✨ Ritz-Carlton's Gold Prize

The Ritz-Carlton's "Late Checkout" campaign recently took home a Gold Lion at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

View in browser Unsubscribe Friday June 27, 2025 Good morning, readers. A Ritz-Carlton campaign won advertising's top prize for luxury ads at the Cannes Lions. Hotel group Iberostar says climate change is the biggest threat to its business. And three travel startup investors offer their insights into AI. Hotels   Sean O'Neill Senior Hospitality Editor Image by The Ritz-Carlton Ritz-Carlton's Ad Victory The Ritz-Carlton's "Late Checkout" campaign recently took home a Gold Lion at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, beating out 181 other entries in the luxury category. The ad, which features actor Josh Hutcherson, became the most-shared content across parent company Marriott International's luxury portfolio last year. The campaign avoided traditional media buys and opted to prioritize long-form content instead of 8-second, vertical video bites for TikTok. "We found that the actual long-form film had the highest engagement," said Jamie Kerr, Ritz-Carlton's global brand and marketing leader.  Get The Full Story On Skift EVENTS | DECEMBER 3 Skift Aviation Forum Returns December 3 The 5th annual Skift Aviation Forum returns on December 3 in Fort Worth, Texas. This premier event brings together the most influential leaders in aviation to explore the forces shaping the future of air travel. Join us for a day of sharp insights, bold conversations, and unparalleled networking as we chart what's next for the global aviation industry. GET YOUR SUPER EARLY BIRD TICKET Hotels   Darin Graham Climate Reporter Image by Iberostar Iberostar's Number One Threat Spain-based hotel group Iberostar says climate change is the biggest risk to its business, and the company is also calling for more investment in the tourism sector to counter its impact. Iberostar operates more than 80% of its portfolio in exposed areas like beachfront regions. A recent World Travel & Tourism Council report estimated that the travel industry will need up to $250 billion to deal with climate change.  "The cost of action will be much less than the cost of inaction," said Iberostar Chief Sustainability Officer Gloria Fluxà Thienemann. Get The Full Story On Skift Hotels Reimagining All-Inclusive Travel Together With   Blue Diamond  Blue Diamond Resorts marks 15 years with bold moves in tech and well-being. RFID, smart apps, and seamless tech shaped guest expectations early New Royalton Vessence brand offers soulful, adults-only escapes Get the Full Story on Skift Podcasts   Justin Dawes Travel Tech Reporter Image by Skift Don't Fall for AI Hype What do travel investors really think about AI, startups, and the future of travel? We spoke to three venture experts for insights at the Skift Data+AI Summit. Investors are turned off by pitches that focus too much on AI but lack market understanding."It's a tool; it's not a solution," said one investor.  Rather than a "winner-takes-all" AI war, expect multiple players to emerge across niches in travel. Startups could disintermediate search engines like Google or online travel agencies — if they offer real value to travelers and suppliers. Get The Full Story On Skift Editor's Picks   Rashaad Jorden Associate Editor/Archivist Hotels Inspirato to Merge With Buyerlink in $326 Million Deal for a New Platform   Airlines Flight Emissions Data Is Everywhere - Is it Having an Impact?   Airlines Turkish Airlines Chairman on Soft Power, Fleet Growth, and the 2033 Vision   Online Travel Agoda CEO on Why Price Is Still the Best Loyalty Program   Tourism Indian Travel to Japan Hits Record Highs in 2025   Online Travel Sonder CEO Davidson Exits, Chairperson Named Interim Boss 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 the Skift Editorial team produce – as well as the travel industry's premier AI answer engine and Skift Travel 200 stock index. SAVE 20% ON YOUR FIRST YEAR 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.