Travelers are using AI to plan trips but stopping short of letting it book, hotel owners are getting squeezed while brands post record profits, and a potential United and American merger could reshape the airline industry.

On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why AI still has a trust gap at checkout, how the hotel business model is creating tension between brands and owners, and why even talk of a merger between United Airlines and American Airlines is a major signal for the future of aviation.

This episode is presented by Lodgify.

Articles: Honorable Mention: AskAConcierge
https://skift.com/2026/04/14/expedia-ai-survey-travel-discovery-booking-8-percent/
https://skift.com/2026/04/13/the-squeeze-inside-the-crisis-crushing-americas-hotel-owners/
https://skift.com/2026/04/13/united-airlines-floated-possible-merger-with-rival-american-report/

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Travelers Still Don’t Trust AI to Book Trips