Best Skift Podcasts (2025)

1
Hotel CEOs' on Wasted Potential, Airlines’ Climate Progress and Barry Sternlicht's Warning 3:49

1h ago3:49

3:49

Hotel CEOs say the U.S. is missing out on its tourism potential due to visa processing delays and lack of investment in tourism infrastructure, while also focusing expansion efforts on international markets like India and the Middle East. Meanwhile, IATA’s Willie Walsh criticizes governments and fuel producers, particularly in the EU, for slowing p…

1
What’s Next for Short-Term Rentals: Regulations, Airbnb, AI and More 44:59

5d ago44:59

44:59

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 …

1
Hilton’s Luxury Push, Travel CEOs’ Pay, and Hotels’ Growth Projections 3:37

7h ago3:37

3:37

Hilton is expanding its luxury portfolio to attract affluent travelers and strengthen its loyalty program, having recently opened its 1,000th luxury property with plans to add 150 more this year. Meanwhile, Skift analyzed 2024 CEO compensation for travel companies in the S&P 500, finding Booking’s Glenn Fogel, Disney’s Robert Iger, and Uber’s Dara …

1
United and JetBlue, Viator and Airbnb, and IATA and Big Airline Fears 3:46

4d ago3:46

3:46

United Airlines and JetBlue have announced a new domestic partnership called “Blue Sky,” enabling customers to earn and redeem frequent-flyer miles across both carriers and access shared loyalty benefits. Tripadvisor CEO Matt Goldberg suggested that Viator might partner with the relaunched Airbnb Experiences, though the fit with Airbnb’s curated ap…

1
Chesky's Obama Lessons, Air Traffic Control Dreams and Hawaii's Green Tax 3:44

7d ago3:44

3:44

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky revealed that former President Barack Obama mentored him, encouraging him to reconnect with friends and focus on the deeper purpose of his company during regular calls in 2018. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a massive, long-term overhaul of the nation’s air traffic control system, supported by a proposed …

1
IATA's Willie Walsh Talks Tariffs, Air Traffic Control and Oil Prices 26:22

5d ago26:22

26:22

In this special edition of the Airline Weekly Lounge, Gordon Smith shares highlights from a recent interview with Willie Walsh, Director General of IATA and former CEO of IAG. From Trump's tariffs to Russian airspace, and oil prices to sustainable aviation, you can't afford to miss this wide-reaching discussion with one of the industry's biggest na…

1
The AI Assistant Race, Southwest's New Promise and Booking.com Revelations 3:53

8d ago3:53

3:53

Southwest Airlines has scrapped its signature free-checked-bag perk, instituting $35 and $45 fees for first and second bags, moving toward assigned seating with extra charges, and framing the changes as essential for competitiveness and profit. OpenAI, meanwhile, is forming a hardware company to build AI-native devices that could become travelers’ …

1
Rewiring Hotel Tech for Humans 47:00

13d ago47:00

47:00

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…

1
Aviation Politics, World Cup Visa Backlog and Marriott’s New Brand 3:31

13d ago3:31

3:31

The U.S. House of Representatives passed President Trump’s tax bill, which includes major aviation funding but faces challenges in the Senate due to cuts to Medicaid and the debt limit. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced efforts to reduce the visa processing backlog using embassy overtime and AI, in preparation for upcoming major sporting eve…

1
Ryanair's Rosy Summer Ahead 33:33

13d ago33:33

33:33

In this episode of the Airline Weekly Lounge, hosts Gordon Smith and Jay Shabat delve into the latest financial results of Ryanair, discussing its operational strategies, challenges, and future outlook. They also explore the significant aircraft orders placed by Qatar Airways, analyzing the implications of these deals in the context of the current …

1
Google's Smart Glasses, Newark's Flight Cuts and Wyndham's Live Tourism Perks 3:36

14d ago3:36

3:36

Google previewed AI smart glasses that translate speech and give live travel guidance, taking on Ray-Ban Meta’s wearable. The FAA is capping Newark Airport at 28 takeoffs and 28 landings per hour after recent disruptions and will boost controller staffing in nearby Philadelphia. Wyndham Rewards now lets members bid loyalty points for concert and sp…

1
Google's New AI Mode, Congress’ Favorite Travel Stocks and Hotels.com's AI Planner 3:29

15d ago3:29

3:29

Google introduced new travel-related AI tools at its developer conference, including smart glasses for real-time translation and navigation, and a more advanced AI Mode for complex search tasks. A Skift analysis revealed that over three dozen U.S. lawmakers and their spouses have actively traded stocks in travel companies such as Booking Holdings, …

1
Fairmont's New Marketing, Airbnb’s Experience Challenge and AirAsia Move’s Rebrand 3:35

15d ago3:35

3:35

Airbnb faces hurdles in reaching its $1 billion experiences business target, as the tours and activities sector grows slowly and customers typically book experiences separately from accommodations. Fairmont Hotels & Resorts launched its first global brand campaign since 2021, emphasizing personalized moments with bookable experiences and a new ad c…

1
Airbnb's Experiences Confidence, Amadeus' Acquisition and Archer's Air Taxi Deal 3:24

20d ago3:24

3:24

Airbnb is relaunching its “Airbnb Originals” experiences, focusing on unique, locally vetted offerings such as cooking classes with Michelin-starred chefs and celebrity hangouts, to differentiate itself in a competitive market. Amadeus has acquired ForwardKeys, a travel analytics firm, to enhance its travel intelligence capabilities, marking its th…

1
French-Waiter Engineers? Inside Palantir’s Opinionated Approach to Travel Tech 48:55

19d ago48:55

48:55

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, includi…

1
Can Singapore Airlines Do It Again? 35:51

20d ago35:51

35:51

In this week's show, Gordon Smith and Jay Shabat preview the latest financial results from Singapore Airlines, traditionally one of the world's most profitable long-haul operators. The pair also discuss highlights from an airline leadership conference and the latest Q1 earnings from global carriers. Connect with Airline Weekly LinkedIn: https://www…

1
Airbnb's Personal Touch, Expedia’s Expansion and UAE Theme Park Struggles 3:18

21d ago3:18

3:18

Expedia Group is expanding its B2B business to include new offerings like flights, rental cars, and travel insurance, aiming to become a comprehensive platform for travel partners. Airbnb is enhancing its app by using user profiles to deliver personalized experiences based on travel preferences and companions, with CEO Brian Chesky envisioning prof…

1
U.S. Tourism Optimism, Aviation Infrastructure Woes and Viceroy Expansion Plans 4:00

23d ago4:00

4:00

In April, travel to the U.S. rebounded with a notable 12% increase in visits from Western Europe, particularly from Germany and the U.K., though the data excludes Canada, where visits have declined. The U.S. air traffic control system is under scrutiny due to outdated technology and staffing shortages, prompting the government to invest billions in…

1
Marriott CEO on Next-Gen Loyalty and Market Volatility 28:59

26d ago28:59

28:59

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 …

1
Expedia's Trump Slump, Choice's Budget Boost and Sphere’s Cheaper Offspring 3:33

27d ago3:33

3:33

Expedia Group is experiencing weaker travel demand to the U.S., reporting a 7% decline in inbound travel and lowering its full-year growth expectations due to softening bookings and revenue. Choice Hotels also cut its revenue outlook, though it saw a 7% rise in revenue per available room from its budget brands, benefiting from factors like strong e…

1
Our Round-the-World Airline Adventure 37:11

27d ago37:11

37:11

In this episode of the Airline Weekly Lounge, hosts Gordon Smith and Jay Shabat take listeners on a global tour of the airline industry's Q1 earnings results. They discuss the contrasting fortunes of airlines across Europe, North America, Latin America, and Asia, highlighting optimism amidst challenges, mixed results, and shifts in consumer behavio…

1
The Brand That Set The Standard for Lifestyle Hotels 39:22

28d ago39:22

39:22

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…

1
Google's AI Travel Ads, Abu Dhabi's Disneyland and Trump Campaign's Hotel Expenses 3:33

28d ago3:33

3:33

Google is now allowing ads from travel companies to appear in generative AI search results, with startups like iAsk showing sponsored links from brands such as Tripadvisor and American Airlines. Meanwhile, Disney announced plans to build its first Middle Eastern theme park in Abu Dhabi on Yas Island, with the project being designed and financed in …

1
Marriott’s Trimmed Forecast, Asia's New Travel Leaders and Hilton's India Ambitions 3:25

29d ago3:25

3:25

Marriott has lowered its full-year forecast due to weakening demand in the U.S., despite strong international performance and double-digit revenue growth in India and Japan. In a separate development, Skift highlights ten influential women in the Asia-Pacific travel industry ahead of its upcoming Asia Forum, spotlighting leaders from Hilton, Klook,…

1
JetBlue’s VC Sale, Airbnb’s Cleaning Fees and Social Commerce’s Impact 2:55

30d ago2:55

2:55

JetBlue has sold its venture capital arm, JetBlue Ventures, to Sky Leasing in a move to return to profitability following setbacks including the collapse of partnerships with American Airlines and Spirit Airlines. Airbnb's global rollout of upfront pricing now includes cleaning fees, which vary significantly by region, with North America and the Ca…

1
Airbnb’s Growth Plan, Wyndham’s New Forecast and Hyatt’s Trimmed Outlook 3:53

1M ago3:53

3:53

Airbnb is working to regain double-digit growth in nights booked by expanding internationally, especially in Italy, Germany, and Japan, and by adding more high-quality hotels to its platform, including incentives through HotelTonight. Wyndham has revised its revenue outlook downward due to softer March demand but remains optimistic about long-term …

1
U.S. Airlines’ Earnings Season Recap: What the Future Holds 23:42

1M ago23:42

23:42

In this episode of the Airline Weekly Lounge, Jay and Meghna discuss the recent Q1 earnings reports from major airlines, highlighting the mixed results and economic concerns affecting the industry. They delve into the challenges faced by American Airlines compared to its rivals, the importance of premium travel, and the potential impact of economic…

1
AlUla and the New 7,000-Year-Old Tourist Destination 37:50

1M ago37:50

37:50

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 i…

1
Trivago's Surge, H World's Ambitions and Wizz's Climate Warning 2:47

1M ago2:47

2:47

Trivago reported a strong first quarter with $141 million in revenue—a 22% year-over-year increase—driven by global and local ad campaigns, with expectations of continued growth. China’s H World Group now leads globally in hotel count and loyalty membership, aiming to double its presence by expanding budget and upscale hotels in China and internati…

1
Trump’s First 100 Days, Hilton's Optimism and Airbnb's Victory 3:58

1M ago3:58

3:58

Skift reports that a survey of travel industry leaders shows widespread concern over the Trump administration’s early impact, with “uncertainty” being the dominant theme and many seeing potential opportunities for non-U.S. markets. Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta remains optimistic about the economy and travel demand despite acknowledging short-term conc…

1
Marriott's New Acquisition, Expedia's Cuts and Europe's Blackout 3:30

1M ago3:30

3:30

Marriott International plans to acquire CitizenM to expand its select-service and lifestyle hotel portfolio, expecting the deal to boost its 2025 net room growth and generate $30 million in annual fees. Expedia Group is laying off about 3% of its workforce, mainly in the product, technology, and finance teams, as part of a broader restructuring eff…

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