Takeaways from Last Year's Skift Global Forum East

As midnight approaches, dark groups huddle on the freezing slope of one of the seven hills overlooking the soft yellow lights of the city of Edinburgh.

Junkanoo, a polychromatic burst of music, dance, storytelling, and parades practiced in the Bahamas, was recently inscribed on the 2023 UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It’s the first intangible—a practice, skill, tradition, or craft—in the island nation recognized by the international cultural organization.

The U.S. government has increasingly taken aim at junk fees, charges levied by travel service providers that are considered unnecessary or excessive and not clearly communicated to travelers.

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Skift Research produces a wide range of reports, surveys, and data tools – we published more than 50 reports in 2023, a record for us.

Virgin Atlantic will make it easier to fly between the United States and the United Kingdom next summer with added frequencies to both New York City and Boston.

Destinations worldwide have increasingly moved to lift visa requirements as part of their strategy to increase visitor numbers — visa processing delays are a major obstacle to the industry’s full recovery.

Simply saying the word “spa” can conjure memories of pleasurable massages, relaxing music, candlelit soaks, rejuvenating smells, and renewing saunas. They’re places of sanctuary that delight the senses. Giving the spa enthusiast in your life a gift from one of their favorite spas can bring them joy and excitement during the holidays and throughout the coming year. There’s something for every spa lover on this list, so read on to find a last-minute gift for most gift-giving budgets.

Dubai has completed its journey from the “dot in the desert” to a truly global city that more than 200 nationalities call home. The modern emirate is now so well-connected and cosmopolitan, that its large number of expat residents are truly “global citizens” rather than “Dubians.”

The most powerful decision-makers from across the region’s travel and tourism landscape will be attending the Skift Global Forum East over the course of three days. The event kicks off tonight (Tuesday, December 12), with an invite-only networking event at Atlantis The Royal’s panoramic Cloud 22 venue. On Wednesday and Thursday, the Diamond Ballroom of the Atlantis will set the stage for two days of thought-provoking panels and discussions with the greatest minds in the Middle East.

Hilton’s IPO on December 11, 2013 was the largest ever for a hotel company, and none has beaten it since. Here are 10 key facts and anecdotes framing why it was such a significant moment for the industry.

Delta Air Lines seemingly wasn't successful in its coast-to-coast missions from New York's most convenient airport.