The Senate’s No. 2 Democrat asked the CEOs of United Airlines and American Airlines to answer questions on rising passenger complaints and higher ticket prices and fees.
22.09.2023 - 18:21 / skift.com / Rashaad Jorden / Sean Oneill / Fred Dixon
Good morning from Skift. It’s Friday, September 22. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.
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Hilton told hotel owners on Thursday it would move quickly to disclose mandatory fees upfront on all of its platforms, according to information Skift obtained, reports Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill.
O’Neill writes that Hilton’s support of fee transparency comes after it received legal pressure earlier this year. Texas’ Attorney General sued Hilton in May, alleging the company had a pattern of not disclosing the total price consumers would have to pay for a room upon booking. O’Neill adds a change in Hilton’s policy should help put an end to the lawsuit.
Hilton follows in the footsteps of Marriott and Hilton, both of which now display mandatory resort fees upfront on their websites and apps.
Next, U.S. tourism executives who recently visited China for the first time in four years said there’s growing demand there for travel to the U.S., writes Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam.
Habtemariam reports that representatives from NYC Tourism + Conventions and Visit California have traveled to China in the past two months. Those trips came as the U.S. and China have taken steps to improve their tourism ties. China lifted in August its Covid-era restrictions on group tours to the U.S. In addition, both Beijing and Washington have agreed to double weekly flights between the two countries.
NYC Tourism + Conventions CEO Fred Dixon said he’s seen inquiries about trips to the city increase since group tour restriction was lifted. Meanwhile, Visit California CEO Caroline Beteta noted that even China’s high youth unemployment rate hasn’t stunted pent-up demand for international travel. However, she added that Chinese looking to travel to the U.S. face long waits for visitor visas.
Finally, Moroccan tourism managers said business is returning as the country recovers from an earthquake that decimated the country earlier this month. They expect a big boost from next month’s annual meeting of the World Bank Group, writes Middle East Reporter Josh Corder.
While hotel bookings decreased immediately after the earthquake, Corder reports they’ve increased for October and beyond the country’s tourism hubs. Corder cites the Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech as one hotel expecting a boom in business from the World Bank Group meeting. General Manager Jean-Francois Brun anticipates being fully booked for the event.
Corder also cited the Mandarin Oriental as another Moroccan hotel optimistic about the future. Its general manager Alain-Thomas Briere said the World Bank Group meeting is sending a message to the world that
The Senate’s No. 2 Democrat asked the CEOs of United Airlines and American Airlines to answer questions on rising passenger complaints and higher ticket prices and fees.
In less than a year, Hilton has gone from announcing its push into the economy segment of hotel chains to opening the first hotel.
A new trends report by Hilton predicts that the main driver for travelers of all generations to enjoy leisure trips in 2024 will be a desire to rest and relax.
In the evolving landscape of post-Covid travel, Hilton has cast its spotlight on a new demographic, the “GenerAsian Traveler.” Hilton says this group is driven by a strong desire for self-discovery and a deep interest in exploring their cultural and ancestral roots through travel.
If hotel companies behaved like high school cliques, Hilton would definitely be a forward-thinking tech nerd.
According to a recent global survey conducted by Hilton and Ipsos, travelers say they will reduce other areas of personal spending to prioritize leisure travel in 2024, with a majority across generations indicating their No. 1 reason to travel in 2024 will be to rest and recharge, with more emphasis on sleep than ever before. Those insights and more were unveiled today with the launch of Hilton’s third-annual trends report: “What Millennials, Gen Z, Gen X and Baby Boomers Tell Us About Travel in the Year Ahead.” In addition to defining the preferences and passions of the 2024 traveler, the report takes a deeper look at how each generation views travel – from the digital-native Gen Zer to the experienced Baby Boomer.
You might be looking to redeem Hilton Honors points for an unforgettable stay at one of the best Hilton hotels in the world or one of the best Hilton hotels on the beach.
Hilton on Thursday released its annual whitepaper on consumer travel trends. (Find it here.) The hotel giant is typically quite savvy about how it uses such reports to garner “earned media” coverage for its brands.
Christopher Nassetta, president and CEO of the hotel giant Hilton Worldwide, last week highlighted his company’s move to display mandatory fees, such as resort fees, upfront when a consumer first searches on the group’s website and app.
So-called junk fees have been in the forefront of many travel executives’ minds, especially after the Biden administration took aim at charges travelers increasingly see as unnecessary and excessive.
With major hotel companies announcing new brands left and right, it's hard to keep up with all of them. But of all the announcements coming out in the last few years, few have been as exciting as Hilton's new Tempo by Hilton, designed to cater to "active, ambitious travelers."
Carry-on baggage fees could soon be a thing of the past as the EU looks to simplify ticket pricing for air travel.