Wildfires are raging across the U.S. and parts of Europe, and another heatwave has been forecast, marking Europe’s fourth since May.
Extreme heat could eat up to 7% of GDP in the most exposed economies, according to analysis by Allianz, thanks in part to slumping productivity after 30 degrees Celsius. The tourism industry faces its own hefty bill as it works to reinforce hotels, manage guest comfort, and keep costs from spiralling — all as the effects of wildfires spread further than historic hotspots.
Insurers are responding by ramping up premiums and changing how they underwrite. Now, they care about property resilience, not just location. That’s one of the stories Skift has been following this month, as well as the proposed expansion of the European Union’s Emissions Trading Scheme.
I’m Tasmin Lockwood, and each Tuesday I’ll land in your inbox with the latest reporting affecting the industry, all through the lens of sustainability.
From how the changing climate is redrawing global tourism to the nitty-gritty of how platforms, operators, and guides are adapting, I want to know what’s on your mind. Drop me a line at [email protected], or feel free to just say hi.
Catch you next week, or in my inbox sooner.
Skift Global Forum
In a year of geopolitical volatility and technological upheaval, travel's most powerful room gathers in New York to define the industry's next chapter.
The CEOs of Hilton, Booking Holdings, Expedia, and Accor take the stage with OpenAI chairman Bret Taylor at the North Javits Center, September 22 to 24.
EDITOR’S PICKS
Wildfire Risk is Increasing. Rising Insurance Costs Are Pushing Hotels to Prepare
by Tasmin Lockwood
July 24, 2026
As wildfires grow more frequent and severe, insurers are no longer pricing risk by location alone — they’re underwriting based on how resilient a property is, pushing operators to firm up their hotels.
Europe May Finally Charge International Flights for Emissions — U.S. and China Get a Pass
by Tasmin Lockwood
July 17, 2026
Associations are unhappy with Europe’s plans to make the aviation industry pay more for its international emissions — for different reasons. One side argues proposals don’t go far enough, and the other says they shouldn’t exist at all.
SKIFT PODCAST NETWORK
At the halfway point of 2026, Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko revisit Skift's Megatrends and score each trend based on how the year has unfolded so far.
From AI to inbound tourism, they discuss which forecasts were spot on and which still have something to prove.
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.
