The number of travelers combining business and leisure trips has increased in recent years in large part due to the rise in remote work, and the boom in blended travel is expected to continue. The market could potentially be worth $731.4 billion globally by 2032. So what are trends in blended travel? We posed the question to Ask Skift 2.0, our recently upgraded answer engine. Ask Skift now reads...
Southwest Airlines announced a radical shake-up of its decades-old business model on Thursday. The low-cost carrier is transforming its boarding policy and adding premium seating in an effort to stay relevant to changing consumer preferences. Bob Jordan, President and CEO of Southwest, described the project as “a transformational change that cuts across almost all aspects of the company.” The...
With Skift Aviation Forum right around the corner on November 12 in Dallas, this is your chance to connect with aviation’s most influential leaders. The forum brings together over 300 decision-makers, analysts, and disruptors from across the aviation industry, making it an unmissable event for anyone serious about the future of air travel. Every year, 300+ professionals attend Skift Aviation...
Listen to This Conversation The world’s largest hotel company plans to juggle global growth over the next few decades with a major step forward in its sustainability efforts. Marriott International CEO Anthony Capuano announced Wednesday at Skift Global Forum a company plan to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions no later than 2050. The measure would follow criteria and recommendations of the...
Flying taxis could be in the skies above Dubai by next year. The bold claim follows the signing of a new deal between local officials and a California-based transportation company. The agreement is between Joby Aviation and Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA), which claim there could be air taxi services within the Emirate by “early 2026.” Joby thinks initial operations could even...
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. ...