Google's Travel Penalty

European authorities levied a heavy fine on Google.

GOOD DAY, READERS.

The European Commission hit Google with a €460 million ($525 million) fine, ruling it illegally favored its own travel tools — hotels, flights, transport — over rivals in Search, reports Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O'Neill. Consider the numbers: Google's share of hotels using price comparison search tools jumped from 37% to 80% between 2013 and 2023, according to a lobby for European hospitality operators.

EU Travel Tech, whose members include Booking, Expedia, and Airbnb, called it a milestone. The clock's ticking: Google has 60 days to fall in line or face penalties worth up to 5% of its daily turnover — though it can still appeal.

Skift Global Forum

Regulators reopened Google's search results. The contest over who controls travel's discovery layer stays live.

At Skift Global Forum, September 22-24 at the North Javits Center in New York City, the CEOs of Booking Holdings and Expedia Group join OpenAI chairman Bret Taylor to contest who owns travel's new interface and intent layer.
Standard rates hold through July 30.

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SKIFT PODCAST NETWORK

Hilton's CEO Admits Points Are Not an Apology

When something goes wrong at a Hilton, the answer has been points. Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta is calling that out and betting AI can fix it.

In this clip from Good Morning Hospitality, A Skift Podcast: Hotels Edition, Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk break down why points as a service recovery strategy misses the point entirely, what real hospitality recovery actually looks like, and whether Hilton's AI investment can catch complaints while guests are still in the building.

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PEOPLE MOVES

This week's people moves shaping the industry. Let us know about a move.

Robert Goldenberg, Janis Rozenblats, and Darcy Kurtz have joined Hostaway's C-suite as Chief Financial Officer, Chief Product Officer, and Chief Marketing Officer, respectively, as the vacation rental software unicorn builds out its leadership team following a landmark 2025.
Indian Hotels Company Limited has promoted Gaurav Pokhariyal to Chief Operating Officer, Traditional Businesses, and Prabhat Verma to Chief People Officer, as part of a broader organisational redesign under its "Accelerate 2030" strategy.
Harry Thaliwal has been appointed Executive Vice President – Asia at EVT Hotels & Resorts, a newly created role based in Bangkok, after most recently serving as CEO of Cross Hotels & Resorts.
Lorenza Maggio has been named CEO of Brussels Airlines, succeeding Dorothea von Boxberg, who is leaving the aviation industry after more than 20 years.
Cristienne (Cris) De Souza has been named Vice President of Sales at Victory Cruise Lines, bringing 20+ years of experience across Trafalgar River Cruises, Lindblad Expeditions, Windstar Cruises, and Royal Caribbean Group.
Gilles Cretallaz has rejoined Accor as Senior Vice President Operations for South-East Asia, Japan, Korea, and the Maldives, overseeing Sofitel Legend, Sofitel, MGallery, and Emblems after most recently serving as COO at Dusit International.
GF Hotels & Resorts has appointed Becky Vealey as Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing and Jarrett Kratchman as Executive Vice President of Finance, strengthening its leadership team as the company expands its portfolio.
Garine Ferejian-Mayo is leaving Sonesta International Hotels after five-and-a-half years as Chief Commercial Officer, a role she took on in 2021 after joining from IHG.
John W. Dietrich, former EVP and CFO of FedEx, has been elected to American Airlines' board of directors, where he'll serve on the Audit and Finance Committees.
Xavier Mufraggi, former CEO of Club Med, has been named CEO of hostel brand Generator, joining following Brookfield's 2025 acquisition as the company plans to double its footprint by 2030.
Tara Bunch, former SVP and Global Head of Operations at Airbnb, has joined Royal Caribbean Group's board of directors, becoming the company's 13th director.
Kathi Riddle has left Lindblad Expeditions after 3 years leading sales.
Eliot Hamlisch is departing Amtrak after three years as Chief Commercial Officer.
a&o Hostels, Europe's largest hostel chain, has appointed Markus Harder as Chief Financial Officer, joining from AI company DeepL to lead finance, legal, and digitalization efforts.
Alfredo Suarez, Royal Caribbean Group's Chief Strategy and Commercial Officer for Newbuilding & Innovation, will become SVP of Celebrity River, reporting to Celebrity Cruises President Laura Hodges Bethge as the river brand scales toward 20 vessels by 2031.
Eugenio Pirri has joined Hand Picked Hotels as Chief Culture Officer, bringing 13 years of experience at Dorchester Collection, including a decade as Chief People and Culture Officer. David Spooner joins as Chief Commercial Officer from Six Senses, with prior brand and commercial roles at Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, One&Only, and Banyan Tree.
Arthur Gillis is stepping down as CEO of Platinum Hospitality Holdings after 50 years in hospitality, becoming Chairman. Anton Gillis, currently COO, becomes CEO.
Axel Gasser has been appointed President of Equinox Hotels after most recently serving as EVP at Ennismore.
Javier Campo's remit at Amadeus Hospitality has expanded from Head of Europe to cover the Middle East and Africa as well, bringing the region together under one EMEA team.

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