Expedia’s Evolution, JetBlue’s Challenges and Dubai’s Sphere

Today's podcast looks at Expedia's new focus, Jetblue's frustrations, and a sphere for Dubai. -Rashaad Jorden

‘A perfect place to build a film community’: a tour of Scotland’s island movie clubs

The Sea Change film festival on Tiree is a DIY affair that celebrates women and also connects communities on a series of small, scattered isles

Think of a film festival and images of celebrities, paparazzi and throngs of tourists might spring to mind, but one festival on a Hebridean island does things a little differently. The Sea Change film festival, which runs from Friday to Sunday, has been attracting the public and the film industry to Tiree (population about 650) in the Inner Hebrides for the past five years.

It’s Scotland’s only annual festival dedicated to celebrating women through film, and hosts screenings, workshops and talks, as well as beach walks, pilates classes and swimming sessions. The community centre becomes the main cinema and an after-party might mean a few pints at a pop-up bar rather than a glitzy hotel. Continue reading...

Where Certares Plans to Invest Hundreds of Millions of Dollars

There is huge untapped potential in getting Americans to travel to Europe or the Middle East for lower prices on high-tech wellness services. -Justin Dawes

MGM Shares Plans for Dubai Sphere, ‘Equally Compelling as Las Vegas Sphere’

MGM Resorts is building its own "Dubai Sphere." Though not linked to the Las Vegas Sphere, the hotelier says it will be just as exciting. -Josh Corder

JetBlue to Open Airport Lounges in Major Premium Push

Speaking to Skift, JetBlue president Marty St. George said it’s possible to balance a low-cost airline with high-end lounges. If realized as planned, these could be some of the most exclusive spaces of any U.S. carrier.  -Gordon Smith

Waterford revival: the reinvention of Ireland’s oldest city

From Viking history, to its wild coastline and even its ‘damp’ weather, Waterford has taken its natural assets and run with them

It was a pretty long interregnum, about 1,000 years, but Waterford is once again a hot travel destination.

The Vikings were the first to popularise this corner of south-east Ireland, liking it so much they settled, built a town and called it Vadrarfjordr, Norse for “winter port”, around AD914. There was no better refuge for weary raiders to rest and recuperate. Continue reading...

Wyndham’s New Ways to Make Money — One Text at a Time

Wyndham's CEO says its tech investment is paying off. Other travel brands need to up their game. -Rashaad Jorden

Challenges in Capturing Growth in Experiences: Taylor Swift, AI, Scaling

The demand for experiences isn't showing any sign of slowing down, but travel companies are still figuring out how to capture it. -Rashaad Jorden

Dubai Is Known for Luxury Travel — Now it Wants to Focus on ‘Real Culture’

Even the CEO of Dubai Tourism says the city has previously lacked a "soul," now they want to change that. -Josh Corder

Las Vegas Tourism Post-Super Bowl: ‘Stakes are Higher’

Las Vegas needs to find more events to keep up its momentum and success in sports tourism. -Dawit Habtemariam

Goa to Get New Cruise Terminal – India Report

Goa has witnessed a 40% increase in cruise tourism, and a new terminal is coming soon. But there are more problems in the state that need to be solved to attract international tourists. -Bulbul Dhawan

U.S. to Allow Alaska-Hawaiian Merger to Proceed With Consumer Protections

The Alaska-Hawaiian merger cleared another major hurdle after receiving the green light from the DOT. -Meghna Maharishi

Air India-Vistara Merger: Strategic Win or Tata’s Gamble?

While the merger is a necessary step to consolidate Tata Group’s airline assets, Air India faces stiff competition on both the international and domestic fronts. Its ability to overhaul operations, modernize services, and win back market share will determine whether it can compete effectively against heavyweights like Emirates and the ever-dominant Indigo. -Peden Doma Bhutia

Hyatt Continues Shift to Cloud for 1,000+ Hotels

This the second major hotel software system that Hyatt is shifting to the cloud as it moves toward the industry-wide goal of modernizing its tech. -Justin Dawes

Travel’s New Investors, United’s China Concerns and Hotels’ Unruly Guests

Today's podcast looks at a new travel tech investment powerhouse, United's China strategy, and unruly hotel guests that ruin things for everybody else. -Rashaad Jorden

Walks with a focal point: five of the best UK hikes with extras

From a wire bridge near Ben Nevis to a wild swim in Devon, these walks come with a unique manmade or natural element to look forward to as you stroll

Even the best walk needs a focal point, an extra something that makes the whole day come alive. For me the swim is the default choice. I’ll jump in that river, lake or sea at any time of year, but there are many other, less bracing, options. These five walks bring a range of highlights. Continue reading...

The Customer Isn’t Always Right: Hotels Need to Crack Down on Bad Behavior

Hotels have become too servile, letting badly behaved guests ruin carefully crafted experiences. They need to take notes from the Hôtel du Cap, where standards and behavior are gently enforced for the benefit of all. -Lex Haris

Redefining Hotel Search for Travel’s Experiential Era

The newest generation of AI technology is unshackling the hospitality industry from traditional search and booking. Anna Jaffe, CEO at Mobi.ai, unpacks her predictions for search's future and how hotels can better understand travelers’ needs through natural language interfaces and innovative search capabilities. -Mobi Systems, Inc

How Partnerships Power the Travel Economy

As travel rebounds, it's time to reassess what consumers, businesses, and governments need to keep the industry growing sustainably. The ecosystem’s health depends on partnerships that extend across the value chain. -Mastercard

Thayer Ventures and Derive Ventures Form New Travel Tech Investment Platform

Thayer, the best-known VC firm that invests in travel startups, is essentially merging with a newer fund called Derive. The deal is being pitched as a way to "drive innovation in travel tech," which is VC-speak for "we want to make money off the next big thing in travel apps." -Sean O'Neill

A late summer break in Montpellier, one of France’s sunniest cities

The reinvention of Montpellier from ancient university town to ‘Berlin by the Med’ is in full swing, and late summer is the best time to visit

Strolling around the Estanove district, just south-west of Montpellier centre, it’s hard not to feel excited by how this Mediterranean city is transforming for the 21st century. Here, on a brownfield former military site next to leafy Parc Montcalm, the city is building one of several “eco” districts – this one will link its new Cité Créative (a cluster of schools devoted to culture and the creative industries, including animation and games art) with the park.

That will be a while away, but there are already many reasons to visit this youthful and energetic city, whose reinvention is in full swing. (It’s one of the oldest university towns in France, and according to the tourist board one inhabitant in five is a student.) Le Halle Tropisme, a former machine hall built in 1913, has in recent years been transformed into a huge creative village for live music, clubbing, festivals, flea markets and games of pétanque, with plentiful street food and natural wine and craft beer stalls. Continue reading...

Breaking Down Borders: Relaxed Visa Rules Are Opening Up the World

Looser visa restrictions are greasing the wheels of global tourism, but the real question is whether these policies can sustain long-term growth or just offer a fleeting boost to countries eager for quick wins. -Peden Doma Bhutia

Dream ’scapes: Europe’s 10 best surrealist trips for art lovers

Celebrate the centenary of surrealism in Europe with a trip to the art movement’s key spaces and places

This autumn, the dreamy, subconscious world of surrealism will come into full focus. September 2024 marks 100 years since André Breton founded the movement. Not only are there exhibitions across Europe to celebrate the anniversary but, from Mallorca to Sussex and Rome, it’s a chance to lose yourself in the artists’ homes and studios. Continue reading...

ZeroAvia Raises $34 Million for Electric Jet Engine: Startup Funding Roundup

Startups developing next-generation aircraft and components have raised over half a billion dollars in venture capital so far this year. -Justin Dawes

A last blast of summer: five cities in southern Europe perfect for late-season sun

The sun is still shining brightly in southern Europe, but the crowds have gone, which makes these gorgeous seaside cities even more alluring

Saying Genoa has a lot of palaces is like saying Venice is full of canals. Still, they are one of the defining features of a city that has one of the biggest old towns in Europe, ideal for exploring on warm autumn days. More than 100 Renaissance and baroque palaces are still standing, 42 of which comprise the Unesco-listed Palazzi del Rolli. Lots are open to the public. Continue reading...

Is the Thrill Gone in Online Travel? Experiences to the Rescue? Hear More at Skift Global Forum

Five years from now, will Airbnb be at the top of the heap in short-term rentals? Will Chase Travel be a headliner? Will future generations yearn to travel as current ones do? -Dennis Schaal

4 Top Hotel Storylines for Marriott, Wyndham, and MGM Resorts

We'll ask top industry players to spill the beans on where they expect growth to come from for hotel companies, whether the U.S. has a solid gameplan for hosting several international sports events, and other burning questions. -Sean O'Neill

United Airlines to Introduce Free Starlink Wi-Fi to Entire Fleet

United will become one of the biggest carriers to use Starlink Wi-Fi as it seeks to court more business and premium travelers with free and high-speed internet access.
-Meghna Maharishi

My favourite late summer city break in southern Europe: readers’ tips

Beaches on Sardinia, food markets in Aix-en-Provence and historic Sarajevo are among our tipsters’ highlights

The town of San Remo on the Ligurian coast, between Genoa and Nice, has the air of a faded grand old lady, a little bit down on her luck but with plenty of dash still on offer. Blessed with the most enticing and charming streets of a medieval old town that meanders upwards in car-free bliss, on the way have lunch at La Ciotola (Via S Stefano 4) where the ravioli is homemade and superb. San Remo has a brilliant market where you can buy anything from essential undies to bagfuls of chilli with the tongue-in-cheek claim that it is meglio del viagra (better than Viagra). Autumn is still warm and sunny and the best beach to try is Tre Ponti, which is where the locals go given that a lot of hotels in Italy bag the best places on the coast for their guests.
Liz Owen Hernandez Continue reading...

‘Secret Garden on steroids’: the Cornish cottage that comes with its own jungle and private beach

Guests staying at a new holiday cottage in the grounds of Trebah Gardens will get after-hours access to this sub-tropical paradise and its private cove

The sign on the gate states “Private. No access.” We ignore it and follow a path past a Georgian manor house, its white walls glowing pink in the early evening light. It appears to be empty but as we tiptoe past the large sash windows, I have the uneasy sensation of trespassing. To the far side of the house is a latticed wooden gate, which has been left off the latch.

The lawn and flowerbeds in front of the house are neatly manicured, but on the other side of the gate is something altogether wilder. We set off down a narrow path that descends steeply through a lush valley spiked with palm trees and soaring Monterey pines. There’s the sound of trickling water from a waterfall and the leaves of flame-coloured crocosmia tickle our legs as we brush past. At every twist in the path there are new wonders: towering tree ferns, a grove of bamboo 10 metres high, a swathe of rampant hydrangeas with flower heads the size of footballs in every shade of lilac and blue. It’s like a sub-tropical Secret Garden on steroids, and we’ve got it all to ourselves. Continue reading...

Michelin Awards More U.S. Luxury Hotels New Key Ratings and Adds Canada and Mexico

It's notable how many of Michelin's favorite hotels are independently owned and run. Hard to find any properties run by the largest hotel groups on its lists. -Sean O'Neill

You’ll Soon Be Able to Upload Your U.S. Passport to Google Wallet

Google envisions a world where a physical wallet is obsolete. That means a digital ID and wallet for security checkpoints, boarding passes, age verification at bars, payments, car rentals, and more. -Justin Dawes

New York City Hotels Protest Bill to Mandate Licensing, Deter Subcontracting

The New York City Council bill has ignited a fierce debate between supporters who claim it will improve safety and working conditions and opponents who argue it could cripple the hotel industry. -Sean O'Neill

Turkish Airlines Targets Sydney for First Non-Stop Australia Service

Turkish Airlines will land in Sydney for the first time in December, but this is just the warm-up act. Expect things to get really interesting once the company gets new planes capable of flying from Istanbul to Australia non-stop. -Gordon Smith

GMR Ups Stake in Delhi Airport Amid Growth in Aviation Sector – India Report

GMR group's decision to increase its stake in the Delhi International Airport comes at a time when airport operators' revenue growth could top 15% this year. -Bulbul Dhawan

Generation Next: The Women Shaping Travel’s Future

These women leaders are the travel industry’s disruptors and innovators, and you can bet they’re on more than one shortlist for the next big thing. -Jason Clampet

Airbnb Restarts Experiences Sign-Ups After a Lengthy Pause

This time around, Airbnb wants to make its experience more affordable and more unique to Airbnb. It also wants to merchandise them differently than last time around. -Dennis Schaal

Sources of Saudi Tourism: Who’s Traveling, Who’s Spending?

We all read about Saudi Arabia's ambitious giga-projects and want for international tourists, but for now, business is still coming from more traditional sources. -Josh Corder

‘The hike of a lifetime’ – a circuit of the Écrins national park in France

The Tour des Écrins in the Hautes-Alpes is one of Europe’s finest long-distance walks, and offers a chance to reflect on how best to live alongside nature

I first learned about the Écrins national park in relation to a specific nature reserve within it. The réserve intégrale du Lauvitel was established in 1995 to “monitor the natural dynamics of ecosystems” with all human influence removed. This so-called wilderness area was one of the first of its kind in Europe.

A video showed an ecologist rowing across a dazzling, teal-hued lake surrounded by pine-strewn peaks. I was immediately fascinated. Admittedly, a forbidden zone taps into plenty of childhood adventure fantasies, but it’s also a bold statutory move a world apart from our more modest environmental experiments in the UK. Yet fortress conservation begs difficult questions: are humans a part of nature, or apart from it? Continue reading...

Rome Tourism Chief Says There’s ‘Total Chaos’ at Trevi Fountain — Changes Are Coming

For Rome's tourism chief, cracking down on short-term rentals and managing visitor traffic at Trevi Fountain are the top priorities when it comes to combatting overtourism. -Dawit Habtemariam

Ask Skift: Why Are Travel Brands Investing in Experiences?

Travelers are increasingly eager to spend money on experiences than possessions, but that's far from the only reason why travel brands are eager to invest in the sector. They see an industry that's showing no signs of slowing down. -Rashaad Jorden

Southwest Chairman Gary Kelly to Step Down Amid Activist Pressure

Gary Kelly has been a part of the Southwest family for almost four decades. Will his departure and that of six other board members be enough to keep Elliott happy? -Gordon Smith

One Week Until the Premier Travel Industry Conference

It’s not too late to reserve your seat today for the most anticipated thought leadership conference in the travel industry: Skift Global Forum on September 17-19 in New York City. -Nicole Meyer

Time travel in the Italian Alps: a glam stay in a 70s design hotel

On the shores of Lake Caldaro in South Tirol, the striking Seehotel Ambach has barely changed since 1973 – and is all the better for it

When I was about seven years old, my aunt brought me back a souvenir from her trip to America – a yellow trouser suit with yellow-and-purple zigzag-patterned flared trousers. I thought it was the coolest thing I had ever seen and, 50 years later, as I walk into the Seehotel Ambach in Italy’s South Tirol, I can’t help thinking how it’s just the kind of look I should be rocking in the 1970s lobby.

We are greeted by a riot of yellow and orange and a selection of the Italian design industry’s greatest hits from the 70s by Joe Colombo, Ettore Sottsass and others. More recognisable to those not in the know about Milan’s design elite are ashtrays advertising Cinzano, glasses promising the delights of Martini and evocative period commercial poster art. At first it’s hard to get your bearings. It’s not unlike walking into a packed vintage shop on Portobello Road or in Margate, except it’s 33C outside and I can see Lake Caldaro glistening through the window. Continue reading...

Booking Holdings Is ‘Underappreciated’ In 3 Ways, CFO Says

If Booking's short-term rental business is so "underappreciated," then perhaps it should start breaking out its financials to give its message more clout. -Dennis Schaal

Viator Reveals Most Popular Travel Experiences

Travelers are flocking to activities that make them learn, interact with locals, or preferably both. It's as if people are treating vacations like a semester abroad, minus the college credits. -Sean O'Neill

Air Canada Could Shutdown Operations Within Days Amid Fierce Labor Battle

Air Canada's shutdown plan throws fuel onto an already heated dispute. The parties are continuing to talk, but the preparation of contingency measures suggests a total shutdown of the airline by next week is a real and growing possibility. -Gordon Smith

Tourism that does less harm: Lanzarote away from the big beach resorts

After this year’s protests against mass tourism all over the Canaries, we head for the small towns, vineyards and rugged coast of Lanzarote’s less-visited north

The sky is clear as I sit sipping coffee in the sunny courtyard of an 18th-century house – now a boutique hotel – in the small Lanzarote town of Teguise. But Óscar Cubillo, my host, sees something different. Looking up, he says: “The planes are always there. They never stop.”

Lanzarote, an island shaped by volcanoes, salt and wind, feels like an otherworldly outpost, but it has recently been wrestling with an influx of tourists that residents fear the island cannot handle. Continue reading...

South Africa’s New Visa Push for Indian and Chinese Tourists Has a Tour Operator Twist

South Africa’s visa reform relies on vetted tour operators to streamline approvals for Indian and Chinese tourists. While this approach may reduce bottlenecks, it raises concerns about limiting independent travelers and whether operators can manage increased demand effectively. -Peden Doma Bhutia

‘Just the right amount of edge’: how Marseille became 2024’s on-trend city

Thanks to buzzy cafes and the backing of Chanel’s fashion supremos, France’s oldest city is having its moment

When a place becomes a meme, you know it is having a moment. This is what is happening to Marseille, which found its name plastered on a satirical Instagram account this week. “‘Mate was finkin’ of goin’ Marseille? Apparently it’s poppin’ off!?’,” read the caption on the viral Socks House Meeting fashion account that satirises the absurdities of trends, usually with an eye to London’s cultural niches but with a foothold in wider British internet humour.

It was accompanied by a picture of the type of lifestyle and fashion staples that a certain kind of traveller might enjoy while in the southern French city, including a skinny Vogue cigarette, on-trend wraparound sunglasses and a bottle of Terre d’Hermès eau de toilette. Continue reading...