Travel

Updates on travel industry trends, tourism, and economic impact.

Travel
Aussies aren't changing travel plans despite weak dollar
Despite the tumbling Aussie dollar, Compare the Market research reveals that a third of Australian travellers are not deterred. In April, the Australian dollar slumped to its weakest point in five years, trading at US59.15 cents, thanks to United States President Donald Trump’s tariffs. Since then, the dollar has recovered a little while remaining relatively weak, trading at US65 cents. Despite this, the Compare the Market research found that 33.2% of Australian travellers surveyed said the weak dollar hadn't impacted their plans in any way. Older travellers are less likely to change their plans based on the weaker dollar, with 42% of Baby Boomers reporting they were undeterred compared to 23% of Gen Z, 27% of Millennials and 35% of Gen X. Compare the Market researcher Chris Ford said that while some travellers avoid the sting of the weak Aussie dollar by booking in advance, they may be unaware of how it will affect their spending money. “In some cases, people pre-book their holidays months or years in advance, so there’s a good chance that some Australians may have largely avoided the sting of the recent challenges to the Aussie dollar,” he said. “However, they’ll probably notice that their spending money doesn’
Travel
Webjet suitor BGH Capital breaks cover to make $315m bid
The mystery over takeover speculation about Webjet Group (ASX: WJL) has ended with the online travel agency announcing it has received a bid from private equity firm BGH Capital. Webjet said BGH’s unsolicited, non-binding indication of interest in acquiring a controlling interest in the company valued it at 80 cents per share and was subject to assumptions about debt, dividends, distributions and business acquisitions. The offer values the target company at A$315 million. BGH has disclosed a 10.76% stake in its target consisting of 5.89% held by BGH and 4.87% held by Portfolio Services Pty Ltd, an entity associated with investment company Ariadne Australia and its Chair Gary Weiss. BGH indicated it was open to some shareholders retaining an ongoing equity interest in Webjet with the potential for ongoing access to liquidity by retaining the company’s public listing. Webjet said shareholders did not need to take any action. The Board was assessing and making no recommendation about the BGH Proposal and would update shareholders as appropriate. The Board has appointed UBS Securities as financial adviser and MinterEllison as legal adviser. The catalyst for the bid talk was a spike in Webjet's share price which su
Travel
Travel economy driven by affordability, sports: MEI
Travellers are increasingly motivated by affordability, sports, and wellness in 2025, according to a report by the Mastercard Economics Institute (MEI). Tokyo and Osaka are 2025’s top trending summer destinations, the report found, having seen the largest increase in tourism over previous years as Japan’s yen depreciated. Sports events like the Champions League final and the Baseball World Series have also led to major growth in tourism. “According to MEI’s analysis, Tokyo and Osaka will be the top two trending global tourist destinations this summer, with the largest increase in tourism demand relative to previous levels, continuing last year’s trajectory. Its currency depreciation, although it has recently partially reversed, presumably is still a significant factor making it a desirable place to visit,” according to the report. “The other destinations on the list highlight the importance of value — particularly in the Asia Pacific region — and the appeal of beach towns, such as Mallorca, Spain; Nha Trang, Vietnam and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.” Asia Pacific destinations listed include Shanghai, Seoul, and Beijing. Japan’s increase in tourism is partly driven by the yen’s depreciation. Its 1% decline against China’s yua
Travel
Trump to accept US' most valuable gift from Qatar
United States President Donald Trump is about to receive what might be the most valuable gift ever extended to the U.S. from a foreign government. ABC News reported that the Trump administration is preparing to accept a super luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from the royal family when Trump visits Qatar next week. According to sources close to the matter, the jet will be used as the new Air Force One until shortly after Trump leaves office; after that, ownership will be transferred to the Trump presidential library. A brand new Boeing 747-800 costs around US$400 million according to 2019 data. The plan was known as a “flying palace” while parked at the West Palm Beach International Airport in February and marks an unprecedented arrangement, sparking questions about whether it is legal to accept such a gift. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the move's legality in a statement to NBC News. “Any gift given by a foreign government is always accepted in full compliance with all applicable laws,” Leavitt said. “President Trump’s Administration is committed to full transparency.” In his first term, Trump struck a deal to modernise two Boeing 747s to be used as the new Air Force One aircraft, but t
Travel
Travel demand weakens as Expedia Group stock drops 8%
Expedia Group posted solid Q1 2025 results, navigating softened United States travel demand while delivering 4% bookings growth and 3% revenue growth. The company beat bottom-line guidance, expanding EBITDA margins and repurchasing $330 million in shares. Despite a 49% rise in net loss, adjusted net income jumped 81%, signaling strong operational efficiency. A Street consensus estimate of US$3.01 billion was missed, according to Benzinga Pro data. The B2B segment drove growth, with bookings up 14%, while B2C bookings edged up 1%. Lodging bookings climbed 5%, and advertising revenue surged 20%, reinforcing Expedia’s diversified revenue streams. Adjusted EBITDA rose 16%, with a 105 basis-point margin expansion, underscoring cost discipline.Credit: Expedia GroupShareholder returns remained a priority, with 1.7 million shares repurchased and a $0.40 quarterly dividend paid. Stockholders’ equity declined to $2.136 billion, reflecting capital allocation strategies. CEO Ariane Gorin reaffirmed the company’s commitment to margin expansion and top-line growth. “We posted first quarter bookings and revenue within our guidance range despite weaker than expected demand in the U.S., drove bottom-line meaningfully above our guidance

Travel
Disney to open new theme park resort in Abu Dhabi
Disney will open a new theme park resort in Abu Dhabi, its first in the Middle East. The park will be built in partnership with Abu Dhabi leisure destination company Miral, and will be located on tourism-focused Yas Island. “As our seventh theme park destination, it will rise from this land in spectacular fashion, blending contemporary architecture with cutting edge technology to offer guests deeply immersive entertainment experiences in unique and modern ways,” said Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger. “Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati – an oasis of extraordinary Disney entertainment at this crossroads of the world that will bring to life our timeless characters and stories in many new ways and will become a source of joy and inspiration for the people of this vast region to enjoy for generations to come.” The park will include Disney-themed entertainment, accommodation, and retail based along Yas Island’s waterfront. Disney has yet to announce an estimated opening date. According to Iger, the design and building processes could span two years and five years, respectively. Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be Disney’s first park in the Middle East. It will also be the only park that
Travel
Uber: revenue expectations missed, posts 14% growth
Uber has started 2025 with a strong financial performance, reporting 14% growth over the year in gross bookings to US$42.8 billion (A$65.22 billion). The company’s focus on operational efficiency and consumer engagement drove trip volumes up 18%, underscoring its ability to scale profitably. “We kicked off the year with yet another quarter of profitable growth at scale, with trips up 18% and even stronger user retention,” said Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO. “Supported by the consistent strength of our core business, we continue to build towards the future, including five new autonomous vehicle announcements in just the last week.” With revenues reaching $11.5 billion, Uber is maintaining momentum in its core business while eyeing future innovation, including a string of new autonomous vehicle announcements. Goldman Sachs has updated its financial outlook for Uber Technologies Inc., yet total revenues missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $11.6 billion. Profitability surged as operations income hit $1.2 billion, marking a $1.1 billion YoY increase. Adjusted EBITDA climbed 35% YoY to $1.9 billion. Net cash flow was a standout performer, with Uber generating $2.3 billion in free cash flow, reinforcing its financial streng
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Delta must face lawsuit over July computer outage
Delta Air Lines must face a proposed class action lawsuit brought by passengers who allege the airline refused to provide full refunds after widespread flight delays and cancellations caused by a major computer outage in July 2024, a federal judge ruled on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST). United States District Judge Mark Cohen in Atlanta said five of the nine plaintiffs could proceed with breach of contract claims, citing Delta’s failure to refund fares. In addition, he allowed another group of plaintiffs to pursue claims related to flight disruptions under the Montreal Convention, which governs international air travel compensation. However, he dismissed the remaining claims, including those preempted by federal law. The disruption, which began on 19 July 2024, originated from a faulty software update issued by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. The update crashed over 8 million computers globally and severely impacted Microsoft clients. While other U.S. airlines resumed operations the following day, Delta faced prolonged outages, cancelling nearly 7,000 flights in total. The Atlanta-based airline sought dismissal of all claims except one refund complaint and international claims covered by the Montreal Convention. Howev
Travel
Marriott delivers strong growth amid travel rebound
Marriott International posted a solid first-quarter performance in 2025, outperforming analyst expectations, and reflecting resilient demand for travel and lodging worldwide. The hospitality giant reported net income of $665 million, up 18% year-on-year, with adjusted EBITDA rising 7% to $1.22 billion. Revenue per available room (RevPAR) climbed 4.1% globally, driven by international markets (+5.9%), while U.S. and Canada growth remained steady at 3.3%. Amid a booming recovery in business and leisure travel, Marriott’s ability to capture pricing power and maintain strong occupancy underscores wider industry momentum. President and CEO Anthony Capuano said, "The combination of continued travel demand, the strength of our brands and our fee-driven business model drove strong financial results in the first quarter. "Despite heightened macro-economic uncertainty, global RevPAR rose over 4%, primarily driven by higher ADR, and our development momentum remained positive. Our international markets experienced particularly robust growth, with RevPAR increasing nearly 6%, led by double-digit gains in APEC. RevPAR in the U.S. & Canada rose over 3% in the first quarter, although we did see slower growth in March." Expansion remai