Mews Bets on Agentic AI, Apple Rebuilds Siri, United Downplays Credit Cap Impact
Hotel tech moves toward autonomous operations, Apple prepares to turn Siri into a true AI chatbot, and United weighs in on how a proposed credit-card interest cap could reshape airline loyalty economics. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why Mews’ $300 million raise signals a shift toward AI-run hotel operations, what Apple’s next move means for travel booking inside conversational assistants, and why United believes new credit rules could hit its competitors harder than itself. Articles Referenced: Mews Raises $300 Million to Prove AI Can Run Hotel Operations Google’s Advice for Travel Brands: Forget Generic Keywords, AI Can Read Your Photos United CEO: 10% Credit Card Cap Would Hit Rivals Harder Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
Ryanair Spars with Musk, Google Rethinks Travel Search, Outsite Wins PE Backing
Ryanair turns a public spat with Elon Musk into a masterclass in attention economics, Google offers blunt advice to travel brands navigating AI-driven discovery, and Outsite secures private equity backing for its “social extended stays” model. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down how controversy is becoming a low-cost marketing strategy, why visuals and reviews now matter more than generic keywords, and how hospitality is packaging belonging as a scalable product — without blowing up the balance sheet. This episode is brought to you by Lodgify! Articles Referenced: Ryanair Turns Elon Musk Feud Into (Yet More) Free Marketing Google’s Advice for Travel Brands: Forget Generic Keywords, AI Can Read Your Photos Outsite Lands Private Equity Backing for ‘Social Extended Stays’ – Exclusive Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
Creators Tap Validation Economy, Sphere Goes Small, Europe’s Business Class Defended
Travel creators tap into a powerful validation economy in South Asia, Sphere bets on a smaller, scalable venue model near Washington, D.C., and Europe’s much-criticized short-haul business class gets a rare defense. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down how creators are becoming cultural interfaces for massive audiences, why Sphere’s next move is about networks, not spectacle, and how “Eurobusiness” class is really about flexibility and friction reduction — not the seat itself. This episode is brought to you by Lodgify! Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
Ads Come to ChatGPT, Cruise Leaders Refocus on Emissions, Travel Demand Restructures
Ads arrive inside ChatGPT, cruise industry leadership puts emissions front and center, and travel demand shows signs of becoming more selective — not weaker. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down what advertising inside conversational AI could mean for travel distribution, why Carnival’s CEO stepping into the top role at CLIA signals a sharper climate focus for cruising, and how AI is reshaping loyalty as travelers optimize for price, timing, and convenience in 2026. This episode is brought to you by Lodgify! Articles Referenced: OpenAI is Testing ChatGPT Ads — Travel Brands Should Pay Attention Carnival CEO to Lead Cruise Group, Says Emissions Cuts Are a Priority The Rebalancing of Travel and Decline of Brand Loyalty Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
Travel’s Wallet Share Shrinks, Hilton Enters Apartments, Greenland Faces Political Noise
The post-pandemic travel spending surge begins to cool, Hilton expands deeper into apartment-style stays, and Greenland navigates growing political noise as it markets silence and nature. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why travel is losing wallet share even as demand stays strong, what Hilton’s new Apartment Collection signals about longer-stay strategy, and how geopolitics could complicate Greenland’s rise as a bucket-list destination. Articles Referenced: Travel’s Wallet Share Reckoning Is Here Hilton Debuts Apartment Collection as 26th Brand Greenland Tourism’s Trump Problem: Surviving the Unwanted Spotlight Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.