GOOD DAY, READERS.
Expedia may be lining up another B2B deal, this time with Irish ground transportation specialist CarTrawler. We hear that CarTrawler's leadership and its private equity owner met in Dublin last week with Expedia and one of the banks involved in discussions.
The structure isn't clear yet, but the move would plug a real gap in Expedia's B2B arm, which is strong in lodging but weak in car rentals. It would also extend a run that includes February's Tiqets acquisition and 25% year-over-year B2B revenue growth in Q1 – three times the pace of Expedia's consumer business.
Women Leading Travel Forum Early Bird Ending
The Women Leading Travel Forum brings together the executives running travel's biggest brands, the founders building its next chapter, and the directors who will run it in five years.
The 2026 speaker lineup includes Christine Duffy (President, Carnival Cruise Line), Dana Shapir Alviene (Chief Guest Officer, Breeze Airways), Dr. Romie Mushtaq (Chief Wellness Officer, Great Wolf Resorts), and Olympian Marion Jones. Three days of sessions, coaching workshops, and peer breakouts at The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans.
Early-bird pricing ends tonight at 11:59 p.m. ET.
DON’T MISS THESE STORIES
Expedia and CarTrawler May Be Close to a Deal Following a Meeting in Dublin: Scoop
by Dennis Schaal
Is Expedia reverting to the deal appetite it displayed in 2015 when it acquired Travelocity, Orbitz and Homeaway? After acquiring Tiqets in February, Expedia could be looking to make another B2B move.
Higher Fuel Costs + Spirit’s End = Higher Fares
by Meghna Maharishi
Although Spirit was a small airline, it had a sizable impact on airfares across major markets in the U.S. Now that it has shut down, industry experts say to expect more airfare increases compounded by high fuel costs.
Iran War Costs Have Hit Travel’s Profit Forecasts
by Rashaad Jorden
The Iran war didn't just raise fuel costs — it upended many travel company's business plans for 2026.
CAPITAL ONE TRAVEL + SKIFT
The "connected trip" may be moving closer to reality. A new travel app aims to unify booking, rewards, and real-time trip management into one seamless, end-to-end journey.
Skift Executive Search connects travel-related companies with top-tier talent, ensuring the right leadership is in place to drive innovation and growth. See our case studies.
MORNING HEADLINES
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CHART OF THE DAY
There is a common assumption that repeat visitors are big spenders. Skift Research findings in the new report Beyond the First Visit: The Destination Loyalty Race to Own the Repeat Traveler, reveal otherwise. We found that, on average, first-time visitors spend approximately 30% higher per person compared to repeat visitors.
This reflects discovery-oriented and risk-averse behavior. First-time visitors are more likely to invest in the highlights and experiences they have researched, in landmark meals, or in popular places they have seen on social media. Their trips are more exploratory, generating strong economic returns for tourism sectors.
Repeat visitors, on the other hand, spend less per trip, but their financial footprint is deeper and more integrated into the local economy. Their spending appears to move away from tourist bubbles and more into the community.
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.
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