Loyalty tips

Global Hotel Alliance, which runs a shared loyalty program for about 40 independent hotel brands, reported robust growth in the third quarter, with double-digit gains in performance across key measures.

Hyatt Hotels and American Airlines announced on Wednesday significant upcoming changes to a collaboration between their loyalty programs.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Thursday, October 10, 2024, and here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today. 

Marriott International president and CEO Anthony Capuano spoke at the Skift Global Forum in New York City about the hotel giant’s strategic growth, including its expansion beyond traditional hotel offerings into areas like luxury yachts and tented lodges.

Two of this year’s 10 biggest startup fundraises so far happened in the past two weeks. 

Indian online travel agency EaseMyTrip has partnered with Bank of Baroda to introduce the first co-branded travel debit card by a public sector bank in India. This is the latest in the trend of new travel cards in India. 

JetBlue will open its first airport lounge next year as part of a major premium drive. New York and Boston will be the first locations for the high-end facilities. The site at JFK Terminal 5 is due to open in late 2025, with Boston Logan’s Terminal C following soon after. 

Good morning from Skift. It’s Friday, September 6, 2024, and here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

Ariane Gorin, who took the reins as Expedia Group CEO in May, is trying to make the company more global. Gorin, who’s been a member of the Expedia Group senior leadership committee since 2015 and previously headed Expedia for Business, is well-positioned for the international challenge.

The travel booking landscape is rapidly transforming, with direct bookings on the rise and reshaping the competition. What’s driving this shift? Skift Research explores these pivotal changes in our new report: “Direct Bookings vs. OTAs: Analyzing the Shift in U.S. Travel Booking Trends.”

On September 1, SAS Scandinavian Airlines left Star Alliance and joined SkyTeam. The change came just days after Air France-KLM formalized its 19.9% shareholding in the Nordic carrier. With the Franco-Dutch group a cornerstone of SkyTeam, it was incomprehensible that SAS would remain with Star.

United Airlines raised concerns to the Department of Transportation about how an Alaska-Hawaiian merger could impact its relationship with Hawaiian Airlines. 

The Air France-KLM Group has officially become a shareholder in SAS Scandinavian Airlines. The agreement marks the conclusion of one of the year’s biggest airline deals and heralds the latest phase of consolidation in the European airline industry.

As earnings season draws to a close, we’re taking a closer look at the most lucrative arm of many major U.S. airlines: loyalty programs.

The world’s largest hotel groups have made great strides in signing up guests for their loyalty programs in the past several years, and Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt, and IHG have enjoyed some of the greatest gains.

IndiGo, India’s largest airline, will be introducing a business class on the high-demand Delhi-Mumbai route. This is a strategic move by the airline to meet the growing demand for luxury and premium travel.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Wednesday, August 21, 2024, and here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

Marriott and Sonder are teaming up in a 20-year licensing deal that lets members of Marriott’s loyalty program earn points at Sonder’s roughly 200 properties—about half of which are apartments. The deal is the latest in a string of similar licensing tie-ups led by Marriott, Hilton, IHG, and Hyatt.

Marriott International and Sonder Holdings said Monday they had signed a 20-year strategic licensing deal. The deal will expand the portfolio of places where members of the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program can earn and redeem points.

Expedia Group is “pausing” the rollout of its new One Key loyalty program beyond the U.S. and the UK in part because of the adverse impact on its Hotels.com brand.

Former American Airlines chief commercial officer Vasu Raja said he believes the future of the airline industry lies in loyalty programs and long-haul premium travel.