GOOD DAY, READERS.
Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O'Neill flags a metric most investors scroll past: incentive management fees. Unlike revenue-driven franchise fees, these move with profit.
That makes them a cleaner signal of whether the industry's recent strength is broad and durable, a signal analysts will be watching closely when Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt report Q2 results. One big growth driver, according to an analyst we spoke to: "Asia-Pacific is still the region in the driver’s seat."
Skift Global Forum East
No region is scaling travel faster than the Gulf, and the question under every deal is whether the momentum holds.
Skift Global Forum East gathers the ones who decide that, the CEOs, tourism ministers, aviation leaders, and capital allocators steering the region, in Abu Dhabi on October 20-21, with Skift editors pressing for the answers behind the announcements.
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VISIT JAMAICA + SKIFT
It's hot out there. The Caribbean's tourism boom is real, but demand risk, capital flows, and brand battles are reshaping who wins next. Escape the heat and read where the region is headed.
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MORNING HEADLINES
SKIFT PODCAST NETWORK
Searching for a monthly rental price that was nowhere to be found online, ChatGPT delivered an answer in seconds by pulling from a Facebook group post that could have been years old.
In this clip from Good Morning Hospitality, A Skift Podcast, Wil Slickers, Michael Goldin, and Brandreth Canaley use that real moment to get into the trust gap sitting underneath all the agentic AI hype. Speed is not the same as accuracy, and when the agent gets it wrong, someone still has to pick up the phone.
PEOPLE MOVES
This week's people moves shaping the industry. Let us know about a move.
Air Canada has named Anko Van der Werff its next President and CEO, succeeding the retiring Michael Rousseau, arriving from SAS Scandinavian Airlines with earlier CEO stints at Avianca and commercial leadership at Aeroméxico, KLM, and Qatar Airways.
Chedi Hospitality has named Milos Nedovic as Chief Asset & Investment Officer to lead investment strategy across its growing portfolio, bringing 15+ years in hospitality finance, including roles at Hyatt and Rikas Hospitality Group.
Lufthansa Group has expanded Olivier Krueger's mandate to include Guest Experience & Marketing alongside his Chief Marketing Officer role, the title he has held since 2023.
Virgin Atlantic has promoted Sophie Woodford to Vice President, Brand & Marketing, stepping up from Head of Creative & Design.
WeRoad has named Dan Berger its first US General Manager to lead its American expansion.
Hilton Grand Vacations has appointed Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, to its board, bringing 30+ years of cruise and hospitality leadership, including a stint as CEO of Cruise Lines International Association.
Norwegian Cruise Line has hired Bryan Hooper as Vice President of Digital Experience & E-Commerce, a notable outside-travel hire arriving from Subway, where he led digital and consumer technology.
Choice Hotels International has added Ali Keshavarz, President and Chief Data & Analytics Officer at CVS Health, to its board, bringing a decade at McKinsey and prior chief analytics roles at Aetna and CVS Caremark.
Swiss International Air Lines' Chief Commercial Officer Heike Birlenbach will leave the carrier at the end of September 2026, closing out 36 years across the Lufthansa Group; the CCO role will be discontinued, with customer experience moving directly under CEO Jens Fehlinger.
Brian Kirkland has departed Choice Hotels after more than a decade as CIO, having led the company's cloud migration, cybersecurity buildout, and most recently, its enterprise AI strategy; his next move hasn't been announced yet.
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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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