All published updates

Virgin Atlantic CEO: Premium Demand 'Insatiable' as 787 Refit Cuts Economy Seats

Virgin Atlantic CEO Corneel Koster told Skift Global Forum that reconfiguring the fleet so premium seats nearly match economy is an investment, not a bet, calling premium demand 'insatiable' and saying the airline was 'underweight' in premium capacity for years. Refurbished 787 Dreamliners will cut economy from 192 to 127 seats while expanding premium. He cited UK-to-US demand up 7% year over year, corporate demand up 11% and cargo up 36%. Koster said the Delta partnership makes Virgin 'probably more Virgin than ever,' and warned that the UK sustainable aviation fuel mandate is rising while the fuel 'is just not available.'

Hilton Opens and Renovates Worldwide This Season: From Kaua'i to Kuala Lumpur

Hilton has announced its seasonal global openings and renovations, spanning multiple brand debuts in new markets: NoMad debuts in Singapore, Waldorf Astoria and Conrad debut in Kuala Lumpur, Curio Collection debuts in Hawai'i, Tapestry Collection enters Baja California, and Curio Collection enters Valencia, Spain. In the U.S., Signia Hilton expands to Naples and Indianapolis, while Apartment Collection by Hilton enters Pittsburgh and Huntsville. Renovations include a $25 million property-wide renovation of Conrad Indianapolis timed to its 20th anniversary. Hilton Honors is running the More Points to Play promotion from Oct. 15 to Dec. 31, 2026.

Travelogix and Kudos Partner on Integrated Tech Offering

Travel data specialist Travelogix has partnered with Brisbane, Australia-based Kudos Travel Technology, with the two working as preferred technology partners to offer a more connected technology ecosystem. Current and prospective customers of both companies gain access to their respective platforms, and mutual customers can move seamlessly between platforms via new single sign-on capabilities tested with joint customer Sanford Travel, an Australia-based TMC. TMCs do not need to be customers of both providers to access shared capabilities, though doing so incurs an additional cost. The agreement initially focuses on preferred territories across the UK, Europe, Africa and Asia, while establis…

UK CAA sets scope of independent review into NATS technical incident

The UK Civil Aviation Authority published on 25 September the terms of reference for its independent review into the NATS technical incident of 8 September 2026, which disrupted travellers and saw more than 2,000 flights delayed, cancelled or diverted. A NATS preliminary report on 18 September attributed the incident to a software defect. The review will examine NATS' plans for renewing and modernising critical operational systems, business continuity, implementation of past review recommendations, the effectiveness of CAA regulatory oversight, and international best practice, and will also be informed by similar events including those of 21 September. An initial report goes to the Secretar…

Impact and considerations

The review's findings could shape the resilience, modernisation investment and regulatory oversight of UK air traffic management, affecting airline schedule reliability and business-traveller journeys.

Virgin Atlantic CEO: Don't Make Customers Pay More for SAF Without the Environmental Benefit

Virgin Atlantic CEO Corneel Koster said at the Skift Global Forum in New York that increasing mandates on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) while supply continues to lag is not tenable for the airline industry. He noted that the U.K. SAF mandate requires the fuel to make up 2% of the country's jet fuel demand, eventually rising to 22%, but there isn't enough SAF available.

China State Council: Mid-Autumn and National Day Holiday Air Passenger Volume Expected at 31.19 Mil…

On September 24, the State Council Information Office held a press conference. Ma Bing, Deputy Director of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, said that from September 25 to October 7, national civil aviation is expected to transport 31.19 million passengers, averaging 2.4 million per day, up 3.6% year-on-year, with a single-day peak expected to exceed 2.6 million. Daily ticket bookings at the top ten aviation hubs exceeded 490,000, up 3.9% year-on-year;特色 tourism cities such as Hulunbuir, Dehong, and Altay are expected to drive local air passenger volume growth of over 30%. International ticket bookings increased 22.5% year-on-year, with flights to neighboring countries up 20% and…

China Appears as Lead Partner Country at 2026 UK ATAS Annual Conference

The 2026 annual conference of the UK's Association of Touring and Adventure Suppliers (ATAS) was held in Northampton, England, on 21-22 September 2026, with China appearing as the event's lead partner country. China's London Tourist Office used the Mid-Autumn Festival occasion to stage a "Shared Moon at the Same Time" culture-and-tourism programme, presenting Chinese culture and new opportunities in China's tourism development to nearly 500 UK travel-industry representatives. The office joined airlines and travel agencies in exhibition booths, explaining new China travel scenarios alongside the visa-free policy, and many UK tour operators said they would add China itineraries to next year's…

2026 Skytrax World Airline Awards: Singapore Airlines Tops for Sixth Time, Hainan Airlines Ranks Ei…

The 2026 Skytrax World Airline Awards were announced in London, covering September 2025 to August 2026 and based on more than 24.8 million passenger surveys across over 300 airlines. Singapore Airlines won World's Best Airline for the sixth time, followed by Qatar Airways in second and Cathay Pacific in third; Hainan Airlines ranked eighth, the highest-placed mainland Chinese carrier. Singapore Airlines also took World's Best Economy Class and Best Economy Class Catering, while its low-cost unit Scoot won World's Best Long-Haul Low-Cost Airline for a sixth consecutive year. Qatar Airways won Best Airline in the Middle East, World's Best Business Class and Best Business Class Lounge. Traditi…

IHG Luxury & Lifestyle Portfolio Earns 2026 MICHELIN Key Recognition

IHG Hotels & Resorts announced broad recognition across its Luxury & Lifestyle portfolio in the 2026 MICHELIN Key selection, with 51 properties awarded across four brands: Six Senses, InterContinental, Regent and Kimpton. Six Senses London earned its first MICHELIN Key in its opening year, Six Senses Zighy Bay was elevated to Two Keys, and four Regent properties were recognised. The business now spans more than 600 hotels worldwide across six brands.

Self-Order Kiosks Reshape QSR Operations: Higher Checks and Faster Throughput

Hospitality Technology reports that global QSR self-ordering kiosk deployments are forecast to top 750,000 by 2030, up from 450,000 today, with the Americas holding the largest share and the U.S. hosting nearly one-third of all units worldwide. Brands including Portillo's, Qdoba, Bobby's Burgers, WOWorks and Mokas Coffee & Eatery shared practices showing the primary ROI is not labor reduction but higher ticket averages and peak-hour throughput. About 35% of Portillo's dine-in orders come through kiosks, and the chain has made three to five 24-inch kiosks standard in new builds; a Starbucks UK pilot showed 12% higher average transaction value than traditional POS. Operators also stress place…

Accor's MGallery launches "Care Concierge" health service

Accor's luxury boutique brand MGallery Collection launched the "Move & Care" programme during Pink October, combining movement and wellness with breast-health awareness. Across the collection, hotel bathrooms will feature a Pink October leaflet and QR code offering discreet breast self-check guidance; eleven selected hotels will introduce "Care Concierge" with one-to-one prevention sessions, private check-ups and spa treatments paired with an approved self-check guide. A Censuswide survey of 3,002 respondents in the UK, France and Australia conducted 3-6 August 2026 found 76% delay preventative health checks even when due, seven in ten say they have more time and headspace for health while…

UK CAA: NATS Disruption Likely 'Extraordinary Circumstances', Compensation Unlikely

The UK Civil Aviation Authority issued a statement on the 21 September 2026 technical failure at NATS' Prestwick centre, saying delays and cancellations directly caused by the incident are likely to constitute 'extraordinary circumstances' under passenger rights rules, meaning passengers are unlikely to be entitled to compensation. Airlines must still meet care obligations, including meals, refreshments and hotel accommodation proportionate to the delay, and promptly reimburse passengers who make their own arrangements where carriers cannot proactively offer care or suitable replacement flights. The issue primarily affected airports in northern parts of the UK, with other airports also repo…

UK Climate Advisers: Heathrow Expansion Incompatible With Net Zero Target

The UK government's official climate adviser, the Climate Change Committee (CCC), said this week that Heathrow expansion is not currently compatible with the UK's Net Zero target. CCC chair Nigel Topping said emissions from flying are projected to rise even without expansion, and the UK lacks a credible plan to bring them down. If decarbonisation technology does not materialise, demand management — throttling passenger demand — could be the only route. Aviation accounts for about 2.5% of global carbon emissions.

Hospitable Launches Native Split Payouts for Vrbo and Direct Bookings

Short-term rental operating system Hospitable has rolled out native Split Payouts for Vrbo and direct booking channels, automating revenue distribution between property managers and asset owners at check-in. The feature splits gross booking proceeds at the payment gateway layer, routing owner shares and management commissions directly to separate bank accounts, replacing manual end-of-month trust transfers and statement validation. The automated payout mechanics were previously exclusive to Airbnb's built-in payment engine and now extend to Vrbo and direct engine bookings. It is deployed on Hospitable's Mogul plan for US bank accounts, with a UK rollout planned next.

Dormakaba Buys Alliants as Hotel Locks Turn Into Software

Swiss access-control giant Dormakaba has agreed to acquire Alliants, a UK-based hotel technology company behind digital keys, guest messaging, check-in, payments and concierge tools used by major hotel groups. Financial terms were not disclosed, and the deal is expected to close later in 2026 following regulatory approval. Alliants' latest reported annual revenue is less than half of 1% of the buyer's sales, underscoring a capability acquisition rather than a revenue acquisition. Dormakaba generated CHF 2.79 billion (about $3.4 billion) in revenue in the year through June 2026, with CHF 449 million (about $546 million) in adjusted EBITDA and a 16.1% margin.

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.

Expedia and PredictHQ: Major US Summer Sporting Events Projected to Drive Over $537M in Visitor Spe…

New research from Expedia Group and PredictHQ finds that 18 major US summer sporting events across basketball, baseball, tennis, golf and hockey were forecast to attract more than 4 million attendees and generate over $537 million in visitor spending, including roughly $259 million on accommodation and $233 million on hospitality. Four New York events alone accounted for $304 million, rising to over $423 million for the wider region when the Southampton golf event is included. Demand spilled into surrounding counties, with Solano County, California up 180% year on year. Canada was the largest inbound market by travel intent, while Brazil, Mexico, the UK and Japan also grew.

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…

Skift Live Tourism Summit: Five Decisions in the Room

Skift will host its Live Tourism Summit on September 22, 2026, at North Javits Center in New York City, focusing on how live events have become a primary demand driver in global travel. The summit is structured around five decisions: surge versus long-term investment, how cities and promoters split value, readiness versus reality in handling demand, yield versus access in pricing, and competition versus coordination. Skift Research notes travelers now choose the moment — a concert, festival, or sporting event — and build the trip around it.

UK CAA Updates Airspace Change Process to Accelerate Modernisation

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has updated its Airspace Change Process to reflect new Government policy in the Air Navigation Directions and Air Navigation Guidance, with the updated CAP1616 taking effect on 1 October 2026. The CAA calls it a significant reform of how airspace changes are proposed, assessed and approved, supporting the UK Airspace Modernisation Strategy and having an immediate effect on proposed airspace changes in the London area. The reforms streamline requirements for lower-impact changes to reduce red tape while maintaining safety oversight and consultation. The CAA says the changes will help reduce flight delays caused by capacity constraints and strengthen alig…

Wyndham Launches Dolce Nova Boutique Brand

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts on Monday launched Dolce Nova, a boutique upper-upscale extension of its meetings and events-focused Dolce Hotels & Resorts brand. It is the first brand concept to originate from Wyndham's EMEA team; the company has acquired 20 of its 25 brands. Dolce Hotels & Resorts, acquired in 2015, has a typical footprint of 200 to 400 rooms and is primarily known for conferences and corporate events. Dolce Nova targets a new consumer base.

Hilton Signs 10 Spark by Hilton Hotels as UK Growth Gathers Pace

Hilton announced the signing of 10 Spark by Hilton hotels across England and Wales, adding 672 rooms, under a strategic agreement with UK owner-operator AG Hotels Group. The properties span Cardiff, Coventry, Derby, Doncaster, Hull, Peterborough, Runcorn, Sunderland, Wakefield and Washington, with openings expected between late 2026 and 2028. Most sit near employment centres, transport hubs and logistics corridors. Hilton also signed with SMAR Hotels Ltd for Scotland's first Spark by Hilton in Dunfermline. Globally, Spark now has over 275 open hotels and more than 200 in the pipeline.

Dorchester Collection Takes a Stand Against the Flattening of Luxury

Skift analyzes Dorchester Collection's market opportunity amid the flattening of luxury hospitality. The piece notes that iconic properties such as The Dorchester in London, Hôtel Plaza Athénée in Paris and The Beverly Hills Hotel in L.A. carry historical weight, and the challenge is to tighten and refine the basics without taking judgment away from the people who make each property worth returning to. The author uses London barbershop Truefitt & Hill as an analogy, arguing classic luxury's appeal lies in ritual and dependability rather than constant reinvention.

Letter from the Cotswolds: Tension Between Overtourism and Destination Building

A Web in Travel article explores overtourism in the Cotswolds. Castle Combe receives about 150,000 visitors annually, with tensions between visitors and residents flaring in summer. Visit Wiltshire promotes the Great West Way route to disperse tourists across 500 miles. Meanwhile, a US investor has bought 15 properties in Malmesbury to build a destination resort, potentially creating new overtourism pressure.

VantisCorp Launches White-Label TMC Platform; Booking Loses Etraveli Appeal

VantisCorp launched a white-label corporate travel automation platform for TMCs, unifying hotel and flight booking, approvals, multi-entity compliance workflows, tax-compliant invoicing and payment integration, with contracted clients live in India, the UK and Saudi Arabia. The EU General Court rejected Booking Holdings' appeal against the European Commission's decision to block its €1.6 billion acquisition of Etraveli Group, upholding the EC's finding. Spotnana announced a direct integration with Marriott International covering 10,000+ properties and the industry's first verified Marriott Bonvoy loyalty linking. Laters.com (formerly Fly Fairly) raised a $1.5 million seed round, offering 10…