Best Skift Podcasts (2026)

1
American Goes Free Wi-Fi, Hilton Enforces Brand Lines, Hawaii Cruise Tax Blocked 3:56

Play Pause

2h ago3:56

3:56

Airlines race to make free Wi-Fi the new standard, hotel brands tighten control over franchise behavior, and Hawaii’s climate tax on cruise ships hits a legal roadblock. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why American Airlines’ Wi-Fi move is really about premium positioning, how Hilton’s swift franchise action highlights th…

1
Skift Megatrends 2026: What’s Next for Travel, Loyalty, and Luxury 39:51

19d ago39:51

39:51

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 i…

1
Rafat Ali - Skift l Building a Travel Media Empire That Actually Matters 1:01:48

21d ago1:01:48

1:01:48

Building a travel media empire isn’t for the faint-hearted, and Rafat Ali knows exactly what he’s talking about. This December, Fritz sits down with Rafat, founder and CEO of Skift, for a conversation loaded with insider insights on travel media, startups, and the raw realities of running a global brand. They get into everything from how Skift carv…

1
GMH Hotels: 2026 Predictions: What’s Ahead for Hotels This Year 32:39

43m ago32:39

32:39

On January 7th, GMH Hotels returns with one of the show’s annual traditions 🔮Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk share their predictions for 2026, breaking down what they expect to shape the hotel industry in the year ahead. From demand and pricing to labor, loyalty, technology, and guest experience, they lay out the trends they believe will matter most …

1
Live Tourism Rises, Luxury Gets Precise, AI Trust Takes Center Stage 4:40

1d ago4:40

4:40

As 2026 begins, travel demand isn’t slowing — it’s becoming more intentional. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why live tourism will remain a powerful driver without a single mega-tour, how luxury travel is shifting from excess to precision, and why “travel slop” from poorly deployed AI could become one of the industry’s …

1
GMH: 2026 Predictions: What Comes Next for Hospitality? 🔮 33:54

13h ago33:54

33:54

Welcome back to Good Morning Hospitality, A Skift Podcast, and the first episode of 2026! Wil Slickers, Michael Goldin, Brandreth Canaley, and Jamie Lane kick off the year by sharing their predictions for what lies ahead across travel and hospitality. From demand and pricing to distribution, technology, and guest behavior, the crew lays out the tre…

1
#30 Våldet i världen börjar inte där ute 17:55

4d ago17:55

17:55

Du lyssnar på Lis Karin i Leva livet fullt ut – varmt välkommen. Det här avsnittet tar avstamp i den mörka verklighet vi sett under julen: våld, mord och händelser som väcker starka reaktioner i oss. Ilska. Vrede. Och den där impulsen att vilja ”ta bort” det onda. Men hur får vi verkligen ett slut på det som upprepas – i relationer, i samhällen, i …

1
The David Neeleman Interview 25:54

5d ago25:54

25:54

Recorded on-stage at our recent Skift Aviation Forum, Gordon sits down with aviation legend David Neeleman. In this fast-paced discussion, few topics are left on the table, as we hear Neeleman's views on everything from the health of the U.S. airline industry to sustainable aviation fuels. Follow the Hosts: Gordon Smith – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn…

1
The Joanna Geraghty Interview 24:58

12d ago24:58

24:58

Recorded on-stage at our recent Skift Aviation Forum, Gordon is in conversation with JetBlue CEO, Joanna Geraghty. We hear why the deck is stacked against smaller carriers in the U.S., and why she thinks 2026 will be a better year for the New York-based airline. Follow the Hosts: Gordon Smith – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jay Shaba…

1
Flying Taxis Advance, Hilton Rethinks Branding, Micro Events Rise 4:07

18d ago4:07

4:07

Flying taxis move closer to U.S. airspace, Hilton rethinks brand building in an AI-driven marketing world, and micro events emerge as a defining trend for 2026. In the final Skift Daily Briefing of 2025, Sarah Dandashy looks ahead at the forces reshaping travel and hospitality — from electric air mobility gaining regulatory momentum, to why brand l…

1
United Goes AI-First, OTAs Face an Identity Test, World Cup Prices Bite 3:44

19d ago3:44

3:44

United upgrades its app into a predictive travel assistant, online travel agencies face an identity crisis in the age of AI, and World Cup ticket prices come down — but only on paper. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down how United is using AI to reduce travel friction, why Expedia and Booking are rethinking their roles as AI…

1
Is Breeze in a Squeeze? 41:25

19d ago41:25

41:25

As Breeze Airways enters its fifth year of flying, Gordon and Jay discuss the challenges and opportunities for the David Neeleman-backed U.S. carrier. In part two, our attention turns to 2026, with a round-up of key industry topics to watch. Follow the Hosts: Gordon Smith – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jay Shabat – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Li…

1
GMH Hotels: The Year Ends With Pressure, Power Shifts, and New Rules 40:48

21d ago40:48

40:48

On the final GMH Hotels episode of 2025, Sarah Dandashy is joined by Katie Cline to break down the forces closing out the year in hospitality and travel. They explore the “ugly new math” pressuring hotel margins, a wave of airline CEO changes signaling deeper industry shifts, and how luxury travel is being redefined beyond passports and borders. Th…

1
Airline CEOs Shuffle, NYC Casinos Approved, U.S. Raises Travel Fees 4:13

20d ago4:13

4:13

Airlines reshuffle leadership at a rapid pace, New York City clears the way for three new casino resorts, and the U.S. continues layering on travel fees that could test inbound demand. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down what’s driving the sudden wave of airline CEO changes, why New York’s casino approvals matter for tourism…

1
Hotel Costs Surge, Google Enables Live Translation, Spirit Gets Lifeline 4:35

21d ago4:35

4:35

Hotels face a widening cost squeeze, Google turns everyday earbuds into real-time translators, and Spirit Airlines secures a last-minute lifeline to stay airborne. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why rising labor and operating costs are reshaping hotel economics, how live translation tech could remove one of travel’s big…

1
GMH: 2025 Predictions Revisited 38:35

23d ago38:35

38:35

On this episode of Good Morning Hospitality, Wil Slickers, Michael Goldin, Brandreth Canaley, and Jamie Lane revisit the predictions they made at the beginning of 2025 to see how the year actually played out. With a full year of data, headlines, and hindsight behind them, the crew breaks down what they got right, where they missed the mark, and whi…

1
#29 När manifestation inte längre räcker – bortom mål, teknik och prestation 41:47

22d ago41:47

41:47

I det här avsnittet delar jag en ärlig reflektion om min resa genom personlig utveckling och Law of Attraction – och den inre konflikt som växte fram när fokus på mål, manifestation och framgång inte längre gav den frid jag sökte. Jag utforskar skillnaden mellan att försöka förändra livet genom tankar, energi och prestation, och att i stället vända…

1
Hilton Expands Luxury, Boom Advances Supersonic, Expedia Buys Tiqets 3:49

25d ago3:49

3:49

Hilton accelerates its global luxury expansion, Boom Supersonic leverages AI demand to fuel its aviation timeline, and Expedia steps deeper into the experiences market with its acquisition of Tiqets. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down how Hilton is positioning itself for the next wave of high-end travel, why Boom’s new turb…

1
In Conversation with DFW Airport CEO, Chris McLaughlin 29:04

27d ago29:04

29:04

Gordon sits down with Chris McLaughlin, Chief Executive Officer of Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, for a special episode of the Airline Weekly Lounge. In this wide-ranging conversation, the pair discusses everything from route development and new terminals to AI and operational resilience. Follow the Hosts: Gordon Smith – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠L…

1
Record U.S. Holiday Travel, Gulf Cruises Rise, U.S. Adds Social Media Checks 4:23

28d ago4:23

4:23

U.S. holiday travel is about to break records, the Gulf positions itself as cruising’s next major hub, and America plans new digital screening requirements that could slow inbound tourism. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy unpacks why more than 122 million Americans are expected to travel this holiday season, how a unified GCC visa co…

1
How Pyramid Global Is Rethinking Hotel Management 47:17

28d ago47:17

47:17

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 rev…

1
GMH Hotels: 2025 Predictions Review: What We Hit & Missed 33:17

28d ago33:17

33:17

On this episode of GMH Hotels, Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk bring back one of the show’s favorite traditions: the annual predictions review. At the start of the year, they each made bold calls about the trends, challenges, and opportunities that would shape hotels and travel in 2025. Now, with December here, they’re revisiting every forecast to se…

1
Self-Driving Competes with Air, Luxury Bubble Grows, Travelers Drink Less 4:15

28d ago4:15

4:15

Skift’s 2026 Megatrends are here — and today’s Daily Briefing zooms in on three that are already reshaping traveler behavior: self-driving cars that quietly compete with planes, a luxury bubble that’s becoming the industry’s load-bearing wall, and a new wave of sober-curious travelers redefining what “vacation mode” looks like. On today’s Skift Dai…

1
Middle-Class Lodging Fades, Uber Trains AI with Agents, Hotels Cut Waste with AI 3:47

29d ago3:47

3:47

The middle of the U.S. lodging market collapses, Uber quietly hires travel agents to train its AI, and hotels use smart food-waste tech to cut emissions and costs. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy explores how America priced out the classic middle-class road trip, why Uber is building the invisible infrastructure behind trip planning…

1
World Cup Update, Startup Slowdown & the Vanishing Middle-Class Hotel 39:04

1M ago39:04

39:04

On today’s Good Morning Hospitality, Wil Slickers, Jamie Lane, Brandreth Canaley, and Michael Goldin dig into the trends shaping the start of the week across travel and lodging. Jamie brings fresh World Cup host-city data with early demand and pricing signals, along with his top takeaways from the DARM conference. The team then looks at the slowdow…

1
#28 Ett skifte som förändrar allt 23:42

1M ago23:42

23:42

I det här avsnittet kommer jag visa dig på skillnaden mellan att se på världen utifrån ett horisontellt perspektiv eller vertikalt. Två helt skilda platser att betrakta världen ifrån. Det ena ger stress, kamp och separation medan det andra ger frid, lugn och välmående. Välkommen in att lyssna! Och glöm inte att gilla och prenumerera om du vill stöd…

1
Alaska Goes Global, Southwest Rebrands, Marriott Eyes 2026 3:36

1M ago3:36

3:36

Alaska Airlines pushes into long-haul flying, Southwest reshapes its identity for a new era, and Marriott signals confidence despite a softer quarter. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down Alaska’s unexpected global ambitions, Southwest’s transition from quirky challenger to convenience-first carrier, and Marriott’s outlook as…

1
Canadians Turn Away, Hotel Loyalty Evolves, Eventbrite Gets $500M Reboot 4:18

1M ago4:18

4:18

Canadian travelers are pulling back from the U.S., hotel loyalty enters a new era of personalization, and Eventbrite gets a $500 million reboot. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why the U.S. is losing its most reliable inbound market, how loyalty programs are shifting from points to experiences, and what Eventbrite’s acqu…

1
America's Airport All-Stars 22:36

1M ago22:36

22:36

Gordon and Jay reveal the major U.S. airports that are due to grow at an impressive rate in the coming quarter. From Texas to Tennessee, we break down the numbers and examine the factors driving rapid growth. Follow the Hosts: Gordon Smith – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jay Shabat – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Airl…

1
Inside Soul Community Planet, the Hotel Brand Betting on Conscious Travel 41:58

1M ago41:58

41:58

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 b…

1
Expedia’s AI Game, TSA Fees, Loyalty Reinvented & Hotel Capital Moves 36:16

1M ago36:16

36:16

On this episode of GMH Hotels, Wil Slickers and Steve Turk cover a busy week in travel! Expedia Group taps former Google AI leader Xavier (Xavi) Amatriain as its first Chief AI and Data Officer, TSA introduces a new $45 fee for travelers without a Real ID or passport, hotel loyalty programs undergo a major reinvention, and Marriott International ex…

1
TSA Adds $45 ID Fee, Expedia Hires AI Chief, Delta Expands Elite Perks 3:52

1M ago3:52

3:52

TSA introduces a new $45 fee for travelers without Real ID, Expedia hires its first Chief AI and Data Officer to accelerate its tech shift, and Delta sweetens perks for its top-tier loyalists. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down how identity verification is changing at airports, why Expedia is making a bold AI move, and how …

1
Marriott Leads, Hilton Gains, AI Pricing Probed, Flying Taxis Take Off 4:08

1M ago4:08

4:08

Marriott keeps its global lead as Hilton accelerates, AI airfare pricing draws scrutiny in Washington, and flying taxis move from sci-fi to real-world service. On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down the shifting race among the world’s biggest hotel groups, why lawmakers are uneasy about the future of AI-driven pricing, and how …

1
Evolve’s Big Buy, Luxury Escapes & the Future of Vacation Rentals 37:41

1M ago37:41

37:41

On this episode of Good Morning Hospitality, A Skift Podcast, Wil Slickers, Jamie Lane, Brandreth Canaley, and Michael Goldin dive into some of the biggest moves in short-term rentals and travel. First, they unpack the recent deal where Evolve acquired 1,000 owner contracts from Casago, a bold consolidation that could reshape supply and operator mo…

1
Inside Qantas' Project Sunrise 35:37

1M ago35:37

35:37

In part one, Gordon shares an insider perspective on a major new Skift feature examining the business case for Qantas' 'Project Sunrise' ultra long-haul flights. In part two, attention swings to European carriers as Jay rounds up the most profitable airlines for the all-important Q3 peak season. Follow the Hosts: Gordon Smith – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linked…

1
Inside Saudi’s Big Tourism Bet and Google’s Booking Disruption 40:18

1M ago40:18

40:18

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-proj…