💊 Travel Slims Down

The rapid rise of blockbuster weight-loss drugs has not only helped reduce obesity rates; it is also changing how travelers spend money.

View in browser Unsubscribe Monday February 09, 2026 Good morning, readers. Major weight-loss drugs are changing traveler behavior and spending. Choice Hotels has an ambitious growth target for Africa. And members of an activist group staged a protest outside a home owned by Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta. EVENTS Skift Data + AI Summit The travel industry is moving from AI experimentation to execution, with real impact across distribution, operations, and customer experience. The Skift Data + AI Summit returns June 3 in New York City, bringing industry leaders together to share the next wave of AI applications and data strategies shaping travel. RESERVE YOUR SEAT Tourism   Sarah Kopit Editor in Chief Design by Skift How Weight-Loss Drugs Are Altering Travel Dollars The rapid rise of blockbuster weight-loss drugs like Ozempic has not only helped reduce obesity rates, it is also changing how travelers spend their money. GLP-1 users favor active vacations over more sedentary ones focused on eating and drinking — a boon for destinations and properties that make activity accessible. And these aren't budget travelers: The core GLP-1 demographic hits travel's sweet spot — the 40-to-64 age bracket.  Fears of doom in F&B are misplaced — travelers on weight-loss drugs are actually spending more on dining out. Get The Full Story On Skift Hotels   Luke Martin Hospitality Reporter Image by Choice Hotels Choice Hotels Aims for 100 Hotels in Africa Choice Hotels recently announced it's targeting 100 hotels across sub-Saharan and southern Africa by 2035. "Choice has never been on the continent because we haven't been able to find the right partner. Now we have that partner," a Choice executive told Skift.  Choice's entry onto the continent comes as Africa's hotel pipeline hits record levels and as delivery continues to lag.  Africa is being positioned as part of a wider EMEA expansion strategy that has accelerated over the past two years. Get The Full Story On Skift hotels How Wellness Is Redefining Hotel Design Together With   peloton for business A new report shows how health-focused amenities are driving hotel value. Wellness real estate is projected to reach $1.1T globally by 2029. Travelers increasingly view in-room fitness and wellness features as essential. get the report on skift Hotels   Sean O'Neill Senior Hospitality Editor Image by Instagram Activists Protest at Hilton CEO's Home Over ICE Housing Members of the activist group Sunrise DC staged a protest outside a Virginia house owned by Hilton CEO Christopher Nassetta, holding banners reading "Hilton Houses ICE."   The protests mark an escalation in a campaign pressuring hotel groups to stop providing rooms to ICE agents during their operations. Hilton has been targeted with protests since it ended an agreement with a franchisee for its refusal to provide rooms to ICE agents.  "We don't call the balls and strikes. We accept all," Nassetta said.  Get The Full Story On Skift Editor's Picks   Rashaad Jorden Associate Editor/Archivist Airlines Flyadeal to Squeeze More Flying From its Fleet to Fuel Expansion   Luxury A Remote Atoll and the Economics of Ultra-Luxury Conservation   Airlines Jet Fuel Made From Sewage Draws Airline Interest   Hotels Prism-Backed Asset Arm Acquires 8 Hotels in Upmarket Push Get More News On Skift 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.