Scoop: Kempinski Hotels group CEO Barbara Muckermann has left, along with several senior executives, sources told Skift. The exits hit the team running the luxury group's turnaround. Who leads it next is unclear. hubs.li/Q04BCQDw0

Airbnb now sells rain cover at checkout. Through insurer Chubb, guests in 10 European Union countries get €50 to €1,000 a day when heavy rain hits their listing. Vrbo and Marriott already offer similar protection through WeatherPromise. hubs.li/Q04BzXq40

What makes experiences valuable to travelers? At Skift Global Forum, ARDA and Hilton Grand Vacations explored how exclusive access, personalization, and long-term customer relationships can strengthen hospitality loyalty. Get the story here: hubs.li/Q04BxX4r0 In partnership with ARDA

Fuel doubled. Margins now depend on who airlines owe, not what they fly. Manufacturers, unions, premium travelers, airports, and card-issuing banks decide which carriers absorb the hit. In November, leaders from all five sides meet in New York at Skift Aviation Forum next month. See who’s on stage: hubs.li/Q04B9htm0

Klook has withdrawn its planned U.S. initial public offering, opting to wait for more favorable market conditions as the travel experiences platform continues to expand globally and push toward profitability. “Given current market conditions, Klook has decided this is not the right time to proceed with an IPO,” a company spokesperson said. “We will continue to evaluate the right time for a listing.” The decision ends an IPO process that had already been delayed. hubs.li/Q04Bx7nk0

Uber One members get 10% back on hotels supplied by Expedia. The same hotels return 1% to a free-tier Expedia member. Why companies outside travel can afford bigger hotel rewards: hubs.li/Q04BvNNV0

Tourism Ireland says information it provides now shapes nearly one in five artificial intelligence answers about Ireland. CEO Alice Mansergh shared the figure on Thursday at Skift's Transatlantic Summit in Dublin. Most destinations are still checking what tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini say about them. Few have published how often their own content shapes the answers. Tourism Ireland's research found that the share of travelers who call artificial intelligence their main source of travel inspiration doubled in the past year. The agency optimized all of its digital content so these tools can read it, then tracked the results. Left alone, Mansergh said, artificial intelligence repeats the same recommendations. Tourism Ireland is pushing smaller experiences, such as sheepdog demonstrations in Sligo and traditional boat building on the Aran Islands. Her advice: "Choose what you want to be famous for." Then build what she called "a bit of a surround sound" of other voices saying the same thing. hubs.li/Q04BvNgJ0

"Concerts are kind of that planning occasion that they're building entire trips around. [...] It's become, over the last five years, one of the biggest categories for us in terms of working with a wide range of travel brands all over the world. And we just see this trend actually continuing to grow." — Russell Wallach, Global President of Live Nation Media & Sponsorship at Skift Live Tourism Summit 2026

Airbnb added a dynamic pricing tool for hosts last month. A Bernstein research note calls it the first step toward a "soft franchise," closer to how Hilton, Marriott International, and IHG Hotels & Resorts work with hotel owners. The tool is free for now. Hosts already pay Airbnb commissions of about 15.5%. Bernstein estimates dynamic pricing could eventually lift Airbnb's revenue by 3% to 7%, and by more if Airbnb starts charging hosts for it. Bernstein said design consulting, property management software, cleaning coordination, insurance, and smart-home hardware could come next. Hosts wouldn't sign the 10- to 20-year contracts that hotel franchisees do. Partners and rivals are skeptical. Most professional hosts also list on Vrbo, Booking.com, and Expedia. "To be the operating layer for them, Airbnb would need those competitors to let it plug in," Doug Truitt of Wheelhouse said. Airbnb declined to comment. hubs.li/Q04BvN9k0

Artificial intelligence tailors its trip pitch to each traveler. It barely changes where it sends them. In Skift Research tests of ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude, the top five destinations took 38% of recommendations. They get 40% to 45% of real arrivals. hubs.li/Q04BvsbH0

Inbound travel to the U.S. from overseas markets continued to slide in September, dropping 4.3% from last year to 2.7 million arrivals, according to data from the National Travel and Tourism Office. TLDR: 13 of the top 20 markets posted declines.   hubs.li/Q04Bvm180

Canadians made 23.5% fewer visits to the United States in 2025 and 13.6% more to Europe. American trips to Europe fell in June and July 2026 after a record year. Skift Advisory's advice to Europe: plan for two markets. hubs.li/Q04BnC3b0

A war has turned the Gulf's growth story into an open question. Skift Global Forum East meets in Abu Dhabi on December 8–9 to work through six decisions travel leaders face now. Senior leaders can apply to attend: hubs.li/Q04Bnqdp0

Delta and American Express Global Business Travel are testing one-click SkyMiles and elite-status enrollment inside corporate booking tools. Delta's loyalty revenue rose 18% in the third quarter. hubs.li/Q04BnyY00

Airlines are turning to celeb chefs to give premium cabins a makeover without having to replace a single seat. These partnerships allow carriers to tap established culinary reputations while refreshing the onboard experience. See what they’re serving: hubs.li/Q04BtK220

How is Delta still making money with fuel this expensive? Premium seats, its SkyMiles loyalty program, cargo, and an aircraft maintenance business. This week's Airline Weekly explains. hubs.li/Q04BcjqR0

Southwest's Rapid Rewards gets silver, gold, and platinum tiers on January 1, 2027, with free seat selection, free checked bags, and companion passes as status perks. First lounges, built with Chase: Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu, and Nashville. hubs.li/Q04BnmKj0

Most airline CEOs buy planes. Arjan Meijer spent 15 years keeping them flying. Before he took the top job at Embraer Commercial Aviation in June 2020, he was an engineer at KLM, ending as Managing Director of KLM UK Engineering. Then he steered Embraer’s commercial jet business through a pandemic, a recovery, and a supply chain that still hasn’t caught up. He sees the fleet question from both sides of the table. On November 12, he brings that view to Skift Aviation Forum at the TWA Hotel, JFK. Reserve your seat: hubs.li/Q04B9SWC0

"The moment when the traveler has a disruption are moments where brands can create extreme trust. Or, on the other way around, it's when they can lose trust." — Anna Kofoed, Chief Officer for Global Strategic Partnerships, Allianz Partners at Skift Global Forum 2026

Thailand's Centara runs 52 hotels and has 41 more in its pipeline. Its chief operating officer wants growth to come from management deals with large investors, aiming for about 70% of hotels under contract. It's at about 55% now. hubs.li/Q04Bnmbg0