All published updates

Skift Forum: Premiumization Should Be Structural Strategy, Not a Product Upgrade

At Skift Global Forum, Air Canada Chief Commercial Officer Mark Galardo and ZS Managing Partner Kunal Shah said premiumization should be a structural company strategy rather than layered on top of existing operations. Galardo said premium revenue share at Air Canada grew from about 20% a decade ago to 30% today, with a target of 35% by end of decade. Shah said the industry too often equates premium with upscale, but midscale and economy properties can also capture value through pricing and personalization, and premium travelers prefer digital-first experiences. Galardo said premium demand is directly correlated to the health of the economy and strength of equity markets, and warned against…

Amadeus Data: Chicago and New York Marathons Lift Air and Hotel Demand

Amadeus Travel Intelligence data shows rising air and hotel demand around the October Chicago Marathon and November New York Marathon. Domestic air bookings rise 13% for Chicago and 45% for New York in race weeks. Chicago race-weekend hotel occupancy is 85.9% at an ADR of $364, up 1.8% and 10.2% year on year; New York occupancy is 58.1%, down 0.7%, while ADR rises 12.4% to $369. International source markets including India, Brazil, Sweden and Italy grow, while Texas and the Sunbelt lead domestic growth.

2026 Beijing Culture Forum Releases 27 Major Outcomes and Secures 2 Signings

On the evening of September 22, the 2026 Beijing Culture Forum's special event for releasing major outcomes was held, unveiling 27 major outcomes and securing 2 significant signings. The outcomes feature three characteristics: exemplary leadership, cultural heritage continuity, and practical innovation, and include the '2025 Report on China-Foreign Cultural Exchange,' the 'Top Ten Events in Building the National Cultural Center in 2025,' the 'First Batch of the Beijing Archives Documentary Heritage List,' as well as the 'Return of the Chu Silk Manuscript from Zidanku, Changsha' and a 'Multilingual Corpus of Cultural Heritage.' On signings, the Italian Veneto Ancient City Walls Cities Allian…

Japan's August Foreign Visitors Fall 9.6% Year-on-Year; Mainland Chinese Visitors Plunge 59%

Japan National Tourism Organization estimated on September 16 that August foreign visitors totaled 3.0989 million, down 9.6% year-on-year, the first decline in a month. Mainland Chinese visitors fell 59.0% to 418,000, the ninth consecutive monthly decline, affected by deteriorating Japan-China relations and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks on Taiwan. South Korean visitors were the largest group at 850,500, up 28.7%. Typhoon-related flight cancellations and rising fuel surcharges also contributed; ANA and Japan Airlines raised fuel surcharges for July-August tickets to record highs. Cumulative visitors from January to August totaled 27.6263 million, down 2.7% year-on-year.

EASA: EU SAF supply reached 1.1 million tonnes in 2025, exceeding the 2% mandate

EASA published its 2026 ReFuelEU Aviation Annual Technical Report on 17 September 2026. Aviation fuel suppliers reported 39.3 million tonnes of fuel at Union airports in 2025, of which 1.1 million tonnes (2.8%) was SAF, exceeding the 2% mandatory minimum applicable in 2025. SAF supply rose from 193,000 tonnes in 2024 to 1.1 million tonnes in 2025, nearly six times the previous volume. SAF was supplied at 121 Union airports across all 27 EU Member States, or 79% of Union airports, up from 33 airports in 2024. Using SAF instead of conventional jet fuel cut GHG emissions at Union airports by 3.33 million tonnes in 2025. EU SAF production capacity is projected to stay on track for the 6% blendi…

EU proposes €489 million to help Portugal, Spain, Italy and Malta recover from severe storms

The European Commission has proposed mobilising €489 million from the EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) to help Portugal, Spain, Italy and Malta recover from severe storms and flooding in January and February 2026. The funding will support rebuilding transport infrastructure, restoring essential services, clean-up operations, temporary accommodation and rescue services. Portugal would receive €261 million, Spain €149 million, Italy €74.8 million and Malta €3.72 million. The proposal requires approval by the European Parliament and Council; after advance payments, €385.6 million would remain to be paid.

Impact and considerations

Storm damage to transport, power and telecommunications directly affects business travel and supply chains in Southern Europe. EU funding will accelerate infrastructure repair, but the approval process means recovery will take time.

Certares' O'Hara Bets €300 Million on European High-Speed Rail

Certares founder Greg O'Hara, ahead of the Skift Global Forum, detailed his roughly €300 million investment in Trenitalia France. The company ordered 19 high-speed trains from Hitachi in August, ten of them for a Paris–London service targeted for 2029. O'Hara argues that whoever delivers rolling stock first should secure the three required approvals — French, tunnel and British — first. The investment came from Certares' current fund with co-investment, drawing strong interest from European family offices and institutions.

Travel Trade Delegation from 9 European Countries Explores Gansu's Silk Road

From September 15 to 21, a delegation of 31 travel trade professionals, travel media journalists, and influencers from nine European countries—the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Denmark, Luxembourg, and Sweden—visited Gansu on a seven-day, six-night Silk Road exploration trip at the invitation of the International Exchange and Cooperation Bureau of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. On September 15, the Gansu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism held a dedicated tourism promotion event, where the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau and selected local travel agencies presented routes tailored to European visitors. The…

EU Adopts Fair Labour Mobility Package with Six Legislative Proposals

The European Commission adopted the Fair Labour Mobility Package, comprising six legislative proposals: the ESSPASS Regulation, the ELA Regulation, the Skills Portability Act, the Professional Qualifications+ Directive, the Delegated Directive on Physiotherapists and the Third Country National Qualifications Directive. The package moves labor mobility from paper to digital, including real-time verification of social security documents such as the Portable Document A1 via a mobile app; strengthens the European Labour Authority's inspection and enforcement capacity; digitalises qualifications from secondary school to PhD; shortens qualification recognition procedures and expands automatic rec…

US State Department Issues Level 2 Travel Advisory for Italy

The U.S. Department of State issued a Level 2 travel advisory for Italy, urging travelers to exercise increased caution. The advisory cites the risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Italy. It also notes that petty crime is common, especially in popular tourist locations and on public transportation including trains, and that most crimes against foreigners are crimes of opportunity such as purse snatching, pickpocketing and car break-ins.

Impact and considerations

Italy is a major European business-travel and MICE destination, so a Level 2 advisory means corporate travel managers should reassess risk levels for Italy itineraries and monitor employee safety and property security on public transport and in popular areas.

Omio Business Expands Globally, Widening Multimodal Booking Access

Omio announced that Omio Business, its platform designed for small businesses and individual travellers such as freelancers, has expanded from its earlier UK launch to global availability. The platform lets users book flights, hotels, trains and buses in one place, with VAT-compliant invoicing and a centralized booking history. Omio said it has seen promising demand, particularly in Italy, Spain and the United States. Separately, the wider Omio platform announced a $10 million investment in July for expansion across Japan and Southeast Asia, and parent company Omio Group agreed in July to acquire Rail Europe.

FCDO Updates Italy Travel Advice: Removes Mount Etna Eruption and Flight Disruption Information

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) updated its Italy travel advice on 17 September 2026, removing previous information about the Mount Etna eruption and flight disruption. The advice also covers Vatican City. The FCDO states that its travel advice describes travel risks to help travellers make informed decisions, and notes that travellers should obtain appropriate travel insurance covering their itinerary, planned activities and emergency expenses.

Impact and considerations

Removal of the Mount Etna flight-disruption information indicates the FCDO assesses the immediate traveller impact as eased, though volcanic activity can change at short notice. Organisations relying on UK official advice for travel policy should update their risk guidance and monitor flights to and from Sicily.

The Short-Term Rental Model for Shrinking Places

Short-term rental regulation has long focused on housing scarcity, as in New York and Barcelona. But a growing number of regions face the opposite: housing vacancy amid population decline. Japan has about 9 million empty homes, 13.8% of its housing stock. Italy's 'albergo diffuso' model converts empty homes into a unified hotel, creating jobs but hard to scale. Germany's Black Forest and others are piloting it.

Colbert Collection Debuts in Florence, London Next

Colbert Collection has launched its first hotel, Porta Rossa Hotel Firenze, in Florence's historic center. The property features 69 rooms and suites, blending heritage with modern comforts. The brand emphasizes culture, gastronomy, and connection, with a second hotel in London scheduled for Q4 2026.

Airbnb Expands in China Outbound Travel: From Stays to Full Travel Ecosystem

Airbnb reported Q2 2026 revenue of $3.6 billion, up 17% YoY, with gross booking value of $27.2 billion. The company is evolving from accommodations to a full travel ecosystem including experiences and services. Major events like the World Cup drove growth. In China, Airbnb is localizing to attract young travelers, launching features like 'Travel Circle' to cater to group travel and longer stays.

United Adds 10 International Routes — From Okinawa to Ibiza

United Airlines has announced its largest-ever international expansion, adding 10 new off-the-beaten-path destinations across Europe and Asia beginning in 2027, plus enhancements to existing routes. The strategy targets premium travelers and leans on the new Airbus A321XLR narrowbody—equipped with 32 premium lie-flat seats—to open secondary European markets that legacy widebodies couldn't serve profitably. New routes span Okinawa, Toulouse, Luxembourg, Marseille, Ibiza, Valencia, Terceira, Ljubljana, Sardinia, and Sicily, with United positioned as the only U.S. carrier in eight of the 10 markets. The move reflects intensifying transatlantic competition (Delta has made similar bets on Sardin…

Marriott's Luxury Collection Debuts Expedition Series Focused on Cultural Immersion

Marriott International's Luxury Collection launched The Luxury Collection Expeditions, featuring 10 itineraries and experiences including Private Tailored Journeys, Day Discoveries, and Residencies & Collaborations. Led by local experts, these immerse guests in culture, cuisine, and nature. The inaugural collection spans North America, Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean, including Japan, Italy, Spain, and more.

Airbnb-CarTrawler Partnership Details Revealed

Airbnb's car rental partnership with CarTrawler, launched a month ago, is generating about 500 bookings per day across five markets: the US, France, Italy, Spain, and Australia. CarTrawler controls the top-of-page display, monetizing through marked-up wholesale rates and split commissions, and tilts toward suppliers with volume incentives. However, data sharing raises concerns: CarTrawler receives extensive customer data even when users merely click a link. Expedia's pending acquisition of CarTrawler heightens conflict-of-interest stakes, though Expedia asserts strict data separation.

Best Destinations to Visit this September Equinox

Booking.com highlights six destinations for the September equinox, covering fall in the Northern Hemisphere and spring in the Southern Hemisphere. Research indicates 39% of travelers consider spiritual influences when planning vacations. Featured destinations include Vermont, USA; the Dolomites, Italy; Kiso, Japan; San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina; Tasmania, Australia; and the Garden Route, South Africa, with accommodation suggestions.

The Venice Times Opens, Marking Vignette Collection's Debut in Italy

IHG Hotels & Resorts, in partnership with Pacini Group, has opened The Venice Times Hotel in Venice, marking the debut of its Vignette Collection brand in Italy. The 30-room property is located in the Cannaregio district, blending art and history for an immersive experience. The hotel supports the restoration of the Naval History Museum and offers unique activities.

Evotec Selects Navan to Unify Global Travel, Payments, and Expense Management

Evotec, a global drug discovery company, has selected Navan to manage its complete corporate travel and expense (T&E) program across Germany, the UK, the US, Italy, and France. The move aims to eliminate manual expense reporting and streamline processes through automation, providing real-time visibility and control to support operational excellence.

Booking.com highlights destinations for distinct stays

Booking.com has curated a collection of distinctive stays, including ryokans in Hakone, Japan, cave hotels in Matera, Italy, riads in Essaouira, Morocco, overwater villas in the Maldives, and shepherd's huts in Somerset, UK. The report notes 89% of travelers are interested in alternative accommodations.

Travelport and Aeroitalia Sign Multi-Year Content Agreement

Travelport and Aeroitalia, the Italian airline connecting mainland Italy with Sicily and Sardinia, have signed a new multi-year content agreement making Aeroitalia's content available through Travelport. The agreement addresses a gap where the carrier's content had previously only been available through competitor platforms. From year two, rich content and branding capabilities will be activated, including resident fares available for sale on Travelport's GDS. Aeroitalia is currently the second largest Italian airline by passenger numbers, founded in 2022, and sold 3 million tickets in 2025. It serves 26 airports (22 in Italy) and offers 43 routes between Italy and Europe, with plans to add…

Booking.com Highlights 'Destination Dupes' to Combat Overtourism

Booking.com released a report revealing that 29% of travelers are interested in alternative destinations offering a similar experience to well-known spots, and 44% of those seeking less-crowded places are motivated to avoid contributing to overtourism. The report recommends alternatives such as Paros for Santorini and Favignana for Ibiza.

Visa launches travel platform with curated experiences in 10 destinations

Visa launched Visa Destinations, a travel platform for cardholders offering experiences, city guides, and travel benefits in 10 destinations: Paris, London, Dubai, Milan, Rome, Mexico City, New York City, Miami, San Francisco, and Thailand. The platform includes recommendations for dining, entertainment, culture, hospitality, wellness, shopping, and transport, with priority access to Top of the Rock and the Louvre. Visa Infinite and Signature cardholders receive additional benefits. Partners include Santander Group, Global Blue, Star Alliance, and Trip.com Group.