see it. Torstein Hagen said Thursday that bookings on his luxury cruise ships and river cruise lines look strong through next year. “We haven’t seen anything that gives us an impulse for [concern] for 2025,” said Hagen during an earnings call for Viking Holdings. “As a matter of fact, July was an...
We are excited to announce the third annual Skift Global Forum East, returning to the dynamic city of Dubai on November 19-20 hosted by Dubai. Following the tremendous success of the previous Forums, this event will gather top CEOs and innovative leaders in the travel industry from the Middle East and around the globe. Over these two days, we will delve into the latest innovations in marketing...
JetBlue and Spirit said Friday they are planning to appeal a judge’s ruling that blocked their proposed merger. In the ruling, Judge William Young wrote a merger between the two airlines would lead to less competition in the industry, since Spirit is the largest ultra-low-cost carrier in the U.S. It was the first time an airline merger had been blocked in the U.S. in nearly 20 years. ...
Skift highlighted 15 Hotel Designers to Watch Now last week. While helping to put that list together, I noticed that innovation isn’t as widespread as it could be. To learn more, I spoke with John Hardy, chairman and founder of The Hardy Group. Hardy’s Atlanta, Georgia-based company is a full-service development company for hotel investors and brands. Over three decades, the group has...
After pausing the acceptance of host signups for new experiences for around a year-and-a half, Airbnb has deleted subpar experience listings, and re-opened the application process. “We’re delighted to be once again reopening submissions for new experiences,” a spokesperson told Skift Wednesday. “Our aim is to provide guests with a diverse, unique selection of experiences that...
The third annual Skift Global Forum East will bring several travel executives to Dubai this week to discuss the state of the industry in the region. What are the major trends in the Middle East’s travel industry? We asked our answer engine Ask Skift 2.0 that question. The AI chatbot used information that’s appeared in our past news coverage, and we also did additional reporting on the...
Tourism Australia is betting big on Indian tourists and is ramping up its efforts to attract them. The tourism board of Australia recently visited India along with a delegation of 15 CEOs from the Australian tourism industry. Appealing to Indians’ love for cricket, Tourism Australia launched a social media video campaign starring cricketer David Warner. In the four-part series, Warner showcases...
Contiki, a travel company focused on young adults, is eyeing expansion in Asia, Latin America, and Africa as it adapts to the post-pandemic travel landscape. CEO Adam Armstrong said in a Skift interview that Contiki has a strong presence in Australia, New Zealand, and Europe and sees the potential to double or triple its business in these new markets. Increased demand from Australians and...