That Stunning Hotel You Found on TikTok Might Not Be Real

0:09A bombshell roommate estimate that could flip the script on OTA competition, Marriott's stretch goal to close a billion and a half dollar gap in group sales, and why you can't believe every hotel video you see on TikTok. Welcome back to the Skiff Daily Briefing. This is Bailey Schulz, Skiff's global tourism reporter. Let's get into it. For years, Expedia has been seen as the clear leader in selling travel inventory to banks, airlines, and other partners. But a new estimate from a BTIG analyst says Booking Holdings' B2B business booked around 196 million room nights over the last 12 months, about 15 % more than was booked through Expedia's partner business.

0:45Booking doesn't disclose B2B financials, so this is an estimate built on assumptions. Others say the math is plausible, but small tweaks to those assumptions could just as easily put Expedia's total ahead of Bookings. And the race isn't settled yet. Expedia's B2B business is growing faster. So even if booking has the bigger base today, Expedia may be closing the gap. Next up, Marriott is leaning hard into its sales teams to close a$1.55 billion gap to goal for group bookings in 2027. Internal material seen by Skitt show that the target applies to hotels Marriott manages in the US and Canada. Marriott says this is a routine annual stretch goal for its sales teams, not a forecast or a performance signal.

1:26Marriott's CFO described 2027 group pace globally as quote flattish on the last earnings call, in contrast with Hyatt, which says group bookings were pacing on target. One property-level group sales rep and a Marriott franchise told Skift that new convention properties with low rates are taking business from other hotels. Finally, that stunning hotel you found on TikTok? It may not be real. Skift found dozens of AI-generated videos of hotels that were available to book through TikTok's new feature, TikTok Go, with tags warning that creators can earn a commission. For just one property in Arizona, Skiff found more than a dozen videos deemed AI generated with high confidence by an AI detection system.

2:05The property owner confirmed that videos include fake buildings and landscapes and voiced concerns that the videos could mislead guests about the property. That's it for the Skiff Daily Briefing. For more travel industry news and sharp analysis, head to skiff.com and sign up for the daily newsletter at skift.com slash daily.