Travel
Coverage from the Travel desk.
Delano Hotels to Open Delano Puglia in Monopoli, Italy, in 2028
Delano Hotels has announced plans to open Delano Puglia in the historic port city of Monopoli along Italy’s Adriatic coast in 2028. The property will feature 76 guestrooms, including 13 suites, plus wellness and event spaces.
Chocodate Unveils Destination-Led Travel Retail-Exclusive Packs at TFWA Cannes
Dubai-based Chocodate is presenting a new travel retail-exclusive range with destination-specific packaging across six regional editions at the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes, led by a UAE pack featuring the Burj Khalifa and Burj Al Arab.
Travel Retail Fine Wine Alliance Returns to Cannes with Expanded Line-Up
The Travel Retail Fine Wine Alliance is making its fifth appearance at the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes, showcasing wines from its members’ portfolios and welcoming Herita Marzotto Wine Estates as a new member focused on sustainable winemaking.
Shilla Duty Free Singapore Marks 12 Years at Changi Airport With Beauty Push and BABYMONSTER Ticket Draw
The Shilla Duty Free Singapore is marking 12 years as master tenant of Changi Airport's beauty concession with a month-long October campaign that adds four new brands and offers shoppers a shot at concert tickets.
L Catterton Amasses a $40 Billion Bet on Travel and Experiences
L Catterton, the consumer-focused investment firm tied to LVMH, has quietly built a broad travel portfolio spanning private aviation, river cruising, online travel, spas and live events. The firm manages about $40 billion and ranks among the world's largest investors dedicated to consumer businesses.
Luxury Hotels Said to Trail Fashion in Innovation and Branding
Luxury hospitality has long been viewed as lagging other luxury categories — notably fashion, watches and jewellery — in innovation, branding and consumer research, as fashion houses push deeper into immersive customer experiences.
Uber to Add Vacation Rentals via Expedia as Airbnb Sets 2027 AI Agent Debut
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi confirmed the company will add vacation rental content through its Expedia Group integration, while Airbnb's Brian Chesky pledged on stage to launch an AI agent in 2027.
Hotel CEOs Converge on AI's Role: Better Staff, Not Fewer of Them
Leaders from Hilton, Hyatt, Accor, Wyndham and Banyan Group told a New York travel industry forum in September 2026 that AI should sharpen hotel employees' performance. They parted ways on how quickly and how broadly to adopt it.
Airbnb's Chesky Says He's 'Less Religious' About Hotels, Cars and Flights
Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky said he has softened his long-held resistance to mainstream travel offerings, telling a New York conference he could see the platform listing Hilton and Marriott properties "at some point."
Food Experiences Are a Core Reason People Travel, Executive Tells Global Forum
A travel industry executive told the Skift Global Forum that food tourism ranks among the most essential motivators for travel, arguing that place-specific culinary moments are what guests remember and return for.
Carnival Reworks Dining as Cruise Guests Shift to Earlier, Faster Meals
Cruise passengers are changing how they spend their time on board, moving away from late seating and long formal dinners, and Carnival has adjusted its dining formats in response.
Hong Kong retailers tipped for Mainland spending lift as Mid-Autumn and Golden Week holidays run together
Hong Kong retailers could capture stronger spending from Mainland Chinese visitors during an extended Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday stretch, with Sa Sa singled out as the biggest expected beneficiary in one brokerage's coverage.
Airline Executive Calls Premium Demand 'Insatiable' as Fleet Shifts Toward Premium Seating
An airline is reconfiguring its fleet so that premium seats come close to matching economy capacity, a change its executive, Koster, describes as a decade-long investment rather than a gamble. He says premium demand is "insatiable" and that the carrier was "underweight" in premium cabin capacity for years.
Expedia Cuts 58 Seattle Roles in Finance-Led Restructuring
Expedia is eliminating 58 positions in Seattle under a Washington WARN notice filed this week, with the cuts scheduled to take effect between November 21 and December 1. The company says the reductions are tied mainly to a reorganization of its global finance team.
VMH Swiss to Debut Mettler 1929 and Victoria 1905 in Travel Retail at TFWA Cannes
Brand representative VMH Swiss is bringing Swiss premium skincare label Mettler 1929 and Swedish heritage skincare name Victoria 1905 into the travel retail channel, using next week's TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes as the launch platform.
Kerzner Signs SIRO Brickell in Miami, Marking the Brand's First US Hotel and Residences
Kerzner International Holdings has signed SIRO Brickell, Miami, the first SIRO hotel and branded residences in the United States, with an opening targeted for 2030. The property will anchor Miami's Brickell district and becomes the fourth project in the wellness-focused brand's global pipeline.
Food Accademia Founder Fabrizio Canal Says Italy Is the Hero Product in Travel Retail
Source signal: On the record with travel retail’s roving buongustai, Food Accademia Founder Fabrizio Canal
Corrigans take Havadrink Enterprises into travel retail with DeGroff spirits portfolio
Drinks industry veteran Steve Corrigan and his wife Joanne are re-establishing their New York business Havadrink Enterprises as a travel retail venture, backed by a partnership with cocktail figure Dale DeGroff and Oregon-based Hood River Distillers.
Al Waha Duty Free Debuts Masra Flagship Brand at TFWA Cannes
The Riyadh-based travel retailer, owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, is introducing its flagship retail brand Masra at the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes next week. The launch blends international and Saudi-origin fragrances, beauty, gifts and travel essentials.
Premium Travel's Next Big Spender Is 29, American Express Travel Chief Says
Millennial and Gen Z spending on American Express rose 40% in Q2 2026, and the two groups now make up 65% of its new customers globally, according to the president of American Express Travel.
Hyatt CEO Credits Owner Mindset as Hotel Owners Press Groups on Costs
Hyatt Chairman, President and CEO Mark Hoplamazian said the company's long history as a hotel owner still shapes how it deals with owners pushing back on costs and fees, speaking at the Skift Global Forum in New York City.
China's Underground Club Map: Shanghai's C·Park Hub, a Shenzhen Solo Outpost and a Hidden Hong Kong Spot
A tour of China's underground club landscape finds a dense Shanghai cluster around the C·Park complex, a lone venue carrying Shenzhen's scene, and a low-key Hong Kong mainstay tucked inside Central. The lineup shifts constantly, with venues cycling through birth, evolution and decay.
Expedia to Join Meta's Muse AI Agent, Executive Says
Expedia will make its travel offerings available on Meta's Muse, the AI agent the Wall Street Journal labelled an instant hit within two weeks of its debut, according to remarks by Gorin at an industry conference.
Riga Airport opens tender for hotel and office plots at RIX Airport City
Riga Airport has launched a competitive tender covering two plots within its RIX Airport City estate, with a qualification stage that opened on 22 September. One site is earmarked for a hotel and the other for an office building.
IHG Brand Chief Says Travel Marketers Are Handing Creative Control to Creators
Travel brands are moving away from tightly curated campaigns and heavily produced video, giving content creators more say over how destinations and hotels are presented. IHG's global brands chief told a New York City summit he had to loosen his grip on a brand identity built over more than a decade.
Travel Brands Lean on 'Incrementality' as Creator Video Bookings Take Months to Land
Travel marketers say the route from an Instagram or TikTok video to a completed booking rarely follows a straight line, pushing them toward "incrementality" as the measurement of record. Click-based attribution, they argue, captures only a fraction of the effect.
Travelex takes five-year exclusive FX and tax refund mandate at Düsseldorf Airport
Düsseldorf Airport has awarded Travelex a five-year contract to run foreign exchange and tax refund services exclusively from 1 February 2027, extending the operator's German airport network to six sites.
Avolta to bring Hawaii-rooted dining to three island airports
Travel retailer Avolta has partnered with the Hawaii Department of Transportation to launch a new wave of food and beverage concepts at Daniel K. Inouye International, Lihue and Kahului airports, with its HMSHost division developing and running the venues.
Lagardère Travel Retail Deploys AI Skin Analysis at Three European Airports
Lagardère Travel Retail has teamed up with beauty tech firm Perfect Corp. to offer AI-powered skincare diagnostics and tailored product recommendations at airports in Prague, Rome and Amsterdam, with two more locations planned by the end of 2026.
Travel Coverage Reframed Around the 'Next Dollar' That Shapes Trip Costs
A travel-business publication is shifting its lens from traveler spending after the fact to the capital-allocation decisions that come first, arguing those choices determine routes, resorts, booking control and ultimately trip prices.
UK Conservatives Pledge Return of Tourist Tax-Free Shopping, but Airports Left Out
The UK's opposition Conservative Party has pledged to bring back tax-free shopping for overseas visitors if it returns to government, reversing the 2021 abolition of the VAT Retail Export Scheme. The plan stops short of restoring tax-free sales at UK airports.
China Duty Free Group rolls out 'Super Golden Week' campaign across six Hainan stores
China Duty Free Group has launched a themed campaign across its six stores in Hainan, timed to the Mid-Autumn Festival on 25 September and the National Day holiday from 1 to 7 October. The promotion blends shopping incentives with entertainment and airport services.
AirAsia's Tony Fernandes Rejects Talk of Rivals Absorbing Its Malaysia Capacity
AirAsia co-founder Tony Fernandes has dismissed reports that Malaysia's government was weighing whether rival carriers could take over part of the airline's domestic capacity, calling the claims misinformation.
Vietnam Duty Free Opens 600sq m Store at Hanoi's Noi Bai Airport Terminal 2
Vietnam Duty Free has officially opened a 600sq m departures store at Noi Bai International Airport Terminal 2 in Hanoi, pairing international labels with a curated section of Vietnamese products.
Dior Opens House of Dior Flagship on Milan's Via Monte Napoleone
Dior has opened a House of Dior on Via Monte Napoleone in Milan, a three-floor space designed by architect Peter Marino that blends French art de vivre with the city's creative character.
Brand USA's $250 Million Pandemic-Era Funding Boost Nears Its End
A one-time $250 million injection from Congress that kept Brand USA's budget near full funding is winding down, leaving the U.S. tourism marketing body exposed to federal cuts that stripped as much as $80 million from its annual budget.
Uber and Airbnb Push Into Hotels, Testing Frequency Against Travel Intent
Uber arrives in hotel bookings with a high-frequency daily habit behind it, while Airbnb arrives with travel intent. Their hotel expansion will show which advantage carries further.
Chinese Theme Parks Cast Actors as In-Character NPCs to Draw Tourists
Scenic spots and theme parks in China are hiring well-known actors to appear as in-character NPCs, generating crowds and social media buzz. The practice reflects a broader shift toward immersive, experiential travel favored by young Chinese tourists.
China's Luxury Hotel Guests Want Pets, Teapots and Personal Touches, Hang Lung Director Says
Chinese travellers are pushing the country's hospitality sector to raise its game, demanding cultural experiences, personalised service and pet-friendly stays, according to a senior director at Hong Kong developer Hang Lung Properties.
IndiGo Lifts Fees for Infant Travel, Baggage and Priority Services
IndiGo has raised charges across a range of optional services, including infant travel, excess baggage and priority check-in, while leaving its core low fares untouched.
Royal Schiphol Group Issues €426 Million Airport Advertising Tender
Royal Schiphol Group has launched a tender for the management and development of its airport advertising portfolio, spanning more than 1,000 media assets across its Dutch airport network. The concessions carry a combined estimated value of €426 million excluding VAT.
Hilton Pivots to Mid-Market Hotels in Saudi Arabia After Luxury Build-Out
Hilton's EMEA president says the kingdom's luxury hotel pipeline is largely complete, and the company's next push will be mid-market brands and franchises — a playbook it says Turkey has already proven.
Ian Macleod Distillers Adds Glengoyne and Tamdhu Travel Retail Exclusives
Ian Macleod Distillers is broadening its global travel retail range with two channel-exclusive aged malts from Glengoyne and Tamdhu, plus new packaging for Smokehead Extra Rare.
Avolta Opens Revamped Geneva Airport Food Court as First Phase of Six-Year F&B Contract
Avolta has unveiled a reworked landside food court at Geneva Airport, completing the first phase of a six-year food and beverage agreement that spans 12 locations and more than 3,000sq m.
Old Pulteney Marks 200 Years With 'Harbour in a Storm' Airport Activations
Old Pulteney's bicentenary campaign pairs its 'Harbour in a Storm' theme with immersive airport experiences and some of the distillery's rarest whiskies in Edinburgh, London and Paris.
IHG Rebuilds Hotel Content So AI Assistants Can Read It
IHG is overhauling how it structures and manages hotel content so that AI travel assistants can understand individual properties, its chief commercial and marketing officer said ahead of a September industry forum appearance.
UK Climate Advisers Warn Heathrow Expansion Clashes With Net Zero Target
The UK's official climate advisers have told the government that expanding Heathrow is not currently compatible with the country's Net Zero target, and that curbing passenger demand could be the fallback if emissions-cutting technology fails to arrive.
Vantage Lane Pushes Luxury Mobility Beyond the Road With Private Aviation Tie-In
London-based Vantage Lane is widening its chauffeur-driven model into a managed mobility ecosystem that combines luxury ground transport, private aviation and trusted travel partners in a single experience.
Zetter Group to Open First Hotel Outside U.K. in Amsterdam in 2027
The Zetter Group will open The Zetter 717 Amsterdam in January 2027, its first property outside the U.K. The 24-key boutique hotel will occupy a historic canal house on Prinsengracht in the city’s UNESCO-listed Canal District.
Shiseido's Fran Law: Cultural partnerships drive travel retail conversion
Shiseido Travel Retail executive Fran Law outlines how the beauty group uses celebrity and artist collaborations, connected consumer journeys and airport activations to turn cultural relevance into commercial value.
JD Wetherspoon Opens First Manchester Airport Pub as Terminal 2 Revamp Nears Finish
JD Wetherspoon has launched its first pub at Manchester Airport, a 300-seat venue called The Belle Vue, marking the last new food and drink outlet planned for the redeveloped Terminal 2.
US Banks Split on Travel Ambitions as Card Spending Reaches $1.1 Trillion
A divide has opened in American finance over premium travel cards: a few issuers want to own the trip itself, while most banks prefer to own the customer paying for it.
Nujuma Joins Ritz-Carlton Reserve Portfolio on Saudi Arabia's Ummahat Island
Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, has opened on Ummahat Island in the Red Sea, becoming part of a global collection of only nine Reserve estates. The private island retreat sits within the Blue Hole cluster, served by the carbon-neutral Red Sea International Airport.
American Airlines Flags Capacity Cuts if Fuel Prices Stay Elevated
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said the carrier could make capacity "trade-offs" if fuel costs remain high long-term, pointing to slower growth in 2027.
Sam's Club Travel Relaunches With Cruise Site Built by Boundless Labs
The Walmart-owned warehouse club has relaunched Sam's Club Travel around a new cruise-booking platform developed with Boundless Labs, a five-year-old cruise technology firm tied to the founders of Rocket Travel.
Sazerac closes deal for fast-growing Au Vodka
Drinks group Sazerac has completed its acquisition of Au Vodka, the Welsh premium vodka label that has built a strong following in UK travel retail. The purchase price was not disclosed.
Charlotte Tilbury opens first Asia Pacific travel retail boutiques at KLIA and Bangkok
Source signal: Charlotte Tilbury brings Hollywood glamour to Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok Suvarnabhumi airports
United Expects to Recover Full Jet Fuel Costs as Premium Demand Holds
United Airlines' finance chief says the carrier still expects to offset 100% of its jet fuel expenses through higher fares by year-end, even after a sharp run-up in fuel prices, pointing to traveler appetite for premium seats and onboard amenities.
Asia's Airports Are Filling Up Again, but Travel-Retail Tills Are Not Ringing
Passenger numbers are climbing across Asian airports and travellers are lingering in terminals, yet duty-free and travel-retail sales keep lagging. Retailers say the missing link is conversion, not footfall.
China's Young Travelers Trade Big-City Trips for Slow Travel in County Towns
Chinese youth are choosing second-tier cities and county-level towns over Beijing and Shanghai, favoring quieter itineraries, cultural experiences and affordable luxury. A Tongcheng Travel summer review points to a sharp rise in visitors to county-level destinations.
Pernod Ricard, Heinemann Open Permanent Whisky Emporium at Sydney Airport Terminal 1
A permanent Whisky Emporium grouping five Pernod Ricard Scotch whisky brands has opened in Sydney Airport Terminal 1 under a partnership with Heinemann Oceania and the airport.
Moët & Chandon brings Formula 1 podium experience to Madrid airport with Avolta
Moët Hennessy Travel Retail and Avolta have opened the first Moët & Chandon x Formula 1 activation in global travel retail, a pop-up at Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport that runs through the end of September.
Lagardère Travel Retail Cambodia Marks First Anniversary at Techo International Airport
Lagardère Travel Retail Cambodia is celebrating one year of retail and food & beverage operations at Techo International Airport, including Aelia Duty Free, The Gallery In, Eye Love and Marché.
Thailand Halves Visa-Free Stays to 30 Days for Over 60 Nationalities
Source signal: Thailand Tightens Entry Rules to Focus on ‘Quality Tourism’
Steve Case to Outline 'Scarcity Shift' AI Investing Rule at Skift Global Forum 2026
Revolution chairman and CEO Steve Case will appear at Skift Global Forum on September 22–24, 2026, to explain the test behind his AI-era bets: whether a given thing becomes abundant or stays scarce.
Booking Holdings Runs Five AI Bets as Priceline's Penny Leads the Field
Booking Holdings is pursuing five artificial-intelligence initiatives, including two internal startups and a soon-to-launch Agoda trip-planning tool, with Priceline's revamped Penny agent so far drawing the strongest early signals.
Ritz-Carlton to debut its first EMEA all-inclusive resort in Kemer, Türkiye
Marriott International has signed an agreement with Özak GYO to bring The Ritz-Carlton, Kemer, All-Inclusive to Türkiye's Antalya region, marking the brand's first luxury all-inclusive property in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan Reveals Seven Renovated Suites
The Ubud resort has unveiled seven reimagined suites designed with Hirsch Bedner Associates, pairing its suspended rice-bowl architecture with floor-to-ceiling views over the Ayung River valley.
Wyndham Unveils Dolce Nova, a Boutique Upper-Upscale Spin-Off of Dolce Hotels
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has launched Dolce Nova, a boutique upper-upscale brand extending its meetings-focused Dolce Hotels & Resorts portfolio. It marks the first brand concept to be created in-house by Wyndham's EMEA team.
The BoTree in Marylebone Adds Two New Suites With Private Terraces and Skyline Views
The BoTree in London's Marylebone has unveiled two new suites designed as private urban retreats, pairing expansive living space and private outdoor areas with wellness-focused details. The largest, the 86.5 sq. m. Harley Suite, looks out across Marylebone and Mayfair.
Dubai Duty Free and Emirates sign exclusive passenger benefits deal at DXB Terminal 3
Dubai Duty Free and Emirates have agreed a partnership giving the airline's passengers exclusive offers at DDF shops across Dubai International Airport's Terminal 3.
Shangri-La Group is opening Songtei Kyoto, part of its Shangri-La Signatures brand
Shangri-La Group announces Songtei Kyoto, Shangri-La Signatures (“Songtei Kyoto”), the latest addition to its ultra-luxury Shangri-La Signatures collection.
Middle East Travel Recovery Stalls as Warnings and Flight Suspensions Hit Demand
Renewed travel warnings and flight suspensions have stalled the Middle East’s travel recovery, leaving accommodation providers to rebuild demand and pricing power.
Erborian Rolls Out Triple Care BB Milk Across European Travel Retail
Erborian has launched Triple Care BB Milk, a three-in-one hybrid beauty product, with European travel retail distribution beginning in October and a month-long activation at Madrid-Barajas Airport.
Accor CEO Sébastien Bazin Says Data Should Feed Instinct, Not Overrule It
The head of one of the world's largest hotel groups says data sharpens big decisions but should never make them, arguing that gut feel, human impact and timing come first. He will lay out that framework for a travel industry audience in September 2026.
WEPURPLE to Host Free 15-Minute Sample2Skin Beauty Sessions at TFWA Cannes
The integrated design and marketing group will run complimentary 15-minute Sample2Skin sessions during the TFWA World Exhibition & Conference in Cannes, spotlighting beauty sampling as a route into an estimated US$8 billion impulse-purchase opportunity in travel retail.
Dorchester Collection Weighs Consistency Against 'Cookie Cutter' Luxury
Dorchester Collection is working through a central luxury-hospitality tension: tightening the service basics across its portfolio without flattening the individual character of hotels that guests return to.
Henkell Freixenet Adds Canned Spritz Formats To Travel Retail Line-Up
Source signal: Henkell Freixenet taps spritz and ready-to-drink trends with new travel retail innovations
Stoke Park to Reopen in October 2026 With Five Dining Venues by Chef Tom Sellers
The 300-acre Buckinghamshire estate will emerge from a years-long restoration with five new dining concepts created by Tom Sellers and HiStory Hospitality, the team behind London's two-Michelin-starred Restaurant Story.
Canadian Travel to U.S. Climbs 8.8% in August, Fifth Straight Monthly Increase
Return trips by Canadians to the United States rose 8.8% year over year in August, the fifth consecutive monthly gain, though volumes remain well below 2024 levels.