Hilton accelerates its global luxury expansion, Boom Supersonic leverages AI demand to fuel its aviation timeline, and Expedia steps deeper into the experiences market with its acquisition of Tiqets.
On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down how Hilton is positioning itself for the next wave of high-end travel, why Boom’s new turbine business could speed up the return of supersonic flight, and what Expedia’s latest deal means for the future of tours, attractions, and full-trip retail.
This episode is brought to you by Amazon! To learn more, go to advertising.amazon.com
Articles Referenced:
Hilton Execs Bet on Luxury as Wealthy Travelers Fuel Global Boom
Boom CEO: Powering AI Data Centers Will Speed Path to Supersonic Flights
Expedia Agrees to Buy Experiences Platform Tiqets to Bolster Its B2B Offering
Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG
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3:49
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3:49
Record U.S. Holiday Travel, Gulf Cruises Rise, U.S. Adds Social Media Checks
U.S. holiday travel is about to break records, the Gulf positions itself as cruising’s next major hub, and America plans new digital screening requirements that could slow inbound tourism.
On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy unpacks why more than 122 million Americans are expected to travel this holiday season, how a unified GCC visa could transform cruising across the Middle East, and what mandatory social media disclosures mean for visitors from top global markets.
This episode is brought to you by Amazon! To learn more, go to advertising.amazon.com
Articles Referenced:
Alaska Airlines Leans on Hawaiian For Global Expansion
Southwest Airlines Exec Defends Changes, Says Network Is a ‘Huge Differentiator’
Marriott CFO: Year-End Softness, Sonder Lessons, and 2026 Rebound
Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG
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Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
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4:23
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4:23
Self-Driving Competes with Air, Luxury Bubble Grows, Travelers Drink Less
Skift’s 2026 Megatrends are here — and today’s Daily Briefing zooms in on three that are already reshaping traveler behavior: self-driving cars that quietly compete with planes, a luxury bubble that’s becoming the industry’s load-bearing wall, and a new wave of sober-curious travelers redefining what “vacation mode” looks like.
On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down how autonomous vehicles unlock productive travel time, why luxury demand is propping up entire sectors, and what hotels and cruise lines need to understand about guests who are drinking less — but still seeking elevated experiences.
This episode is brought to you by Amazon! To learn more, go to advertising.amazon.com
Articles Referenced:
Alaska Airlines Leans on Hawaiian For Global Expansion
Southwest Airlines Exec Defends Changes, Says Network Is a ‘Huge Differentiator’
Marriott CFO: Year-End Softness, Sonder Lessons, and 2026 Rebound
Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG
Connect with Skift
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/
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Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
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4:15
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4:15
Middle-Class Lodging Fades, Uber Trains AI with Agents, Hotels Cut Waste with AI
The middle of the U.S. lodging market collapses, Uber quietly hires travel agents to train its AI, and hotels use smart food-waste tech to cut emissions and costs.
On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy explores how America priced out the classic middle-class road trip, why Uber is building the invisible infrastructure behind trip planning, and how AI-powered kitchen tools are becoming one of the industry’s most effective sustainability strategies.
This episode is brought to you by Amazon! To learn more, go to advertising.amazon.com
Articles Referenced:
How U.S. Lodging Abandoned the Middle Class
Uber’s AI Solutions Arm Is Recruiting Travel Agents
AI Food Waste Trackers Help Hotels Avoid Tons of CO₂ Emissions
Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG
Connect with Skift
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/
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Alaska Airlines pushes into long-haul flying, Southwest reshapes its identity for a new era, and Marriott signals confidence despite a softer quarter.
On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down Alaska’s unexpected global ambitions, Southwest’s transition from quirky challenger to convenience-first carrier, and Marriott’s outlook as it prepares for a stronger 2026 boosted by international demand, luxury travel, and major global events.
This episode is brought to you by Amazon! To learn more, go to advertising.amazon.com
Articles Referenced:
Alaska Airlines Leans on Hawaiian For Global Expansion
Southwest Airlines Exec Defends Changes, Says Network Is a ‘Huge Differentiator’
Marriott CFO: Year-End Softness, Sonder Lessons, and 2026 Rebound
Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG
Connect with Skift
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/
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X: https://twitter.com/skift
Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
Everything you need to know about the business of travel today. Each episode covers new travel stories from Skift's editorial team. Listen to the latest developments at hotels, airlines, destinations, online booking sites, and more.
Published Tuesday through Friday by 5am ET.
For ongoing coverage, please visit Skift.com/news.