Good morning, readers.

Prominent travel executives have appeared in the Epstein Files. Tripadvisor is facing a shakeup from activist investor Starboard Value. And IHG has launched its 21st brand.

EVENTS

Skift Asia Forum

Skift Asia Forum returns to Bangkok on April 28–29, bringing together the leaders shaping Asia's next chapter in travel. Under the theme Scaling Growth and Reinvention, the forum focuses on real-world strategy across aviation, hospitality, destinations, and travel tech - examining how Asia is scaling demand, navigating disruption, and setting the pace for the global industry.

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Hotels

Sean O'Neill

Senior Hospitality Editor

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Image by Flickr/Center for Strategic & International Studies

Travel Leaders in the Epstein Files

The U.S. Department of Justice has released the final batch of the Jeffrey Epstein files, and it includes several powerful travel executives.

Tom Pritzker, who is stepping down as executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels, exchanged emails with Epstein and acknowledged "terrible judgment" in maintaining contact with him.
Emails show multiple attempts by Epstein to connect with Barry Sternlicht, with no response. There was only one documented meeting: a group dinner at Epstein's home in 2018.
Richard Branson offered Epstein PR advice in an email, which followed a visit by Epstein to Branson's private island.

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Online Travel

Dennis Schaal

Executive Editor

Image by Skift

Tripadvisor Faces Board Shakeup From Activist Investor

Starboard Value, the activist investor that took a 9% stake in Tripadvisor last year, said it will seek majority control of Tripadvisor's eight-member board.

"Tripadvisor should be formally exploring a sale of the entire company, in one or multiple transactions," Starboard said.
Starboard ripped Tripadvisor for, among other criticisms, a lack of urgency in addressing value creation.
If Starboard wins at least five seats, it would gain the ability to overrule Tripadvisor's chair and CEO.

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hotels

Hanting's 20-Year Rise to Global Hotel Leader

h world

Hanting became the world's largest hotel brand by room count in just 20 years

Built 4,000+ hotels by pairing tech, design, and affordable comfort
90% of hotels franchised or "manachised," enabling rapid asset-light scale

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Hotels

Luke Martin

Hospitality Reporter

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Image by IHG

IHG's 21st Brand

InterContinental Hotels Group has launched Noted Collection, its 21st brand, which it positions as a premium collection aimed at bringing upscale and upper-upscale independent hotels into the system.

IHG expects Noted Collection to reach more than 150 hotels globally over the next decade.
CEO Elie Maalouf said Noted Collection fills a gap in IHG's ladder between its more standardized conversion brands and its existing soft brand options.
IHG said the initial rollout will focus on Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.

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