AI Takeover?

We didn't set out to have an artificial intelligence theme week, but when I look back on our headlines this week we did just that, nonetheless. We tested out Google's Bard update, explained how Delta is using AI for pricing, looked at TUI's new chatbot, covered multiple AWS-powered travel tools, compared Booking and Google's efforts, and listened to Peek's CEO lay out where AI plays into her company's future.?

Outside of AI we had other big stories, the most notable being Alaska Air's play for Hawaiian Air. Read below for full coverage. ?

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Alaska Airlines Is Buying Hawaiian

A giant state that's quite often covered in ice doesn't seem to have much in common with tropical islands, but Alaska Air CEO Ben Minicucci (above) pointed out a commonality when he made his first public comments after announcing a $1.9 billion deal to buy Hawaiian Air. “As the two airlines rooted in the 49th and 50th states, both of which are uniquely reliant upon air travel, Alaska and Hawaiians share a great deal in common,” Minicucci said.?

There was plenty to unpack through the week. Here's how we did that:

• What Could an Alaska-Hawaiian Loyalty Program Look Like?
• How Profitable Would an Alaska-Hawaiian Merger Be?
• 8 Airline Mergers That Shaped Today’s U.S. Industry
• Alaska Airlines Needs New Growth – That’s Why It’s Looking to Buy Hawaiian
• Alaska-Hawaiian Merger Faces a Justice Department Wary of Airline Combos
• Podcast: The Alaska-Hawaiian Merger: Pros and Cons

Read the Full Story

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$8 Billion for U.S. Train Projects

Rail travel in the U.S. is a rubbish experience, but the current administration thinks it can improve that, at least a bit. “If you’ve ever seen the standard of passenger rail service in Japan or Germany … and come home and said ‘Why can’t we have these nice things?’ This is the beginning of the answer to that,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said at an event earlier this week. The big bucks are being spread between projects from Florida to Las Vegas.?

From last week: Americans Are Eager to Ride Trains. Amtrak Can’t Add Them Fast Enough.

Booking and Airbnb Playbook Swap

Booking.com and Airbnb are raiding each other's territories. With their different roots, Booking needs to grow short-term rentals in the U.S. while Airbnb seeks to expand in Europe and elsewhere internationally. Executive Editor Dennis Schaal explains how each is taking a cue from the other in order to grow.?

More Headlines

• Hilton’s New Hotel Brands: What Trademark Filings Reveal
• U.S. Hotel Hiring Slowed Again in November
• Will Smith in Saudi Arabia: Actor Shows Off Neom to 60 Million Followers
• Peru Set to Increase Tourist Cap For Machu Picchu
• Delta Lays Out the Case For Continued Strength
• Hawaii’s Maui Locals Speak Out Against Tourism Amid Housing Shortage

Skift Travel 200

The Skift Travel 200 ended the week on a high, up nearly 20 points or 2%. This outpaced gains seen in the S&P 500, which grew at less than 1% this week.

Get sector-by-sector insights at Skift Research. ?

Companies mentioned this week: Alaska Airlines , Hawaiian Airlines , Booking Holdings (NASDAQ: BKNG) , Airbnb , Amazon Web Services (AWS) , Delta Air Lines , Hilton Hotels & Resorts , Amtrak , TUI