Delta’s Used Boeing 737 and Other Top Stories This Week

Here are the top stories from the Daily Lodging Report newsletter in the past week. Get news on hotel deals, development, stocks, and career moves. Sign up here now.

Can hotels exert more influence in policy-making? Where will future development growth come from? Is generative AI relevant to the hotel sector? These and other subjects will be top of mind for us as we interview top bosses at Hilton, Hyatt, Accor, and other hotel leaders on-stage at the Skift Global Forum in New York on September 26-28.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Wednesday, November 16. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

Highgate Signs Deal to Buy Viceroy Hotels: Viceroy may be able to accelerate its growth and brand awareness given Highgate’s scale and track record. Of course, that is if Highgate can execute well after the deal closes.

How Latin America Is the Future of the Airline Industry: No part of the world is seeing as many big changes to the airline business as Latin America. The final shape is still opaque, but one thing is clear for the region’s aviation industry: All eyes are watching closely for how this transformation unfolds.

Airbnb Posts Best Quarter Yet on Relentless Travel Demand: Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky says his company can thrive in boom and bust cycles if it keeps innovating. To meet that promise, his company will have to boost its pricing competitiveness and makes it easier for individuals to list properties. And make the case to Wall Street on unfair comparisons to 2021.

Airbnb Mulls Removing Cleaning Fees as a Separate Charge: Hosts may be sabotaging their own bookings by levying excessively high cleaning fees. It is turning off many people to Airbnb, which is a concern for the company.

United Airlines, Alcohol Wipes and Finding New Customer Touch Points: Some passengers want to talk to people. Some do not. United Airlines wants make sure they all have a choice.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Monday, December 12. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

Expedia and Booking Rebuild for Post-Pandemic Landscape: New Skift Research: Travel is back in full swing and Expedia Group and Booking Holdings are now fully recovered versus the pandemic. But under the hood, big changes are underway as these two booking sites revamp their strategies for the future.

The Biggest Innovators in Travel and Hospitality: 2022 Year-End Edition We’re back with another installment of inspiration in hotels and hospitality. Female-led luxury seemed to be a common theme this year, alongside those maintaining standards, leading teams, and executing on subtle touches for the people who notice. Here are a few brands, ideas, and services that deserved a hat tip in 2022.

Southwest’s Meltdown Should Be a Technology Warning for Airlines: Instead of heeding employee concerns, Southwest focused primarily on tech for customers, leading to a worst-case example of what can happen when modernizing operations is not a priority. May other airlines learn from Southwest’s mistake.