Marriott and Hilton are engaged in a competitive battle over the growth of their portfolios and loyalty programs, with Marriott emerging as the clear winner in terms of fees earned from services for hotel owners. According to Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill, Marriott generated $1.24 billion in gross fee revenue last year, while Hilton generated $773 million. Despite Hilton’s fee revenue growing at a faster rate, Marriott’s lead is so significant that it would take Hilton 40 years to catch up if current trends were to continue.
In other news, Google recently introduced AI-driven search capabilities and a more advanced Gemini AI model. Skift CEO and founder Rafat Ali highlighted the new offerings, particularly emphasizing AI Overview as a standout feature in Google Search. This feature provides comprehensive summaries for complex travel queries, offering curated overviews with suggested itineraries, travel tips, and multimedia content. The travel information landscape has become more complex, with Google pulling results from various media and display formats, making Reddit a major source of competition in travel information queries.
Spirit Airlines has followed in the footsteps of fellow ultra-low-cost carrier Frontier by eliminating change and cancellation fees. Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi reported that Spirit quietly removed most change and cancellation fees from its website, only charging for group bookings. Previously, Spirit charged between $69 and $119 to change or cancel a reservation based on the number of days before departure. The company cited this move as part of its strategy to return to profitability, joining a growing number of U.S. carriers that have eliminated change fees in recent years.
Marriott and Hilton are in fierce competition regarding the growth of their portfolios and loyalty programs. Marriott is leading in terms of fees earned from services for hotel owners, generating $1.24 billion in gross fee revenue last year, compared to Hilton’s $773 million. While Hilton’s fee revenue is growing at a faster pace, Marriott’s substantial lead would take Hilton 40 years to catch up if current trends continued. This battle between the two major hotel groups reflects the ongoing competition in the hospitality industry.
Google’s recent introduction of AI-driven search capabilities and the Gemini AI model has transformed the travel information landscape. Skift CEO Rafat Ali highlighted the AI Overview feature in Google Search, which provides comprehensive summaries for complex travel queries, offering curated overviews with suggested itineraries, travel tips, and multimedia content. With Google pulling results from various media and display formats, the travel information landscape has become more complex, with Reddit emerging as a major competitor for travel information queries.
Spirit Airlines has joined Frontier in dropping change and cancellation fees, a move that is part of the company’s strategy to return to profitability. Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi reported that Spirit has removed most change and cancellation fees from its website, only charging for group bookings. This decision aligns Spirit with other U.S. carriers, such as American, Delta, and United, which have eliminated change fees in recent years except for the cheapest and most restrictive fares. This shift in the airline industry reflects a broader trend towards eliminating fees to enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty.
