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Marriott is launching a new fee rebate program this week that pays back hotel franchisees directly from its own profit and loss statement, rather than the shared fund owners pay into, writes Hospitality Reporter Luke Martin. The program pays back hotels in the U.S. and Canada up to 50 basis points of gross room revenue if they hit strong guest satisfaction scores.

The new fee rebate program comes after owner pressure. In March, 51 owners representing 990 hotels sent a letter to Marriott leaders seeking a bigger share of credit card revenue. New card deals could add up to $125 million in annual fees by 2028.

Skift Global Forum

When owners push and brands concede, the terms of the franchise model get rewritten in real time.

Christopher Nassetta of Hilton and Geoff Ballotti of Wyndham take the stage at North Javits this September to face the growth and economic decisions reshaping branded hospitality, in a room that runs 76% director-level and above.

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Marriott Launches Owner Rebate Program Ahead of $125 Million Credit Card Fee Jump

By Luke Martin

Marriott is paying franchisees back from its own pocket, but the credit card revenue owners want a share of is set to get up to $125 million larger a year.

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U.S. Clears Smallest Boeing 737 Max to Fly Following Years of Delays

By Meghna Maharishi

The certification is a big win for Southwest, which has been waiting for the aircraft for years as it looks to grow and replace parts of its aging fleet.

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What Travel AI Can Learn From Hipmunk, 16 Years Later

By Rafat Ali

Hipmunk built a results page around how travelers make decisions, and today’s AI tools have yet to match it.

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Why Connection Is Hospitality’s Next Luxury

EVERMORE ORLANDO RESORT + SKIFT

Evermore Orlando Resort President Elizabeth Mullins explains why relational wellness could reshape resort design and the guest experience. Tune in wherever you get your podcast here.

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MORNING HEADLINES

Hyatt Weighs ‘India-for-India’ Brand and Acquisitions for 5x Growth: Exclusive

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SAP Concur Adds New AI Tools for Approvals, Cards, and Travel Leakage

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MakeMyTrip: Hotel Growth Offsets Decline in Air Travel; New IPO Details

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Hotels Must Balance Comfort and Climate Goals As Guests Demand AC

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Accor Concentrates on Makkah and Madinah as Gulf Tourism Cools

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SKIFT PODCAST NETWORK

Hospitality Has an Obligation to Help People Connect

Evermore Orlando Resort President Elizabeth Mullins says hospitality leaders should think more intentionally about connection, not just as a guest-facing promise, but as part of employee culture and experience design.

In this clip from Good Morning Hospitality, Mullins explains why hotels, resorts, and vacation rental operators should audit their experiences through a “togetherness” lens and create more intentional opportunities for people to gather.

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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.

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