News in Brief

 

Airlines add capacity to address Christmas travel demand Airlines are bringing on seats and adjusting schedules to meet Christmas travel demand, Airlines for America reports. American Airlines is preparing for deicing at major airports, while the Federal Aviation Administration plans to hire thousands of air traffic control trainees in 2026 to address a staffing shortage. Full Story: KVOA-TV (Tucson, Ariz.) (12/17)

Major sporting events in 2026 to boost hotel demand The 2026 global events calendar is expected to drive significant hotel demand, led by the FIFA World Cup in North America, the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, and Bad Bunny's world tour, according to STR. The World Cup, the largest in history with 48 teams and 104 matches, is projected to boost hotel rates across host cities. The Winter Olympics are anticipated to increase Milan's average daily rates and revenue per available room by 48% and 60%, respectively. Full Story: CoStar Group (12/15) Elevate your Travel & Hospitality Marketing with SmartBrief Access the Travel & Hospitality Industry Media Kit for audience insights and turnkey marketing solutions. Build campaigns that connect, convert, and deliver measurable impact in the year ahead. Download now.

Threads sets eyes on top app for real-time conversations Meta's Threads app has reached 400 million monthly active users and 150 million users active daily, with much of its growth coming from Instagram and Facebook promotions. Connor Hayes, who leads Threads, aims to make it the go-to platform for real-time conversations about current events. The app is currently testing the ads in four countries, and a "Dear Algo" feature that allows users to personalize their feeds. Full Story: The Verge (12/19) AI to play key role as marketers return to basics Marketers in 2026 are expected to shift focus to basics such as brand building and customer experience, using AI to enhance these fundamentals, writes Madison Logic CEO Keith Turco, citing a Harris Poll survey. "AI doesn't exempt marketers from doing the hard work of brand building; it makes that work even more essential," Turco writes, adding, "Rather than overshadowing fundamentals like loyalty, reputation and customer experience, AI deepens their impact." Full Story: Fast Company (tiered subscription model) (12/23) The Digital Leaders of 2026 Want a head start on 2026 planning? Get early access to Similarweb's Digital 100. See which brands are gaining ground in your industry, what approaches are driving results, and how digital growth patterns are changing before the full release goes public. Get your early pass. ADVERTISEMENT   Roku, Nielsen expand data-sharing to enhance ad measurement Nielsen and Roku have entered into a multiyear agreement that expands their collaboration on audience measurement. Under the renewed deal, Nielsen will continue using Roku's TV data for its Big Data + Panel product, measuring linear and streaming content. Roku, for its part, will gain access to Nielsen's streaming ratings, enabling the company to more accurately gauge its performance relative to other platforms and publishers over the coming years. Full Story: AdExchanger (tiered subscription model) (12/23) Walmart HQ campus in Ark. to include hotel, retail Anthropologie, Chipotle Mexican Grill and Starbucks have signed leases for the new Walmart headquarters in Bentonville, Ark., which is set to fully open by 2026. The 350-acre campus will feature office buildings, a hotel, fitness center, child care center and about two dozen retail and dining spaces. The campus is designed to serve as a hub for 15,000 Walmart employees. Full Story: Axios (12/11)