Top Story
Hilton wants to be valued like a technology platform. Owners will judge it by whether lower distribution costs actually reach them.
What Changed: Hilton hired a CTO from Uber, moved to Nasdaq, and links directly to AI agents; RISE 2 due in Q1.
Who it Impacts: Hotel brand leaders, owners, developers, and distribution execs at GDSs, OTAs, and TMCs.
What to Watch: Whether direct AI agent links cut owners’ distribution costs, and how fast rivals match Hilton.
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Skift Aviation Forum · NYC · November 12
Aviation’s margin story is written by whoever controls capacity, loyalty, and labor.
On November 12 at the TWA Hotel, the people writing it take the stage: IAG’s Luis Gallego, American’s Nat Pieper, Breeze’s David Neeleman, and Sara Nelson of the AFA-CWA.
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SPONSORED · HOLAFLY
No single travel brand owns the journey, but every brand is impacted when a traveler’s phone goes dark. At Skift Global Forum 2026, Holafly’s Richard Trinder shared why connectivity needs to be built into booking flows before agentic AI raises the stakes.
From Skift Research
Consumer Expectations Are Changing Faster Than Organizations

Source: Skift Research’s State of Travel 2026
AI trip planning more than doubled in a year, but just 2% of travel organizations have scaled agentic AI.
Skift Podcast
France Protests Could Hurt Travel Bookings for a Year
At least nine governments updated their travel guidance for France in a single weekend as cost-of-living protests spread across Europe.
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