Travel Market Insights
Who Attends Skift Global Forum? A Closer Look at the Industry’s Most Strategic Gathering

Geopolitical shifts, AI acceleration, and evolving traveler expectations are rewriting the rules of travel. In this age of perma-disruption, where do the industry’s top minds convene to chart a meaningful path forward?
The answer is Skift Global Forum.
Now entering its 12th year, Skift Global Forum remains a vital space where senior travel executives and decision-makers come together not just to follow trends but to shape the industry’s next chapter.
A Global Gathering of Forward-Thinking Leaders
The Forum’s attendee profile reflects its mission: delivering high-level conversations grounded in reality.
In 2024, the Skift Global Forum welcomed nearly 1,000 professionals from 60 countries and 819 companies across 18 industries, including aviation, hospitality, tech, finance, and more, creating a rare convergence of insight across the travel ecosystem.
This cross-sector mix sparks conversations that break silos and explore evolving business models reshaping travel’s platforms and ecosystems.
Over 70% of attendees held director-level positions or above in 2024, up from 63% in 2023. This steady rise underscores Skift Global Forum’s reputation as a go-to event for those entrusted with strategic decisions and large budgets.
The Power of Real Connections
Numbers matter, but what really sets Skift Global Forum apart is the community — the professionals you meet and the conversations you have.
Here’s what a few past attendees say:
“Skift Global Forum is where I reset my strategic priorities. The quality of conversations and the diversity of perspectives help me challenge assumptions and uncover new opportunities.”
“Being in New York City with such a global mix adds an energy that fuels innovation and connection. It’s a place where ideas get real traction.”
Why 2025 is the Year to Attend
Market volatility and shifting consumer behaviors won’t slow down, and neither will Skift Global Forum. It is finely tuned to address the exact challenges senior leaders face today: how to harness emerging tech like AI without losing the traveler’s trust, how to embed sustainability authentically, and how to find strategic clarity amid constant disruption.
Skift’s editorial team curates the sessions to eliminate fluff and focus on what matters. The agenda delivers actionable insights from CEOs and C-suite leaders of major travel brands. And, the premium production helps busy executives maximize their limited time.
NYC remains an electric backdrop, pulsing with ideas, investment, and innovation. That energy feeds directly into the Skift Live experience, combining inspiration with practical takeaways.
Join the Conversation, Shape the Future
If you’re responsible for steering your company through this dynamic environment, Skift Global Forum 2025 offers a rare blend of strategic insight, high-caliber networking, and forward-looking dialogue. It’s a space built for leaders who demand more than buzzwords and surface-level solutions.
With a global mix of peers, a focus on big-picture innovation, and a commitment to real-world challenges, Skift Global Forum is your strategic advantage.
Secure your seat today and join the leaders rewriting travel’s next chapter. See you in New York.
The travel industry’s top event returns this fall.
September 16-18, 2025 – NEW YORK CITY
Travel Market Insights
Delta Says It Will Not Use AI to Target Customers

Key Points
- Delta Air Lines clarified it does not use AI to set individualized airfares based on personal data, following criticism from lawmakers.
- The airline uses AI, via a partnership with Fetcherr, to assist in dynamic pricing for a growing portion of its domestic flights, but claims all fares are determined by market dynamics and are publicly available.
- Lawmakers and officials have expressed concerns about potential predatory or ‘surveillance’ pricing, prompting Delta to stress its commitment to fair, competitive pricing and data privacy.
Summary
Delta Air Lines has publicly stated that it does not use AI to set individualized prices based on personal customer data, responding to recent criticism and inquiries from U.S. lawmakers. The airline acknowledged using AI technology, through a partnership with Fetcherr, to assist analysts in setting fares for a portion of its domestic flights, with plans to expand this use. However, Delta emphasized that fares are determined by market competition, not personal data, and all prices are transparently published, aiming to dispel concerns about privacy and potential predatory pricing.
Travel Market Insights
U.S. Dollar Slide Hurts Accor, Minor, and Meliá

Some of the world’s largest hotel companies saw their earnings dented by currency swings in the first half of 2025, as euro and baht-reporting groups absorbed losses while U.S.-based chains appeared largely insulated from the volatility.
Accor, Meliá Hotels, and Minor International all reported currency-related losses that offset solid operational performance. Meanwhile, U.S.-based Hilton and Wyndham, which report in dollars, did not mention foreign exchange impacts in their earnings calls and appeared shielded from the same pressures.
The U.S. dollar index dropped 10.8% in the first half of 2025 following the Trump administration’s April tariffs and public clashes with the Federal Reserve. The resulting investor pullback caused the dollar to weaken sharply against the euro, baht, and other currencies.
Accor: Currency Among Its Biggest Headwinds
Paris-based Accor repo
Travel Market Insights
Winners, Losers, and Lots of Premium Seats: Europe’s Airline Scorecard

Skift Take: Premium cabins still drive profits, but it's the low-cost threat that keeps Europe's legacy carriers up at night.
-
Brand Stories2 weeks ago
Bloom Hotels: A Modern Vision of Hospitality Redefining Travel
-
Brand Stories1 week ago
CheQin.ai sets a new standard for hotel booking with its AI capabilities: empowering travellers to bargain, choose the best, and book with clarity.
-
Destinations & Things To Do2 weeks ago
Untouched Destinations: Stunning Hidden Gems You Must Visit
-
Destinations & Things To Do1 week ago
This Hidden Beach in India Glows at Night-But Only in One Secret Season
-
AI in Travel2 weeks ago
AI Travel Revolution: Must-Have Guide to the Best Experience
-
Brand Stories4 weeks ago
Voice AI Startup ElevenLabs Plans to Add Hubs Around the World
-
Brand Stories3 weeks ago
How Elon Musk’s rogue Grok chatbot became a cautionary AI tale
-
Asia Travel Pulse4 weeks ago
Looking For Adventure In Asia? Here Are 7 Epic Destinations You Need To Experience At Least Once – Zee News
-
AI in Travel4 weeks ago
‘Will AI take my job?’ A trip to a Beijing fortune-telling bar to see what lies ahead | China
-
Brand Stories4 weeks ago
ChatGPT — the last of the great romantics
You must be logged in to post a comment Login