News

New U.S. entry rules and fees are adding friction for travelers, as hotel giants quietly reshape midscale stays and buffets face a sustainability overhaul.

The U.S. is gearing up for a summer of marquee events, but new fees and restrictions could keep tourists at bay.

Airline leadership shakeups, alliance shifts, and AI-driven discovery are all hitting travel at once. In this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko break down a week that reveals something bigger happening inside the airline industry.

United is the latest carrier to announce it will raise bag fees as airlines are passing down the price of surging fuel costs onto customers.

Global companies increasingly want event partners that can own the entire process, from storytelling and design to production and execution, and private equity is fueling the scale to make that happen.

The U.S. continues to see a downturn in travel from certain countries. One survey suggests tourists still aren't over tariffs.

Accor agreed to sell its stake in Essendi, formerly AccorInvest, to a Blackstone-led consortium for up to 975 million euros. Plus, more hotel deal and development news.

It's a done deal.

Marriott's next brand is also a bet on Italian luxury. It's starting small.

The UK Government is set to invite industry players to a roundtable event to discuss guest safety. The event could see ministers and companies discuss new protocols that could have wide-ranging impacts.

AI strategy sounds clean on slides; execution is anything but. Jie Zheng breaks down what scaling AI actually looks like ahead of Skift Data + AI Summit 2026.

Conversions are giving hotel groups a faster way to expand midscale, especially in higher-cost markets where new builds are harder to justify.