GOOD DAY, READERS.
Inbound tourism to the U.S. didn't get the boost the industry hoped for from the World Cup, write Global Tourism Reporter Bailey Schulz and Associate Editor Rashaad Jorden. July marked the fourth straight month of decline, down 7% year-over-year to just over 3 million visitors — nearly 23% below pre-pandemic levels when excluding Canada and Mexico.
Even among countries that played in the U.S. in July during the knockout rounds, results were mixed. Arrivals from the UK, Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina rose, but those from Switzerland, France, and Spain fell.
Skift Global Forum
When the world's biggest sporting event can't lift U.S. arrivals, the old assumptions about what drives demand stop holding. That's the recalibration travel's leaders are here to work through.
This year's speakers include the CEOs of Booking Holdings, Hilton, Airbnb, Expedia, and Qatar Airways, in the room where the industry pressure-tests what actually moves the numbers now. September 22-24, New York City.
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Minor Delays Plan for $1 Billion Hotel REIT
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Minor International is postponing its plan to float a real estate investment trust (REIT) with some of its hotels. A hoped-for Mideast ceasefire might reduce investor worries about inflation and make hotels more attractive as investments.
ARDA + SKIFT
Millennials and Gen Z now drive most timeshare ownership and are helping reshape perceptions of the category.
MORNING HEADLINES
SKIFT PODCAST NETWORK
Swiss, cargo, and maintenance are healthy. The core Lufthansa mainline is not.
In this clip from Airline Weekly Lounge, Gordon Smith and Jay Shabat break down why Lufthansa is really a conglomerate where 40% of the business is thriving and 60% is struggling, what $2.5 billion in quarterly revenue from TechOps actually says about where the real value sits, and why the crane on the tail is the weakest part of the whole group.
PEOPLE MOVES
This week's people moves shaping the industry. Let us know about a move.
Kristin Doller is leaving her role as Vice President of Global Business Operations at Aven Hospitality, closing out 11 years across Sabre and Aven Hospitality.
Kenneth Johansen has been named Chief Revenue Officer at Travelport, joining from Oracle, where he most recently served as SVP of Technology.
Internova Travel Group has appointed Brian Chapin as Vice President, Air Strategy & Partner Relations, to lead the company's airline strategy and strengthen its relationships with airline, GDS, and technology partners.
David Scott has left his role as SVP Global Partnerships at Hotel Trader to rejoin TUI as Head of Commercial, Sundeals, as the newly launched direct-to-consumer brand scales across the UK.
Wheels Up has announced sales leadership changes: Chief Sales Officer Mark Briffa is stepping down, with Chief Digital Officer David Godsman taking over sales on an interim basis while a search is underway. Separately, Mike Bowman, who spent 18 years at Delta Air Lines, including three years leading its sales partnership with Wheels Up, joins as EVP, Global Corporate Sales, reporting to Godsman.
Guy Heywood has taken on the role of Chief Executive Officer of Voaara, bringing 30+ years of luxury hospitality leadership across Habitas, Six Senses, Alila, and Aman.
Michael Hook has been named General Manager of FCM Canada, a newly created role, after eight years with FCM, including most recently as Director of Sales for North America.
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.
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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