Skift

We’re excited to welcome Kate Jensen, Head of Americas at Anthropic, to the Skift Global Forum East stage, October 29-30 in Abu Dhabi. At Anthropic, the AI company behind Claude, Kate leads sales and partnerships across the Americas, overseeing major cloud relationships with Amazon and Google. Her leadership sits at the intersection of enterprise partnerships and next gen AI deployment. Don’t miss the opportunity to hear from a leader working at the forefront of AI innovation and global growth. Register here: https://hubs.li/Q03PrtVd0

Amazon’s AWS didn’t ruin this podcast, but it did plenty of damage across travel yesterday. Also, we look at Brand USA’s new push and Waymo’s biz traveler robot taxis. 🎧Listen to the latest episode of the Skift Daily Briefing here: https://hubs.li/Q03Pr7-k0

Waymo Launches Business Travel Program for Its Self-Driving Cars - Waymo has launched 'Waymo for Business,' a self-driving car service for corporate travel, live in select U.S. cities. - The platform competes with Uber for Business and Lyft Business but currently lacks integration with travel booking and expense systems. - Adoption faces hurdles due to regulatory, liability, and integration concerns, though Waymo highlights benefits around privacy, productivity, and sustainability. https://hubs.li/Q03PqdWf0

Today’s outage ancross Amazon Web Services (AWS) disrupted operations for major travel companies, underscoring the industry's deep reliance on AWS cloud infrastructure. AWS powers critical systems for airlines, hotels, OTAs, and car rental firms, offering far more than data storage by integrating AI and supporting core business functions. The incident highlighted both the benefits and vulnerabilities of the travel sector's increasing shift to cloud-based solutions, as companies work toward more interoperable and AI-driven travel experiences. https://hubs.li/Q03Pqj1k0

The next generation of travelers is savvy, cost-conscious, and painfully aware of travel disruption risks. As such, they’re more receptive to overtures for travel protection, which address their need for better customer care. In our new report, sponsored by Allianz Partners, learn how partnerships that provide more peace of mind can increase customer loyalty. https://hubs.li/Q03PnM_d0 Sponsored by Allianz Partners

Brand USA Targets 9 Countries with New Tourism Campaign Amid Travel Slump: - Brand USA has launched the 'America the Beautiful' campaign targeting nine major international markets amid declining inbound tourism and significant federal funding cuts. - The campaign features digital advertising, immersive video content, and a new multilingual trip-planning website with AI-powered itinerary tools. - Despite funding challenges and layoffs, Brand USA recently resolved a federal funding lapse and continues to promote U.S. tourism ahead of major events like the World Cup and America's 250th anniversary. https://hubs.li/Q03PkZyz0

At Skift Global Forum 2025, Dart Interests president Chris Kelsey explained how Evermore Orlando is breaking the vacation rental mold. The resort blends group-ready vacation homes with the benefits of a branded hotel, offering: Residences for 4–11 bedrooms with hotel-level service A Caribbean-style beach and diverse dining options An emphasis on connection over activity overload Kelsey framed Evermore’s ethos as “relational wellness” — designing experiences that help guests relax and connect. With future expansions in the works, Evermore could shape a new hospitality category. See Kelsey’s full interview on stage with Skift CEO Rafat Ali: https://hubs.li/Q03Pk_-R0 Sponsored by Dart Interests

According to Skift Research’s latest Middle East and North Africa Traveler Trends 2025 report, 86 percent of travelers in the region would choose one destination over another if it hosts a major live event. If experiences are shaping demand, how is your brand adapting? Join us in Abu Dhabi next week at Skift Global Forum East to explore how live events are shifting traveler behavior - and what that means for your destination strategy, brand relevance, and bottom line: https://hubs.li/Q03PhtQr0

- United Airlines reduced its management workforce by 4% due to AI adoption and plans a further 4% cut in 2026. - Lufthansa and other airlines are also using AI to streamline operations, with Lufthansa planning to cut 4,000 jobs by 2030. - Other U.S. airlines are using AI for operations, pricing, and customer service, but have not announced job cuts linked to AI. https://hubs.li/Q03Ph2dr0

We’re pleased to welcome Stefan Leser, CEO of أديرا للضيافة | Adeera Hospitality - a PIF Company, to the stage at Skift Global Forum East, taking place next week in Abu Dhabi. Stefan’s career spans leadership roles at some of the world’s most prominent hospitality brands including Jumeirah Group, Langham Hospitality Group, Katara Hospitality Switzerland, and Kuoni Travel Holding. Now at the helm of Adeera, he’s guiding its growth and positioning in Saudi Arabia and beyond. Join us: https://hubs.li/Q03PgYvl0