TikTok Chips Away at Google's Dominance in Travel Discovery

First, let’s get this out of the way: I am a New Yorker who can drive.

On a hot sunny day this summer, San Antonio became the seventh US city–and the first in Texas–to team up with Google Arts and Culture, launching a global platform dedicated to sharing the city’s rich history, elevated gastronomy and vibrant arts and culture with the world.

Delta Air Lines just made a change that many frequent travelers will undoubtedly appreciate.

Passengers on a flight from the UK to an island in Greece said they were left in a "boiling" hot plane on the ground in Athens for hours with "babies crying" after there wasn't room for their flight to land and it was diverted more than 300 miles away, the Manchester Evening News reported.

Google Flights has introduced a new feature to help travelers answer the perennial question: “Should I buy my flights now or wait and hope the price decreases?” The tech company has long offered users insight into whether the airfares they’re looking at are low, typical, or high compared with historical price averages for that particular route. Now, Google is offering users data on what time frames have traditionally been the cheapest for the route they’re searching so travelers can make more informed decisions about their booking.

Google Flights is one of the most valuable platforms for comparing flight prices to save money. The flight price aggregator is expanding its research capabilities to pinpoint the best time to find cheap tickets to popular destinations. Now, several tools are at your disposal to get the best airline itinerary prices.

The incongruous sight of tourists enjoying Maui's tropical beaches while search-and-rescue teams trawl building ruins for victims has outraged some residents.

Move over Eiffel Tower, France has a new world famous tourist attraction.

In our weekend roundup, we delve into the pros and cons of Google’s latest foray into the tours and activities industry, providing insights into how online travel agencies might stand to benefit. We also catch up with IHG’s new CEO Elie Maalouf and his ambitious plans for the brand’s future. From AI’s influence on the travel sector to the latest controversies in short-term rentals, keep reading for a comprehensive look at the most pressing issues in today’s travel landscape.

The U.S. Travel Association has launched a website to highlight the negative impact of long visitor visa interview wait times—which now exceed an average of 400 days—is having on global travelers and U.S. businesses. Called USVisaDelays.com, the website lists stories of those affected, loss in industry spending, visitor wait times, impacted markets and a policy fact sheet. 

Americans want savvy pricing regarding their travel experiences in the new year, as they keep an open mind about the type of things they plan to book. 

Good morning from Skift. It’s Thursday, January 26. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.