The Skift Travel Podcast
The Skift Travel Podcast delivers the latest insights from the most-trusted travel industry news source. Skift hosts conversations with creatives, executives, and entrepreneurs across travel to discuss travelers' habits, industry patterns, and seismic changes. Listen for exclusive interviews with travel leaders and Skift's own editors and analysts. Stay updated with daily news at skift.com/news.
Episodes
Travel’s AI Reckoning Has Arrived
Google paid $10 million for Spirit Airlines’ data. Airbnb is showing real AI-driven savings. Booking says AI still accounts for less than 1% of room nights.
Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko break down travel’s AI reckoning: what is paying off, what is still experimental, and why data, trust, and ROI now matter more than AI hype.
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The State of Travel Is Getting Harder to Control
Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko unpack two forces reshaping travel: the creator economy’s impact on hotel brands and Skift Research’s State of Travel 2026 report.
They discuss the Aman creator controversy, why hotels need a new playbook for independent reviewers, and the new Travel Stack framework showing how consumers, commerce, operations, and experiences are changing across the industry.
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Why Every Major Hotel Brand Is Giving Money Back to Owners
Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt are all offering new relief to hotel owners. Climate is creating new operational challenges for hotels around the world. And Japan has transformed a former prison into one of its most unique luxury hotels.
Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko explore what these stories reveal about the future of hotel ownership, climate adaptation, and heritage tourism.
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What Earnings Season Reveals About Travel Right Now
Fora became travel's newest unicorn, Amazon is pushing deeper into AI travel booking, and earnings season is revealing where the industry is gaining momentum.
Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko discuss how AI is changing travel distribution and what the latest results from Hilton, JetBlue, and Royal Caribbean say about the second half of the year.
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We Graded Our Biggest 2026 Travel Megatrends
The U.S. passport is no longer among the world's most powerful. Skift revisits its biggest travel megatrends of 2026, and The Odyssey is already driving tourism in Norway.
Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko discuss what shifting passport rankings reveal about global influence, which travel megatrends have held up through the first half of the year, and why movie tourism continues to be a powerf
The New Economics of Travel: Fewer Tourists, More Money
The World Cup didn't deliver the inbound tourism boost many expected. Delta still posted strong earnings despite soaring fuel costs. And new Skift Research points to Latin America as one of travel's biggest growth opportunities.
Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko explore why the travel industry is shifting toward higher-value travelers, premium experiences, and a new definition of growth.
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AI, Visa, and the New Battle for Travel Customers
Visa is becoming a travel company. Mews is restructuring around AI. And Gen Z is already reshaping business travel.
Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko explore how new competitors, artificial intelligence, and changing traveler behavior are rewriting the rules for travel companies—and why these seemingly separate stories all point to the same shift happening across the industry.
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Are Hotel Brands Worth It Anymore?
More than 1,200 hotel franchise agreements are set to expire by 2030, and some owners are deciding it's time to leave the big brands behind.
Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko explore why independent hotels are becoming a more realistic option, how technology is changing the franchise equation, and why new Skift Research suggests consumers—and AI—may no longer see meaningful differences between many hote
The World Cup's Most Unexpected Winner: America
The World Cup brought international visitors to America, expecting one thing and finding something completely different.
Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko discuss the Knicks' championship, sports tourism, viral European road trips across America, and why the World Cup may be reshaping global perceptions of the United States in real time.
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$3.4 Billion Is Pouring Into Travel Startups. Here's Why.
Travel startups raised $3.4 billion last year, but AI may be reshaping where the next generation of travel companies emerges.
Seth Borko and venture capitalist Gilad Berenstein discuss travel startup funding, hotel robotics, the future of travel distribution, and the race to own the AI agent that could eventually plan and book your trips.
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Hotels Tried to Cut Out Expedia. Here's What Happened.
Seth Borko and Sean O'Neill discuss the biggest lessons from Skift's Data + AI Summit and revisit a decade of hotel direct-booking strategy.
They examine why hotels improved profitability without significantly reducing OTA share, how loyalty programs reshaped distribution economics, and why AI could become the next major disruption in travel booking.
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Travel’s AI Problem Is Bigger Than Most Companies Realize
Sarah Kopit and Adriana Lee break down why the travel industry may not actually be ready for AI despite the rush to adopt it.
They explore fragmented hotel data systems, why travelers still do not trust AI booking tools, and how companies are starting to optimize not just for customers — but for AI agents themselves.
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Airbnb Is Becoming a Real OTA
Sarah Kopit reports live from Airbnb’s Summer Release event in San Francisco as Brian Chesky unveils Airbnb’s expansion into hotels, car rentals, services, and experiences.Sarah and Seth Borko break down why Airbnb increasingly looks like a full-service OTA, what Expedia’s latest acquisition says about the future of travel commerce, and how AI, creators, and social shopping are reshaping travel di
America’s Travel Problem Is Getting Worse
International travel to the U.S. fell another 14% as America’s tourism challenges continue ahead of the World Cup.Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko break down the growing perception problem facing the U.S., the pressure hotel owners are feeling from major brands, and why TikTok may become a major player in travel booking and discovery.
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Trump's Tourism Envoy: Inside Nick Adams' Plan to Sell America
America has never had the equivalent of a tourism minister — until now.
In March, President Trump created the role of Special Presidential Envoy for American Tourism, Exceptionalism, and Values, and handed it to Nick Adams: conservative commentator, self-styled "alpha male," and the loudest pitchman U.S. travel has ever had.
In this special edition of the Skift Travel Podcast, Gordon Smith sit
Spirit Airlines Collapsed. What Happens to Budget Travel Now?
Spirit Airlines is shutting down after years of financial struggles, failed merger attempts, and rising costs.Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko break down what killed Spirit, what it means for budget travel in the U.S., and why Skift Research found that travelers don’t necessarily return to destinations simply because they loved them.
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The Fight for Control of Online Travel Has Started
OTAs still dominate travel booking, but pressure is building from AI, banks, and global disruption.Seth Borko and Dennis Schaal break down Booking’s earnings, the Capital One–Hopper deal, and what it all means for the future of online travel.
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How TV and AI Are Reshaping Travel Demand
TV is driving travel demand. AI is reshaping how people search.Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko break down how culture and technology are changing who controls visibility, demand, and bookings in travel.
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The Crisis Crushing America’s Hotel Owners
Hotel brands are winning while owners face rising costs and softer demand.Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko break down the growing pressure on hotel owners and what it means for the future of the franchise model.
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Why Flights Stay Cheap While Travel Costs Rise
Flights are cheap. Hotels are expensive.
Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko break down the economic forces driving up travel costs — and what it means for travelers, hotel owners, and the future of the industry.
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What’s Really Changing Inside the Airline Industry
Airline leadership shakeups, alliance shifts, and AI-driven discovery are all hitting travel at once.
Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko break down what these changes mean for how the industry operates — and how travelers choose where to go.
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3-Hour Airport Lines and a System Under Pressure
Three-hour airport lines. TSA agents not showing up. Ground stops at major airports.
All in the same week.
In this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, Sarah Kopit is joined by Skift Managing Editor Lex Haris to unpack what may be the clearest signal yet that the U.S. travel system is under real strain.
They break down how a partial government shutdown is impacting TSA staffing, why some airpor
The Iran War Broke More Than the Middle East
The Iran war exposed cracks across global travel, from broken systems and AI customer service failures to mounting pressure at U.S. airports.
In this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko break down the latest travel fallout and explain why Latin America may be the most important market to watch next.
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Oil Hit $100. What Happens to Travel Now?
Oil hit $100, airlines are under pressure, and Gen Z is not behaving like millennials did.
In this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko unpack what higher fuel prices mean for airline economics, how this week’s travel chaos felt in real life, and why new Skift Research suggests Gen Z may force the industry to rethink some big assumptions.
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War, Airspace, and Oil: The Risks Facing Travel Right Now
Conflict in the Middle East is once again raising questions about the resilience of global travel.
In this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, Seth Borko is joined by Skift Airlines Editor Gordon Smith to examine how escalating geopolitical tensions could ripple through the aviation industry.
They discuss the potential impact of airspace disruptions, how airlines prepare for geopolitical risk,
The Hidden Risks Hotel Owners Never Planned For
Hotels are facing political pressures they were never built to handle.
In this episode, Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko examine how immigration enforcement, protests, and franchise agreements are forcing hotel owners into impossible decisions.
They also explore why hotel brands have doubled in number but struggle to stand out, and what that means for the future of travel.
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Marriott Is Worried About AI. Should They Be?
Marriott expects 35% growth in co-branded credit card fees next year. At the same time, it’s warning investors that AI could disrupt its entire loyalty ecosystem.
In this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko break down what’s happening at the intersection of loyalty, artificial intelligence, and geopolitics.
They start with Marriott’s earnings, where the power of co-br
Ozempic, Travel, and the End of the Old Vacation Model
Weight loss drugs may be one of the most underestimated forces reshaping travel.
In this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko unpack how GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic are quietly changing who travels, where they go, and how they spend.
As obesity rates decline for the first time in decades and medication prices fall, travelers are unlocking trips they once thought were imp
Why Travel Companies Are Staying Silent on Politics
This week on the Skift Travel Podcast, Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko tackle a wide-ranging conversation that sits at the intersection of geopolitics, growth, and brand identity in travel.
They begin with one striking reality: very few travel companies are willing to go on the record about political issues, even as immigration policy, protests, and global perception begin to influence tourism decisio
Airbnb, OTAs, and the Fight for Control of Travel
This week on the Skift Travel Podcast, Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko break down a set of travel industry flashpoints that all connect back to one thing: trust.
They start with the industry’s most hated topic, fees. Resort fees, junk fees, and the reality that “transparent pricing” usually just means the cost moves around, not that it disappears. They dig into what travelers actually notice, what reg
New from Skift: Executive Conversations Shaping the Travel Industry
We’re sharing a preview of a new podcast from Skift called Skift Take Sessions.
Skift Take Sessions is a weekly, journalist-led podcast built from the most important conversations shaping the global travel industry. Each episode features candid interviews with CEOs and senior leaders across airlines, hotels, and travel platforms, recorded live at Skift events and expanded with context around why
What Happens When Convenience Beats Brand in Travel?
As travel brands head deeper into 2026, cracks are starting to show in some of the industry’s most trusted strategies.
In this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko unpack a wide-ranging week in travel, starting with Hilton’s launch of its 26th brand and the growing question of brand fatigue in hospitality. They explore whether having dozens of brands actually helps in a
Is Travel Headed for Another Shock in 2026?
The travel industry is entering 2026 with more uncertainty than confidence.
In this first episode back of the year, Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko break down the forces quietly reshaping travel right now and why many of the industry’s assumptions may already be outdated. From shifting demand patterns and loyalty fatigue to AI hype, border friction, and the growing divide between luxury and mass trave
Skift Megatrends 2026: What’s Next for Travel, Loyalty, and Luxury
As the year comes to a close, Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko unpack Skift Megatrends 2026 and what the next phase of global travel could look like. The conversation spans some of the industry’s most consequential shifts, from declining alcohol consumption and its surprising upside for hospitality, to the growing dominance of luxury travel and whether it represents a lasting structural change or a frag
How Pyramid Global Is Rethinking Hotel Management
In this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Sarah Kopit and Head of Research Seth Borko sit down with Warren Fields, CEO of Pyramid Global Hospitality, one of the largest hotel management companies in the world. Fields offers a rare inside look at how hotel operators really think, from the economics of rising costs and stagnant revenues to the ongoing talent challenges reshaping h
Inside Soul Community Planet, the Hotel Brand Betting on Conscious Travel
On this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, hosts Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko sit down with Ken Cruse, CEO and Co-Founder of Soul Community Planet, one of hospitality’s most unconventional emerging brands. Cruse, whose background spans Marriott, Host Hotels, and Sunstone Hotel Investors, walks us through why he left the traditional hotel playbook behind to build a vertically integrated company cen
Inside Saudi’s Big Tourism Bet and Google’s Booking Disruption
In this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko unpack one of the biggest stories in global tourism right now: Saudi Arabia’s explosive push to become a world travel hub.
Fresh off a reporting trip to Riyadh, Sarah shares on-the-ground insights from Tourise—including the scale of development, the country’s prestige mega-projects, and the challenges of turning early moment
Why Low Cost Airlines Win in Europe but Struggle in the U.S.
In this airline-deep-dive edition of the Skift Travel Podcast, Head of Research Seth Borko teams up with Airline Editor Gordon Smith to unpack one of the most puzzling trends in global aviation: why ultra-low-cost carriers soar in Europe while their U.S. counterparts continue to stumble.
Drawing on fresh analysis and industry reporting, they break down the cost pressures reshaping the American m
New York's New Mayor Zohran Mamdani & The Eastward Shift in Travel
In this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Sarah Kopit and Head of Research Seth Borko unpack a big week in travel and politics.
Fresh off Skift Global Forum East in Abu Dhabi, they discuss how the center of gravity in global tourism is moving eastward and what it means for destinations across the Middle East and Asia.
Then, they share exclusive insights from Skift’s intervie
Flying Cars, Privatized Airports, and the Future of U.S. Aviation
In this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Sarah Kopit and Head of Research Seth Borko are joined by aviation attorney Jennifer Trock, a partner at Morgan Lewis and one of the leading legal minds in global aviation.
Together, they unpack what the latest U.S. aviation legislation means for travelers — from a $12.5 billion overhaul of air traffic control to the slow path toward a
Can the U.S.-Europe Travel Corridor Recover?
In this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Sarah Kopit and Head of Research Seth Borko unpack the transatlantic slowdown — why over a million European tourists are skipping the U.S. and what it means for global travel.
Fresh off Skift’s first-ever Transatlantic Summit, they dive into the data behind the world’s most important travel corridor, exploring how politics, sustainabil
Glenn Fogel on Booking.com’s AI Strategy, Connected Trip Vision, and the Future of Travel
In this Skift Travel Podcast live session from Skift Global Forum, Skift’s Founding Editor Dennis Schaal sits down with Glenn Fogel, CEO of Booking.com and Booking Holdings, for a wide-ranging discussion on how technology is reshaping online travel.
Fogel reflects on Booking’s evolution from the dot-com era to the dawn of agentic AI, sharing how the company is using new tools to enhance customer
Skift Sessions Episode featuring Brian Chesky, CEO & Founder of Airbnb
In this special Skift Travel Podcast live session from Skift Global Forum, Skift CEO and Founder Rafat Ali sits down with Brian Chesky, CEO and Founder of Airbnb, for an in-depth conversation about the company’s evolution and what’s next for one of the world’s most influential travel brands.
Chesky discusses Airbnb’s bold expansion beyond stays into services and experiences, its renewed focus on
Rethinking Cruising for the Modern Traveler - Anna Nash, President of Explora Journeys
Luxury hospitality veteran Anna Nash, now President of Explora Journeys, joins Skift’s Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko to unpack how the brand is reframing the cruise experience as “ocean travel.”
From positioning ships as floating boutique hotels to balancing wellness, cuisine, and destination immersion, Nash shares how Explora Journeys is targeting both longtime cruisers and first-time travelers.
Airbnb’s Hotel Push, Expedia’s AI Strategy, and Lessons From Skift Global Forum
This week on the Skift Travel Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Sarah Kopit and Head of Research Seth Borko return from the Skift Global Forum in New York City with their biggest takeaways from the industry’s “Super Bowl.”
They break down Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky’s remarks about the company “getting serious” about hotels, examine Expedia’s latest moves in artificial intelligence under Ariane Gorin, and re
Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta on Leadership, Culture, and 18 Years of Growth
In this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta joins Skift CEO/Founder Rafat Ali for a candid conversation about leadership, culture, and navigating nearly two decades at the top of one of the world’s largest hotel companies.
Nassetta reflects on how his personal approach to hospitality — from cooking dinner for large groups of family and friends to leading a company of m
How AI, OTAs, and Shifting Consumer Behavior Are Reshaping the Industry
As Skift gears up for Global Forum in New York, this week’s podcast features a replay of our recent webinar, Online Travel in Flux. Seth Borko and Sarah Kopit join founding editor Dennis Schaal to explore the forces transforming online travel.
From the rise of AI in trip planning to the latest OTA strategies, loyalty innovations, and regulatory pressures, the conversation provides a timely look a
The FIFA World Cup: Tourism, Strategy, and the $3.3B Opportunity
The countdown to the FIFA World Cup 2026 is on, and New York–New Jersey is set to host the world’s biggest stage — including the final at MetLife Stadium.
Seth Borko and Sarah Kopit sit down with Bettina Garibaldi, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for the NYNJ Host Committee, to unpack how the region is preparing for an event expected to bring $3.3 billion in economic impact.
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Inside Agoda’s AI Bet: Building Silicon Valley in Bangkok
Throughout the summer, Skift CEO Rafat Ali has been sitting down with travel leaders around the world for wide-ranging conversations about real estate, artificial intelligence, emerging destinations, independent hotels, and more.
For the last episode in this series, Ali sits down with Agoda CEO Omri Morgenshtern to talk about the evolution of Agoda over the last 20 years, with a particular focus
New York to London in 3 Hours? Boom Supersonic’s CEO Is Betting on 2029
On this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, co-hosts Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko return from their summer break with a high-speed conversation featuring Boom Supersonic founder and CEO Blake Scholl.
Scholl shares how Boom is working to make three-hour transatlantic flights a reality by the end of the decade, why Concorde failed to scale, and how Boom’s technology could silence the dreaded sonic
Brookfield’s Global Bet on Hospitality’s Future
In this rare first-ever podcast appearance, Shai Zelering, Global Head of Hospitality Investments at Brookfield Real Estate, sits down with Skift CEO Rafat Ali to discuss how one of the world’s largest real estate investors is shaping the future of travel and hospitality. From billion-dollar acquisitions in Europe to long-term plays in India, Shai shares how Brookfield balances real estate fundame
Good Morning Hospitality: Marriott Flat, Inclusive Hiring & TSA Shake-Ups
While Seth Borko and Sarah Kopit are taking a short summer break, we’re sharing another episode from our show, Good Morning Hospitality. If you caught the first crossover episode earlier this month, you heard from the Monday short-term rental crew.
Today, we’re featuring the Wednesday hotel crew—Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk—who cover hotels, travel, airlines, and the broader shifts shaping t
Building Humanity into Hospitality Management with Valor’s Global CEO
In this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, Skift CEO Rafat Ali talks with Euan McGlashan, Global Co-Founder, CEO, and Owner of Valor Hospitality Partners, about what’s broken—and what’s still worth rebuilding—in U.S. hospitality. With a presence in 20 countries and nearly 100 properties, Valor is redefining what hotel management looks like, from talent pipelines to franchise relationships to fro
Slick Talk: Beyond the Eight Hours & Hospitality’s Next Chapter
Wil Slickers here again, and I’m closing out our summer break by sharing one of my favorite episodes from Slick Talk — a deep, future-focused conversation with Richard Valtr, founder of Mews.
Richard and I go beyond operations to explore what it means to think theologically about hospitality: why the real competition isn’t other hotels but the hours outside of a guest’s sleep, how technology sho
From Local Roots to Global Reach: Asia’s Hospitality Growth Strategy
Join industry leaders Rafat Ali, CEO & Co-Founder of Skift, and Siradej "Champ" Donavanik, Vice President Development (Global), of Dusit International, as they explore how Asian hospitality brands are carving out a unique identity amid global competition.
From managing villas across continents to expanding beyond Thailand, they discuss the importance of cultural authenticity, personalized guest
Suite Success: Why Every City is a Food City, According to Top Chef’s Gail Simmons
While Sarah and Seth are on a summer break, we are taking the opportunity to introduce listeners to new shows. Today that is a Suite Success episode. Host Katie Cline sits down with Top Chef judge and culinary storyteller Gail Simmons to talk travel, taste, and the unexpected power of a good meal.
From her early days in food media to two decades on Top Chef, Gail reflects on how curiosity—and a f
Good Morning Hospitality: Predictions for Travel, Tech, and Guest Experience
This is a special crossover episode between Good Morning Hospitality and the Skift Travel Podcast.
Following the recent acquisition of Good Morning Hospitality and Hospitality.FM by Skift, we’re sharing this episode to introduce Skift listeners to the voices, format, and perspective that power one of the industry’s most dynamic live podcasts.
Good Morning Hospitality is a live, twice-weekly podc
Blending Hotels and Rentals: Dart’s Bet for Group Travel at Scale
Skift CEO Rafat Ali talks with Chris Kelsey, President of Dart Interests, about how the firm is pushing the boundaries of what a resort can be. At the heart of the conversation is Evermore Orlando, Dart’s $2.5 billion destination next to Disney World that blends managed vacation rentals with luxury hotels, all designed with families and groups in mind.
Kelsey breaks down why the traditional split
Airbnb’s Expansion Strategy: How Services and Experiences Are Changing the Trip
Today’s Skift Travel Podcast was recorded live at Skift Forum Asia Bangkok when Airbnb Chief Business Officer Dave Stephenson joined us to unpack one of the company’s biggest launches in years: the global expansion of curated experiences and in-stay services.
Stephenson shares how Airbnb is integrating new offerings like private chefs, trainers, spa treatments, and local-led activities directly i
Simplicity in Loyalty: The Way Out For Indie Hotels
In this in-depth conversation, Skift Founder Rafat Ali sits down with Chris Hartley, CEO of Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), to unpack how the world’s largest alliance of independent hotel brands is carving out a distinct path in the hospitality landscape. With more than 45 brands—and more joining every year—GHA is proving that collaboration, not consolidation, can be the key to long-term success.
Ha
Why This Summer Is Breaking Flight Crews and the System
This episode of the Skift Travel Podcast features an in-depth conversation with Sara Nelson, President of the Association of Flight Attendants. Host Sarah Kopit and Nelson discuss the challenges flight attendants face amid record-breaking summer travel, ongoing labor negotiations, and the evolving political landscape. Topics include aviation safety, contract bargaining, staffing, public perception
Why the AI Revolution in Travel Depends on Payment Infrastructure
AI is rapidly reshaping the travel industry, but companies that want to fully leverage its potential must prioritize their payment infrastructure, says Jess Conroy, founder and CEO of ROH, a payment management platform for the hospitality sector.
Conroy, who launched ROH two years ago, recently raised $9.2 million in a funding round led by Highgate Technology Ventures and Acrew Capital. Prior to
Welcome to Extreme Heat Summer Travel
Host Sarah Kopit is joined by Skift’s Climate Reporter Darin Graham to discuss the extreme heat that is dominating summer travel. Kopit and Graham give a brief perspective on the changing nature of summer travel before presenting Graham’s podcast about a NetZero hotel in England that positions itself as a way to improve upon the travel industry’s carbon footprint.
Graham’s episode of GreenShift
Rafat Ali x Bhanu Chopra: On Building from India for the World
In this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, RateGain Founder Bhanu Chopra joins Rafat Ali to explore how the company is helping shape the infrastructure of modern travel. From AI-powered pricing to real-time distribution and demand insights, Bhanu breaks down how RateGain is evolving to meet the needs of a more connected and volatile travel landscape. The conversation spans AI innovation, global
How Artificial Intelligence Is Transforming Business Travel
Host Seth Borko is joined by Amadeus' Head of Research and AI Center of Excellence, Rodrigo Acuna Agost, and Marilyn Markham, VP of AI & Automation Strategy at American Express Global Business Travel.
Both panelists emphasized that agentic AI — autonomous systems that pursue a goal and interact with their environment — is the hottest trend in travel technology. Markham highlighted that it goes b
AI and the Future of Travel Startup Investment
What do travel investors really think about AI, startups, and the future of travel? In this unscripted Ask Me Anything session, three top venture experts answer real questions from the audience – no slides, no pitches, just sharp takes and honest insights.
Host Sarah Kopit was joined for this conversation by Cara Whitehill (Vice President, Thayer Investment Partners), Gilad Berenstein (Founder, B
What Travel Startup Investors Are Looking for Now
Hosts Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko are joined on today's Skift Travel Podcast with Kevin Tsang, Managing Director at Amex Ventures. They discuss the future of travel, the impact of AI, and investment strategies in the travel sector through the lens of venture investment. They explore the role of technology in enhancing travel experiences, the potential of AI startups, and the importance of specializ
Tripadvisor Is Turning 25. Here’s What Its CEO Says About Its Future
Travel review brand Tripadvisor is turning 25. So for today's episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko host Tripadvisor CEO Matt Goldberg. They discuss the evolution of Tripadvisor from its humble beginnings above a pizza shop to becoming a leading travel resource for at least a generation.
Goldberg shares insights on the competitive landscape, the role of AI in enhancing
The Private Sector’s Role in Saudi’s Travel Ambitions
For this bonus episode, Skift CEO Rafat Ali is joined by Almosafer CEO Muzzammil Ahussain to discuss the evolution of the travel industry in Saudi Arabia, the significance of Saudi travelers on the global stage, and the impact of recent changes in visa regimes. Ahussain shares his personal journey from the U.S. to Saudi Arabia, the growth of Almosafer, and the company's upcoming IPO plans. The dis
The New Era of Solo Women Travelers
This week Sarah Kopit and Seth Bork’s are joined by JourneyWoman’s (https://journeywoman.com/author/carolyn-ray/) Carolyn Ray and Intrepid Travel’s (https://www.intrepidtravel.com/) Leigh Barnes to discuss the growing trend of solo women travelers over 50. They explore the challenges and opportunities within the travel industry, highlighting a recent survey that shows a significant percentage of w
What’s Next for Short-Term Rentals: Regulations, Airbnb, AI and More
In this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko speak with Vered Raviv-Schwarz, the president and COO of Guesty (https://www.guesty.com/), to explore the evolving landscape of short-term rentals and travel tech. They discuss the current state of the market, the role of Guesty in property management, investor perspectives on travel tech, and the impact of Airbnb's new experi
Rewiring Hotel Tech for Humans
Seth Borko sat down with Richard Valtr, founder of cloud-PMS provider Mews, during the Mews Unfold conference in Amsterdam. Valtr explains this company's long-standing vision: strip away check-in bureaucracy so staff can greet guests as people, not reservations – a problem that still demands modern tech such as AI, computer vision and open APIs. He traces the company’s 13-year path from “just” bui
French-Waiter Engineers? Inside Palantir’s Opinionated Approach to Travel Tech
Rather than just sell travel brands what they think they want, Palantir's employees have opinions about what they really need.
Skift Travel Podcast hosts Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko sat down with Breno Helfstein Moura, the Head of Hospitality at Palantir. Moura discusses how Palantir leverages data and AI to solve complex problems in travel, including partnerships with major companies like Airbus
Marriott CEO on Next-Gen Loyalty and Market Volatility
In March, Marriott CEO Anthony Capuano sat down with Skift Editor-in-Chief Sarah Kopit for a session at Skift Forum India. In a wide-ranging conversation, Capuano highlighted the strength and evolution of the Bonvoy loyalty program, which now appeals beyond business travelers to include leisure guests by offering diverse and accessible rewards. He emphasized India's strategic importance, citing Ma
The Brand That Set The Standard for Lifestyle Hotels
In this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, hosts Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko talk lifestyle hotels with Amar Lalvani, Executive Vice President, President & Creative Director, Lifestyle at Hyatt. They explore the evolution of The Standard brand following Lalvani's acquisition of it in 2013, its unique offerings, and how it has set the benchmark for lifestyle hotels. Lalvani shares insights on mode
AlUla and the New 7,000-Year-Old Tourist Destination
In today’s episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko engage with Phillip Jones, Chief Tourism Officer of AlUla, to discuss the ambitious plans for transforming AlUla into a premier tourism destination in Saudi Arabia. With a budget of $50 billion over ten years, AlUla aims to create a unique tourism ecosystem that highlights its rich history and cultural heritage.
Takeaways
Southeast Asia's Tourism Recovery: A Deep Dive
In this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, guest host and Skift CEO Rafat Ali discusses the current state of tourism in Southeast Asia with experts Gary Bowerman and Hannah Pearson – hosts of The South East Asia Travel Show. They explore the impact of COVID-19 on the region's tourism recovery, the significance of Chinese travelers, pricing trends in the travel industry, and the emerging markets
Minor Hotels and Strategizing for Film Tourism Success
In this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, Skift CEO Rafat Ali interviews Ian Di Tullio, the global chief commercial officer of Minor Hotels. They discuss the growth and strategy of Minor Hotels, the impact of recent events like earthquakes on the hospitality industry, and the evolving landscape of loyalty programs.
Ian shares insights on market dynamics, forward bookings, and the influence of
White Lotus, Artificial Intelligence and the New Business of Luxury Travel
Today Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko are joined by Tom Marchant from Black Tomato to delve into the evolving landscape of luxury travel. They discuss the definition of luxury, the importance of emotional connections in travel experiences, and how travel advisors play a crucial role in understanding customer needs. The conversation also touches on innovative travel experiences, partnerships, and the ba
Borders, Bans, and Bookings: Navigating U.S. Travel Right Now
This conversation with Skift Editors and the head of Skift Research explores the intricate relationship between economic policies, particularly those of the Trump administration, and their impact on the travel industry. The discussion delves into various factors such as travel bans, tariffs, and consumer sentiment, highlighting how these elements shape travel decisions and the overall market.
Th
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