Travel Loyalty News

IndiGo got big as a budget airline. But Indians are increasingly willing to spend on luxury and the airline is going where the money is.

Today's podcast looks at Hyatt’s purchased of Standard, what new loyalty branding deals look like, and Shakira’s role pitching Despegar.

Major hotel groups are playing Pokémon with their loyalty programs. Instead of collecting rare game cards, they're adding new sets of travelers to their databases. Gotta catch 'em all.

Sonder has recently struggled, having not been profitable since going public in a blank check deal in 2022. The heft of Marriott's distribution system will boost the company. Marriott will gain access to Sonder's units, many of which are roomy apartment-style lodging and in neighborhoods where it's hard to build hotels.

The travel loyalty landscape is shifting toward lifestyle rewards that prioritize experiences and personalized benefits over traditional points and miles. For 25 years, iSeatz has been at the forefront of this transformation.

Ariane Gorin is not going to be a Peter Kern clone in her new role as Expedia Group CEO. Among her first acts was to pause the international rollout of the Group's One Key loyalty program.

Research firms and the tourism industry are bullish on the potential of India for both domestic and international travel. Credit Ratings agency CRISIL has projected that a record 30 million Indians will travel overseas this year.

In a wide-ranging exclusive interview with Skift since he left American Airlines, Raja discussed the future of the airline industry.

India's move to allow visa-on-arrival to Japan, South Korea, and the UAE nationals can significantly boost international tourism, given the close ties and proximity of the three countries to India. But is it enough?

Low cost no more: With these new offerings, it’s clear IndiGo is aiming for a little more luxury and a lot less budget.