Another wave of hotel strikes unfurled in two major New England cities Tuesday, while one in Southern California continues to grip a Hilton-affiliated property.
10.09.2024 - 09:21 / skift.com / Pete Buttigieg / Thomas Cook / Mark Hoplamazian / Rashaad Jorden / Sean Oneill
Good morning from Skift. It’s Friday, September 6, 2024, and here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.
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The Department of Transportation officially launched a probe on Thursday into whether the loyalty programs of the four largest U.S. airlines are engaging in deceptive or noncompetitive practices, writes Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg sent a letter to American, Delta, United and Southwest requesting that they provide records about their loyalty programs. The department said its probe would focus on how frequent flyer programs are impacted by extra fees and hidden pricing as well as reduced competition and choice.
The Transportation Department first announced last November it would investigate the fairness of loyalty programs.
Next, Poland-based online travel agency group eSky is buying tour operator Thomas Cook for roughly $40 million. Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill provides takeaways from the deal.
O’Neill notes eSky’s acquisition is part of its strategy to expand its package holiday business in Western Europe. ESky expects the deal to increase package sales by over $255 million next year. However, O’Neill adds eSky faces challenges in reviving a tarnished brand as Thomas Cook went bankrupt in 2019.
Finally, Hyatt wants to own fewer properties, and executives say they have reached a goal of $2 billion in gross proceeds from selling real estate, writes Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill.
CEO Mark Hoplamazian said at a conference on Thursday that Hyatt will continue to selectively buy, renovate and sell properties to increase its brand portfolio. Since 2017, Hyatt has generated $5.6 billion in gross proceeds from asset sales. The company is also looking to make deals like its recent acquisition of hotel booking site Mr & Mrs Smith, which quickly added 700 hotels to Hyatt’s loyalty program and caters to Hyatt’s high-end clientele.
Another wave of hotel strikes unfurled in two major New England cities Tuesday, while one in Southern California continues to grip a Hilton-affiliated property.
Plan an escape to Europe or beyond starting at less than $500 thanks to this KLM Royal Dutch Airlines fall and winter sale.
Amid reports of increasing demand for travel for the upcoming festive season, Skift reached out to travel services companies to understand the trends in festive season travel.
One of the nation’s biggest airports is about to get a boost from the United States government.
The latest data from Viator, an online travel agency for travel experiences, offers a window into evolving travel habits.
Growing up in Singapore, I thought I'd seen most of my country — a city-state just slightly smaller than the size of New York City.
Finnair is offering huge discounts on flights to popular Scandinavian destinations through next spring, and round-trip tickets are bookable for less than $500.
The Department of Transportation officially launched an inquiry Thursday into whether the loyalty programs of the four largest U.S. airlines have engaged in unfair, deceptive or noncompetitive practices.
The Transportation Department announced on Thursday that it was investigating the rewards programs of the country’s four biggest airlines, part of the agency’s continuing efforts to bolster protections for air travelers.
Fosun is offloading Thomas Cook to eSky, a Poland-based online travel agency group, for up to $39.5 million (£30 million). The deal excludes Thomas Cook’s China business.
American Airlines is adding five new routes to Europe for summer 2025 out of its hubs in Charlotte, Philadelphia, Miami, and Chicago.
On August 16, Marriott International opened its 9,000th property, with the debut of The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort in Florida. Meanwhile, Hilton Worldwide said Friday it had opened its 8,000th property.