In like a lion, out like ... a lion, as they say about the month of March? Today we look at the events marking a very, very turbulent month for the travel industry. Also, Marriott says its U.S. pipeline hasn't slowed down, despite several challenges. And from Friday, we show how the Trump administration's AI framework faces a major hurdle.
DON’T MISS THESE STORIES
War, Shutdowns, Fuel Shocks: Travel’s Most Brutal Month in Years
by Rashaad Jorden
From Dubai to Delhi to several U.S. cities, March revealed how quickly the whole system can break down.
Marriott’s U.S. Development Chief on Fee Caps, Midscale Bets, and Why the Pipeline Is Holding
by Sean O'Neill
Economic uncertainty may make financing hard to come by and inflation could creep higher. Yet Marriott doesn't see any falloff in its U.S. development momentum.
Trump’s AI Framework Aims to Shift States’ Authority — But Misses Travel’s Biggest Pressure Point
by Adriana Lee
The new framework could give travel a win on AI development. It does nothing for the pricing fight that's already at their door.
TRIP.COM + SKIFT
SkiftX spoke with Trip.com Group about building the systems necessary to bridge the gap between intention and action and how credible sustainability tools, AI-powered recommendations, and cross-industry partnerships are key to getting the industry on the same page.
MORE HEADLINES
For $7 a week, Skift gives you something the industry is missing – the full picture. Subscribe today for 25% off.
CHART OF THE DAY
AI has joined social media as a key source of inspiration for young travelers. But most of them are hesitant to cede complete control to a non-human. When asked about interest in using an AI tool that could book an entire trip, 83% say they would like to have either full or shared oversight of the process. This likely comes down to cost as well as control: 54% strongly agree that when planning travel, they want to have many options in order to compare and make informed decisions.
The travel industry is moving from AI experimentation to execution, with real impact across distribution, operations, and customer experience. The Skift Data + AI Summit returns June 3 in New York City, bringing industry leaders together to share the next wave of AI applications and data strategies shaping travel.
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.
