Latest news with #MeghnaMaharishi
Skift
29-05-2025
- Business
- Skift
The AI Assistant Race, Southwest's New Promise and Booking.com Revelations
For today's pod we look at Southwest's break with the past, the AI travel assistant race, and a brief history of Skift Daily Briefing Podcast Listen to the day's top travel stories in under four minutes every weekday. Listen to the day's top travel stories in under four minutes every weekday. Skift Travel Podcasts Good morning from Skift. It's Wednesday, May 28. Here's what you need to know about the business of travel today. Tuesday was the final day that flyers on Southwest Airlines were able to check bags for free. Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi examines the end of Southwest's most iconic perk and other major changes at the carrier. Southwest is now charging customers $35 for their first checked-in bag and $45 for the second. Maharishi notes the baggage fees apply to those flying basic economy, along with Southwest's Wanna Get Away Plus and Anytime fares. In addition, Southwest expects to start operating flights with assigned seats next year and will also start charging seat selection fees. Southwest executives have argued those changes are necessary for the carrier to remain competitive and shore up its profitability. Listen to This Podcast Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Youtube | RSS Next, OpenAI is establishing its own device company. Travel Technology Reporter Justin Dawes explains what that development could mean in the race to create the ultimate travel assistant. Dawes notes AI assistants could be the main way users purchase travel. Although Apple and Google are both taking steps toward that vision, it's tougher to overhaul an established suite of products. Dawes adds that OpenAI has an opportunity to fully reimagine how devices operate, built from the ground up with AI at the center. OpenAI has said it's planning a 'family of products,' and the company aims to reveal more details next year. Finally, Executive Editor Dennis Schaal delves into a book published four years ago that revealed details about the history of from its founding in Amsterdam in 1996. Three Dutch investigative journalists wrote the 2021 book 'The Machine,' which documents the tensions between the American and Dutch employees, and then between the Dutch and the Brits; takes you behind closed doors where one CEO gets fired and another is forced to resign; and discusses local backlash and strategic decisions. "The Machine" also shows execs' resistance to cooperating with other Booking Holdings brands. Until Glenn Fogel took over in 2019, there had been little sharing of data, resources or supply out of fear that it would dilute the brand and slow growth.
Skift
23-05-2025
- Business
- Skift
Aviation Politics, World Cup Visa Backlog and Marriott's New Brand
For this Friday pod we look at potential aviation funding changes in the U.S., efforts to streamline World Cup visas, and Marriott's new brand debut in India. Skift Daily Briefing Podcast Listen to the day's top travel stories in under four minutes every weekday. Listen to the day's top travel stories in under four minutes every weekday. Skift Travel Podcasts Good morning from Skift. It's Friday, May 23. Here's what you need to know about the business of travel today. The House of Representatives passed President Donald Trump's so-called 'big, beautiful' tax bill Thursday morning. Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi explains what the bill would mean for the U.S. aviation industry. The bill's provisions include $12.5 billion in initial funding for air traffic control reform. A little more than $2 billion is earmarked for replacing air traffic control towers and terminal radars. Maharishi adds the bill would cut grants for sustainable aviation fuel but extend tax credits on it for another four years. The bill will now advance to the Senate, where Maharishi notes it faces an uncertain path due to proposed cuts to Medicaid and increases on the debt limit. Listen to This Podcast Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Youtube | RSS Next, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the State Department is working to speed up the processing of visitor visas ahead of next summer's FIFA World Cup, writes Associate Editor Rashaad Jorden. Rubio told the House Foreign Affairs Committee that the department has explored the possibility of having staff at some U.S. embassies do double shifts to help decrease the visa backlog. Rubio added the State Department would also look at using AI to expedite visa processing. Members of Congress have been pushing to fix the visa backlog ahead of a series of major sporting events coming to the U.S. in the next decade. A bipartisan group of 55 lawmakers sent a letter to Rubio to emphasize the importance of the issue. Finally, Marriott International has chosen to debut its new global brand in India, writes Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia. Marriott announced on Thursday that India will serve as the first destination for Series by Marriott, a brand aimed at the midscale and upscale hotel segments. Bhutia notes it is a sign of India's growing importance in Marriott's plans. Marriott expects India to become its third-largest market.
Skift
13-05-2025
- Business
- Skift
U.S. Tourism Optimism, Aviation Infrastructure Woes and Viceroy Expansion Plans
For today's podcast we look at April tourism numbers in the U.S. as well as airline traffic control issues, and wrap up the pod with a glimpse at Viceroy's expansion plans. Skift Daily Briefing Podcast Listen to the day's top travel stories in under four minutes every weekday. Listen to the day's top travel stories in under four minutes every weekday. Skift Travel Podcasts Good morning from Skift. It's Tuesday, May 13. Here's what you need to know about the business of travel today. Visits to the U.S. from 20 major countries — most notably those in Western Europe — rebounded in April after a March drop, writes Global Tourism and Experiences Reporter Jade Wilson. Visits from Western Europe increased 12% from last April, according to data published Monday by the U.S. International Trade Administration. Travel to the U.S. from Germany and the United Kingdom increased substantially in April — around 15% for each country. Visits from Germany were down about 28% in March. Overall inbound travel to the U.S. increased close to 3% in April. However, Wilson notes the data does not include visits from Canada, which have declined sharply in recent months and make up the largest percentage of international tourist by country. Listen to This Podcast Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Youtube | RSS Next, the U.S.' aging air traffic control system is facing increased scrutiny following a series of disruptions at Newark International Airport. Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi delves into the federal government's plan to improve the air traffic control system. Maharishi writes that the airline industry has long struggled with outdated technology and staffing shortages, with the FAA roughly 3,000 air traffic controllers short of its staffing goal. These issues have led United Airlines to cut 35 daily round-trip flights out of Newark. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently said the federal government plans to spend billions to modernize the air traffic control system and push for more hiring. Those plans include building six new air traffic control towers, which Duffy said would take three to four years to complete. Finally, real estate investment firm Highgate is increasing its investment in luxury brand Viceroy with developments in new markets, writes Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O'Neill. Viceroy plans to open The Harriman in Sun Valley, Idaho, in the summer of 2026. Richard Russo, a principal at Highgate, said the property will be the 'first true luxury hotel' at the popular ski destination. O'Neill notes the project represents a strategic shift for Viceroy, which Highgate acquired in 2023. Once known for urban boutique hotels, Viceroy is now targeting wealthy leisure travelers in outdoor destinations. In addition, Highgate expects to open more Viceroy-branded residences in the coming years.
Skift
06-05-2025
- Business
- Skift
JetBlue's VC Sale, Airbnb's Cleaning Fees and Social Commerce's Impact
On today's Pod, we explain how JetBlue sold off its venture capital arm, which destinations charge the most short-term cleaning fees, and the combined power of social media and e-commerce in travel. Skift Daily Briefing Podcast Listen to the day's top travel stories in under four minutes every weekday. Listen to the day's top travel stories in under four minutes every weekday. Skift Travel Podcasts Good morning from Skift. It's Tuesday, May 6. Here's what you need to know about the business of travel today. JetBlue announced on Monday it sold its venture capital arm as part of its strategy to return to profitability, writes Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi. JetBlue sold its venture capital subsidiary to Sky Leasing, an asset management company that specializes in leasing aircraft. Maharishi notes the sale comes as the carrier has struggled since the collapse of both the Northeast Alliance with American Airlines and planned merger with Spirit Airlines. JetBlue Ventures' equity investments were recently valued at $89 million and include flying taxi company Joby and airline retail platform Flyr. Listen to This Podcast Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Youtube | RSS Next, we take a look at cleaning fees in the short-term rental industry. As Airbnb is now including cleaning fees in its upfront price globally, Contributor Clara Awuse breaks down how they vary around the world. Using data from Airbnb and Vrbo, AirDNA found close to 90% of listings in the U.S. charge cleaning fees. Among global regions, North America and the Caribbean have the highest rates of listings with cleaning fees while Eastern Europe and the Middle East have some of the lowest percentages. Finally, a report from Skift Research reveals how social commerce — the fusion of social media and e-commerce — is reshaping the travel industry as platforms such as TikTok and Instagram have become full-fledged booking engines. Research Analyst Robin Gilbert-Jones notes younger travelers now treat social media as their default search engines for travel inspiration, adding that authentic short-form videos can build trust and drive bookings. Skift Research also found that influencers are increasingly acting as travel agents themselves. Gilbert-Jones writes that social commerce in travel could be worth up to $7 billion across accommodations and airlines alone. He added that travel brands must stop treating social media as a PR add-on and instead embrace it as a primary sales channel.
