Specialists in experiences are leading, and the big OTAs are still catching up.  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Read online Who’s Winning Experiences Specialists in experiences are leading, and the big OTAs are still catching up. GOOD DAY, READERS. Thirty years into online experiences booking, the specialists are winning — for now, writes Executive Editor Dennis Schaal. GetYourGuide crossed €1 billion in revenue in 2025, grew at more than twice Tripadvisor/Viator's clip, and is profitable. Tripadvisor/Viator is also profitable and advancing; Klook turned profitable for the first time in the 12 months ending September 2025. Meanwhile, Booking.com is posting 80% attractions growth — but from a small base. Airbnb is trying experiences again after multiple false starts. Expedia acquired Amsterdam-based Tiqets earlier this year and is routing it through B2B channels rather than fighting the consumer battle. The verdict: the platforms built around experiences from day one are the clear leaders — but the big OTAs have the time and resources to keep at it.     Skift Transatlantic Summit The busiest travel relationship in the world is also now the most contested: geopolitical friction, AI reshaping distribution, gateways running full. Join senior leaders from destinations, airlines, OTAs, and travel tech in Dublin on October 15 to work through what comes next. APPLY TO ATTEND         DON’T MISS THESE STORIES Experience Pure Plays Are Winning, OTAs Are Still Catching Up By Dennis Schaal Every major OTA — and even most hotels — say experiences are core to their strategies. But 30 years after the first experiences middlemen appeared, it is still a very tough business with the specialists having an edge. GET THE STORY Airline Lobby Backs Ban on Surveillance Pricing — While Insisting No Airline Does It By Meghna Maharishi The airline industry is arguing surveillance pricing is different from dynamic pricing. But as airlines get more sophisticated in their use of AI, the issue isn't going away. GET THE STORY What Airbnb Used to Be: Boutique Wants Fewer Homes, More Taste — and No Investment Funds By Colin Nagy Marc Blazer is building one of the cleanest anti-Airbnb points of view in travel: real, deeply designed homes for design-literate travelers who want taste, context, and character over inventory. The argument is persuasive. The hard question is whether it survives contact with growth. GET THE STORY         The Loyalty Advantage Airlines Are Leaving on the Table ALLIANZ PARTNERS + SKIFT 72% of travelers are more likely to use a loyalty program that includes travel protection. Airlines are sitting on a massive differentiator — most just aren't using it. This Skift report with Allianz Partners breaks down what it takes to win the loyalty game in an uncertain economy. GET THE REPORT         For $7 a week, Skift gives you something the industry is missing – the full picture. Subscribe today for 25% off.         MORNING HEADLINES Trip.com Says China’s Regulatory Crackdown Is Starting to Show Up in Its Numbers GET THE STORY Trip.com Wants to Bring 200 Million International Visitors to China GET THE STORY Heat Wave Hits Some of Europe’s Top Tourist Attractions GET THE STORY London Climate Event on Extreme Heat Canceled Due to Extreme Heat GET THE STORY         SKIFT PODCAST NETWORK TripAdvisor Built One of Travel's Greatest Brands and Then Fell Asleep at the Wheel Viator is thriving. TheFork is solid. And the core TripAdvisor product is getting pushed out by AI and losing relevance fast. In this clip from Good Morning Hospitality, Brandreth Canaley, Michael Goldin, and Jamie Lane break down how one of travel's most recognizable brands ended up in a position where selling the flagship might actually make more sense than selling the subsidiary. GET THE PODCAST         SKIFT TRAVEL 200 How are public travel companies performing around the world? The Skift Travel 200 pulls the data you need to understand global market movements. Paid subscribers get full access here. GET TODAY’S INDEX SCORE         See more essential travel news in your search results. ADD SKIFT ON GOOGLE         Thanks for reading. We are switching to a new email platform to improve delivery. What does this mean for you? During this transition, these emails might land in your promotions or spam folder. To ensure you don’t miss out, please move this newsletter to your primary inbox.       DEFINING THE FUTURE OF TRAVEL. Update your email preferences or unsubscribe here © 2026 Skift 35 W 31st St. New York, New York 10001, United States Terms of Service