WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY
Are travelers ready for fuel surcharges and more bag fees? We have the breakdown of which airlines are raising fees — and by how much.
Montreal-based Hopper will run travel services for Canada’s largest bank, edging out Expedia.
Experts thought that the U.S. tax refund season would bring a wave of travel bookings from American consumers. It’s not panning out as expected.
Read on, below.
The Women Leading Travel Forum comes to New Orleans for the first time this June. Expect three days of keynotes, coaching, and peer conversation designed for senior leaders across travel and hospitality. Speakers include former Olympic athlete and performance coach Marion Jones, alongside executives from Breeze Airways, Carnival Cruise Line, Intrepid Travel, and more. 89% of attendees are Director level or above.
DON’T MISS THESE STORIES
Fuel Surcharges, Bag Fees: How Airlines Are Passing on Costs to Travelers
by Rashaad Jorden
The rise in fuel prices gives every airline on this list a good excuse to raise fees. Less clear is when they'll come back down.
Travel’s Tax Refund Boom Is Falling Short
by Bailey Schulz
Tax refunds were supposed to be a $5 billion boost to travel spend this year, but refunds so far are tracking below expectations.
Hopper Takes Over Canadian Bank Deal From Expedia
by Dennis Schaal
The RBC contract is a significant B2B win for fellow Canadian company, Hopper. Exclusivity may have been a precedent that Expedia saw as too limiting.
AVALARA + SKIFT
As tax and regulatory issues continue to be a moving target, new research underscores why compliance is emerging as one of the most consequential and underestimated issues facing the STR sector today.
SKIFT PODCAST NETWORK
On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why travel is becoming a confidence-driven decision again, what international travelers need to know before coming to the U.S., and how AI is moving the battleground for travel from booking to inspiration.
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CHART OF THE DAY
UPDATED: Skift Travel Health Index
On February 28, military operations against Iran triggered immediate airspace closures across the Gulf, paralyzing major hubs and stranding thousands of travelers. Oxford Economics had projected 13% growth for the region this year, but now it sees a potential 27% loss in inbound arrivals in a worst-case scenario. The financial math is brutal, with the World Travel & Tourism Council estimating a decline of $600 million per day in visitor spending and total losses projected at $56 billion if disruptions continue.
See more essential travel news in your search results.
SKIFT TRAVEL 200
How are public travel companies performing around the world? The Skift Travel 200 pulls the data you need to understand global market movements. Paid subscribers get full access here.
