Podcast
Skift Daily Briefing
Hosted by Skift · EN
Everything you need to know about the business of travel today. Each episode covers new travel stories from Skift's editorial team. Listen to the latest developments at hotels, airlines, destinations, online booking sites, and more.
Published Tuesday through Friday by 5am ET.
For ongoing coverage, please visit Skift.com/news.
93episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Travelers Are Waiting Longer to Book And It’s Changing Everything
Mar 2600:04:30Tap to summarizeTravel demand is holding steady but shifting to last-minute booking behavior, forcing companies to adapt faster, while IHG argues scale is the best defense against global uncertainty and a new CEO letter warns that many 2026 assumptions have already broken. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why shorter booking windows are reshaping how travel companies operate, how large hotel groups are positioning themselves to absorb demand shifts across regions, and why industry leaders say this year requires faster decisions and a reset in strategy. This episode is presented by Lodgify! Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGAccor CEO: Geopolitical Turmoil Isn’t Killing Travel — But Companies Need AgilityIHG CEO: Uncertainty Is the Only Certainty We HaveThe Recalibration: A CEO-to-CEO Letter on How to Think About the Rest of 2026 Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
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Airports Stop Showing Wait Times — As Security Lines Spiral
Mar 2500:04:37Tap to summarizeAirports are pulling back on reporting TSA wait times as staffing shortages push security lines to extreme levels, while United doubles down on premium cabins with a massive aircraft order and Tripadvisor faces renewed pressure after striking a deal with activist investor Starboard Value. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why disappearing wait-time data is creating a new trust problem for travelers, how United is betting big on premium demand to drive future growth, and what Tripadvisor’s latest investor deal could signal for its next strategic moves. This episode is presented by Lodgify! Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGDid ICE Help? Airports Stop Posting Wait Times as Lines Stretch for HoursUnited to Add 250 Planes to FleetTripadvisor and Starboard Value Make Peace — Activist Investor Could Get 4 Board Seats Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
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LaGuardia Shutdown, Marriott Teases New Brand, Radisson Goes Net-Zero
Mar 2400:04:13Tap to summarizeA deadly ground collision shuts down LaGuardia and disrupts travel across the region, Marriott signals a potential new brand with fresh trademark filings, and Radisson positions net-zero hotels as a hedge against rising energy costs. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down how a single incident exposed fragility in the U.S. aviation system, why Marriott continues to expand its brand ecosystem to capture more traveler segments, and how sustainability is increasingly being driven by cost control and risk management. This episode is presented by Lodgify! Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGAir Canada Plane Collides With Vehicle at LaGuardia, Killing 2 PilotsIs Marriott Preparing a New Brand? What Its Global Trademark Filings RevealRadisson’s Net-Zero Hotels Future-Proof Against Rising Energy Costs Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnewsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnewsBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.socialX: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
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Loyalty Metrics Questioned, U.S. Travel Ticks Up, Force Majeure Tightens
Mar 2000:03:41Tap to summarizeTravel’s obsession with loyalty member counts is being challenged, U.S. inbound travel edges up after months of decline, and event planners face stricter force majeure realities as geopolitical risk reshapes contracts. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why loyalty growth doesn’t always translate into lower acquisition costs, how inbound demand remains uneven despite a slight rebound, and why force majeure clauses are becoming more restrictive in a more volatile travel environment. This episode is presented by Lodgify! Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGTravel’s Most Celebrated Number Is Its Most MeaninglessU.S. Travel Breaks 9-Month Losing Streak — But Just BarelyWar, Contracts, and the New Reality of Force Majeure Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
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Middle East Tourism Faces Long Shadow, Gulf Airlines Ease Loyalty, Capital One Expands Travel
Mar 1900:04:54Tap to summarizeThe Middle East tourism sector faces a multi-year recovery challenge as the Iran war reshapes traveler habits, Gulf airlines are loosening loyalty requirements to protect frequent flyers during disruption, and Capital One is bringing its travel platform in-house by acquiring the Hopper technology that powered it. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down how prolonged disruption could reshape destination demand in the Middle East, why airlines are using loyalty programs as a crisis retention tool, and what Capital One’s move signals about banks becoming powerful players in travel distribution. This episode is presented by Lodgify! Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGThe Long Shadow: What the Middle East’s Destination Brands Will Look Like in 2028Iran War Forces Gulf Airlines to Loosen Loyalty RequirementsCapital One to Make ‘Payout’ to Acquire the Hopper Tech and Employees that Built Its Travel Portal Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
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Travelers Reroute From UAE, Delta Demand Surges, Hyatt Expands
Mar 1800:05:18Tap to summarizeTravelers are pivoting away from the Middle East as the Iran war continues, Delta says demand remains strong despite soaring fuel costs, and Hyatt launches a push into smaller U.S. markets with new non-luxury brands. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down how travel demand is redistributing globally during the Middle East crisis, why premium travelers are helping airlines offset higher fuel prices, and how Hyatt is racing to fill gaps in smaller U.S. markets where competitors already dominate. This episode is presented by Lodgify! Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGWith UAE Tourism in Crisis, Here’s Where Travelers Are Going InsteadDelta CEO Says Demand Is Up, Despite High Jet Fuel CostsHyatt’s Catch-Up Play: Non-Luxury Brands in Smaller Markets Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
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Iran War Stress-Tests Travel, AI Falls Silent, Rebooking Chaos
Mar 1700:04:54Tap to summarizeThe Iran war disrupted a major global travel corridor, exposed the limits of AI-powered support during crisis moments, and reignited the long-running airline vs. OTA customer ownership battle as travelers struggled to rebook flights at scale. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down how the conflict revealed lingering weaknesses in travel’s disruption response, why AI customer service largely vanished during the biggest test since Covid, and what happens when airlines and online travel agencies push responsibility back and forth while passengers try to get home. This episode is presented by Lodgify! Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGHow the Iran War Broke TravelMiddle East Crisis: AI Goes Missing When Travelers Need It MostWho Owns the Customer When OTA Clients Try to Rebook a Flight During the Iran War? Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
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Marriott Pushes AI, Luxury Travelers Reroute, Europe Chooses Trains
Mar 1300:05:31Tap to summarizeMarriott accelerates AI tools to strengthen direct bookings while managing a Middle East dip, Hyatt says wealthy travelers are rerouting rather than canceling trips during global disruptions, and new research shows more travelers are choosing trains across Europe for the experience — not climate concerns. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down how Marriott is using conversational AI to keep bookings inside its ecosystem, why luxury travelers are reshaping destinations rather than skipping trips, and what’s really driving Europe’s growing shift toward rail travel. This episode is presented by Lodgify! Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGMarriott Sees Middle East Dip but Expands AI ToolsEurope Travelers Swap Planes for Trains — But Climate Isn’t the DriverHyatt CFO on Global Shocks: Wealthy Travelers Aren’t Canceling Trips Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
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Canadian Travel Slumps, Hilton Sounds Alarm, Airbnb Ops Push
Mar 1200:03:48Tap to summarizeCanadian travel to the U.S. declines for the 13th straight month, Hilton’s CEO warns the country has lost half its global tourism share, and Airbnb hires a former Uber executive to unify operations as it expands into an “entire trip” platform. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down how shifting Canadian demand is reshaping airline routes, why Hilton sees massive upside if the U.S. rebuilds inbound travel strategy, and how Airbnb’s latest leadership hire supports its push to scale services, experiences, and trip planning in one ecosystem. This episode is presented by Lodgify! Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGCanadian Travel to the U.S. Keeps Falling — Now for 13 Straight MonthsHilton CEO Calls Out Decline in U.S. Tourism but Sees Economic Boost AheadAirbnb Appoints Former Uber Safety Exec as Global Head of Operations Connect with SkiftLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnewsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnewsBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.socialX: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
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Oil Shock Threatens Airfares, TSA Lines Grow, IHG Climate Targets Slip
Mar 1100:05:27Tap to summarizeOil surges past $100 a barrel threatening double-digit airfare increases, TSA staffing shortages during the shutdown trigger hours-long airport lines, and IHG reviews its climate targets after emissions rose despite efficiency gains. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down how fuel prices could ripple through airline pricing and travel demand, why missing paychecks are creating operational stress at airport security, and what rising emissions mean for hotel industry climate commitments. This episode is presented by Lodgify! Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IGOil Price Shock Could Mean 10%+ Fare Hike, $24 Billion in Costs for U.S. AirlinesShutdown Triggers TSA Staffing Shortages and Hours-Long Airport LinesIHG Reviews Climate Targets After Emissions Rise Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.socialX: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry
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