💸 Airbnb Launches Into Discounts

Airbnb is collaborating with sister brand HotelTonight to launch its first-ever discount program.

View in browser Unsubscribe Thursday March 27, 2025 Good morning, readers. Airbnb doesn't have its own loyalty program. And it never had a discount plan — until now. The short-term rental giant is teaming up with HotelTonight, a brand it acquired in 2019, to offer travelers credits toward Airbnb bookings. Could this be a sign that Airbnb needs to offer rewards despite dismissing the need for its own loyalty program? Online Travel | EXCLUSIVE   Dennis Schaal Executive Editor EXCLUSIVE Image by HotelTonight Airbnb's First Discounts Airbnb is collaborating with sister brand HotelTonight to launch its first-ever discount program.  Guests in the U.S. and the UK can earn a 10% credit toward an Airbnb stay or experience — and HotelTonight loyalty awards — when they book a hotel on HotelTonight. HotelTonight General Manager Ron Sandel said the idea is to increase bookings and boost its loyalty program, while also introducing its customers to Airbnb. The discount program will be featured in one of HotelTonight's largest marketing campaigns since it was acquired by Airbnb. Get The Full Story On Skift Hotels How Commission Yields Affect Hotel Profits Together With   Oynx CenterSource In the competitive hotel market, commission yields quietly shape profits, and small percentage shifts can mean big revenue swings. Even minor variations in yields can have significant financial implications. In an industry worth hundreds of millions, a 0.1pp shift could translate to over $100,000 in commission earnings or retained revenue. ​  In 2024, European hotels had an average commission yield of 9.7%, slightly above the global average. Given that 58% of European hotel revenues stem from third-party bookings, understanding and monitoring commission yields through accurate, real-time analytics is crucial for optimizing financial performance in this competitive market. Commission yields are also influenced by a range of nuanced factors — including hotel ownership structures, classification, and urban versus suburban locations — which play a critical role in determining commission levels. Get the Full Story On Skift Airlines   Meghna Maharishi Airline Reporter Image by Vincenzo Pace WestJet Cuts Routes Amid U.S.-Canada Tensions Canada's second-largest carrier WestJet is scrapping some routes amid a drop in demand for travel to the U.S. The carrier's changes include axing its planned seasonal service between Calgary and New York's LaGuardia Airport and suspending its summertime Edmonton-Orlando flights.  WestJet didn't explicitly say whether the changes were due to rising tensions between the U.S. and Canada, but the company noted it's seen an increase in bookings to other destinations. Canadian visits to the U.S. have declined following President Donald Trump's inauguration and his administration's announcement of tariffs. Get The Full Story On Skift Event | May 14-15 Skift Asia Forum The travel industry's top event comes to Bangkok. Skift Asia Forum provides an essential lens into the forces driving change across one of the world's most complex and fast-moving regions. Register Before the Price Increase Hotels Image by Unsplash/Ricardo Gomez U.S.' Slow Hotel Room Supply Growth Although the growth in U.S. hotel room supply has recovered from its Covid fall, it's still well below pre-pandemic levels. The annual room supply growth rate currently stands at 0.5% — down from 1.3% prior to the pandemic.  Skift Research's data revealed that room construction as of September 2024 was 25% below levels from the start of 2020. The past four years have seen a significant decline in hotel rooms being opened, falling from more than 127,000 rooms in June 2021 to only 73,000 rooms in September 2024. Get The Full Story On Skift Editor's Picks   Rashaad Jorden Associate Editor/Archivist Hotels Hotel101 IPO? 6 Facts About the Hotel Condo Brand's Planned SPAC   Hotels Dalata for Sale? Ireland's Largest Hotel Operator Is a Window into Europe's Market   Tourism Thailand Already Has a China Problem And Casinos Might Make It Worse   Tourism Singapore Eyes Bigger Share of India's Outbound Tourism Get More News On Skift   Skift Pro       With a subscription to Skift Pro, you get full access to the in-depth reporting, exclusive interviews, and breaking news that me and the rest of the Skift Editorial team produce – as well as the travel industry's premier AI answer engine and Skift Travel 200 stock index. Lock in to a New Monthly Rate Defining the future of travel. Skift. 35 W 31st St., New York, NY, 10001, USA Follow Us: LinkedIn   |  X   |  Facebook   |  Whatsapp   |  Bluesky   |  Threads You received this because you are subscribed to Newsletter | The Daily from Skift. For Gmail users: If you are using the tabbed inbox, Skift emails may be pushed to the 'Promotions' tab. To get updates from Skift direct to your primary inbox, drag and drop this email to that tab.