Best Skift Podcasts (2025)

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H-1B Costs, Airbnb’s New Services and IHG’s Expansion 3:39

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9h ago3:39

3:39

A proposed $100,000 H-1B visa fee would hit tech-heavy employers far more than travel brands, but travel could feel second-order effects through its reliance on tech partners and possible shifts in current visa holders’ travel behavior. Airbnb says early data from its four-month-old Services marketplace shows stronger demand for massages and person…

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Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta on Leadership, Culture, and 18 Years of Growth 1:09:02

11h ago1:09:02

1:09:02

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…

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S5E18: The Anti-BuzzFeed: How Skift's Rafat Ali Built Media's Most Trusted Travel Voice 46:03

5h ago46:03

46:03

Rafat Ali has spent thirteen years building Skift into travel's most respected publication by prioritising original thinking over scale. The founder who coined the term "overtourism" joins What The Luxe to discuss why mainstream media is becoming obsolete, how AI will transform travel's backend operations, and what authentic hospitality really mean…

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Skift Global Forum Insights and Vrbo’s New Strategy for Hosts and Guests 35:40

2d ago35:40

35:40

Michael Goldin, Jamie Lane, and Wil Slickers unpack the biggest takeaways from Skift Global Forum and Vrbo’s Connect conference while Brandreth Canaley is away preparing for her move to Boston. Jamie shares his perspective as a speaker at Vrbo’s event, where Expedia Group announced major distribution expansion, stricter listing standards, and new h…

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The Impact of Airbnb Policy Changes, with Dennis Schaal of Skift 45:47

28d ago45:47

45:47

Send us a message! Airbnb’s evolving policies have become one of the most pressing conversations in vacation rentals today - sparking questions, frustrations, and new realities for property managers across the industry. In this episode, Alex & Annie welcome Dennis Schaal, Founding Editor at Skift, to discuss what these changes mean for property man…

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U.S. and International Airlines at a Strategic Crossroads 20:04

2h ago20:04

20:04

In this week’s Airline Weekly Lounge, Jay Shabbat and guest-host Meghna Maharishi unpack the biggest takeaways from Skift Global Forum in New York. The discussion spans airline labor challenges easing in the post-pandemic years, the impact of delayed aircraft deliveries on capacity and growth, and shifting demand patterns across the United States o…

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GMH Hotels: Ruby’s US Debut, Airline Cuts, and OTA Worker Backlash 39:38

5h ago39:38

39:38

On this episode of GMH Hotels, Sarah Dandashy is joined by guest-host Katie Cline to unpack a pivotal week in travel and hospitality. Spirit Airlines prepares to furlough 1,800 flight attendants, raising questions about service, labor relations, and the ripple effects across the travel sector. Agoda faces growing backlash over its job cuts and cont…

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Marriott’s Bet, APAC’s Rebound and Loyalty Leakage 3:36

1h ago3:36

3:36

Marriott held its first “Members’ Day,” inviting 75 Bonvoy members to HQ to test concepts like revamped lounges, new spa amenities, and an AI chatbot that lets travelers describe complex trip needs—underscoring the value of direct relationships as AI reshapes booking. In Asia Pacific, hotel investment dropped 23% in H1 2025 (with fewer big deals in…

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The Danger of OTA Dependence: Building a Strong Direct Booking Strategy with Mark Simpson of Boostly 50:55

7h ago50:55

50:55

Send us a message! When Airbnb changes its policies, the ripple effect can shake operators everywhere. For many, the problem is deeper than one policy update. Relying too heavily on a single platform leaves businesses vulnerable, and the cracks are starting to show. In this episode, Mark Simpson, CEO and founder of Boostly, shares why now is the ti…

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Cracks in Travel Giants, AmexGBT on Consolidation, and How Airlines Win with Culture 3:41

3d ago3:41

3:41

Skift CEO Rafat Ali argues that cracks are forming in the travel oligopoly of Booking, Expedia, Airbnb, and Trip.com, with B2B strategies and task-specific AI opening new opportunities for challengers. AmexGBT CEO Paul Abbott sees further consolidation ahead in the fragmented $1.5 trillion corporate travel sector, as investment in software and infr…

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TSA's Liquid Changes, Expedia's Growth and Royal Caribbean's AI 3:33

7d ago3:33

3:33

The TSA is “looking aggressively at liquids,” signaling potential changes to the 3.4-ounce rule, while also preparing for a possible government shutdown. Expedia Group blamed sluggish U.S. demand for slow B2C growth (1%) even as B2B rose 17%, and expects Vrbo to reaccelerate via promotions and wider inventory sharing. Royal Caribbean says AI now un…

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Live from Skift Global Forum! 26:51

6d ago26:51

26:51

Join Sarah Dandashy and Katie Cline as they discuss what's happening at Skift Global Forum and the greater travel industry! Please forgive any audio issues, as we had some wifi signal issues during this broadcast. Follow the Hosts:Katie Cline – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sarah Dandashy –⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Skift: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ht…

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Frontier Claps Back at United, IHG Looks to Asia and Airbnb Is ‘Serious’ About Hotels 3:36

8d ago3:36

3:36

IHG is prioritizing Asia for growth, with CEO Elie Maalouf planning to double the company’s presence in Japan to nearly 100 hotels and surpass 1,000 in China within 18 months. Frontier CEO Barry Biffle defended the ultra-low-cost model and rebuked United’s Scott Kirby as “elitist,” arguing the U.S. market’s problem is oversupply and noting Frontier…

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Airline Leaders Descend on Washington D.C. 32:18

6d ago32:18

32:18

In part one of this week's show, we discuss the key developments from a major U.S. aerospace summit in Washington D.C. attended by Skift airline reporter, Meghna Maharishi. In part two, Gordon and Jay explore the factors driving impressive growth in the Greek airline market. Follow the Hosts:Gordon Smith – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jay Shabat – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠…

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S5E17: Craft, Hedonism & the Death of Moderation Brands with Imme Ermgassen, Co-Founder of Botivo 44:59

7d ago44:59

44:59

How a former hedonist built a non-alcoholic brand that refuses to apologise for pleasure. From high-end party origins serving Kate Moss and royal wedding guests to building credibility through Michelin-starred restaurants, Imme Ermgassen shares the story of how Botivo, the non-alcoholic botanical aperitivo brand, is rewriting category rules through…

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Airbnb’s Growth, Booking’s AI Optimism and Ace Hotels’ Sale 3:25

8d ago3:25

3:25

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky said he’s dissatisfied with the company’s single-digit growth (8–10% in Q3) and plans to accelerate in 2026 by diversifying into experiences, services, and adding hotels to the platform. At Skift Global Forum, Booking Holdings CEO Glenn Fogel likened today’s generative AI moment to the early internet and said agentic AI—back…

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Preserving People, Culture, and Legacy: Inside Nocturne’s Acquisition Strategy with CEO, Scott Wiseman 48:32

7d ago48:32

48:32

Send us a message! What does it take to scale luxury vacation rentals while protecting the legacy of the brands that built them? In this episode, Alex & Annie welcome back Scott Wiseman, CEO of Nocturne Luxury Villas, for an inside look at how Nocturne approaches acquisitions in the luxury vacation rental space. Instead of treating acquisitions as …

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Online Travel Battles, A TikTok Deal and Amex’s New Travel App 3:41

9d ago3:41

3:41

Online travel giants are leaning hard into B2B: Booking is consolidating partner teams across Booking.com, Priceline, and Agoda; Hopper’s focus has shifted so much to B2B that its consumer presence outside North America has faded; and Expedia is broadening B2B tech with new APIs for cars, insurance, and ads—offering growth without Google ad spend a…

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GuestyVal Recap, New York STR Ban at Two Years, Bad Bunny’s Tourism Impact 31:06

9d ago31:06

31:06

On today’s episode of Good Morning Hospitality, Michael Goldin, Brandreth Canaley, and Jamie Lane recap the big themes from GuestyVal, from oversupply pressures and the call for greater standardization to whether unreasonable hospitality at scale is truly achievable (we believe it is). In the second half of the show, Jamie takes us through the two-…

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S5E16: The Science of Longevity & Healthspan with Alejandro Bataller, Managing Partner at SHA Wellness 43:23

9d ago43:23

43:23

Alejandro Bataller, Managing Partner at SHA Wellness, tells of how a family health crisis in 2002 led to building one of the world's most comprehensive wellness brands. SHA's "proactive healthcare" philosophy challenges conventional medicine's reactive approach, focusing on healthspan over lifespan. With host Fred Moore, Alejandro explores the evol…

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Booking’s AI Bet, Marriott’s Loyalty Push and Hotels’ Tech Hurdles 3:34

14d ago3:34

3:34

Booking Holdings is developing agentic AI to create a more personalized travel assistant capable of taking actions like booking flights, with CFO Ewout Steenbergen calling it key to delivering the long-promised “connected trip.” Marriott is expanding its Bonvoy loyalty program through partnerships with retailers such as Flipkart and Nectar, aiming …

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Delta’s Big Spenders, Airbnb’s AI Future and Canada’s U.S. Travel Slump 3:30

15d ago3:30

3:30

Delta’s Ed Bastian said most of the airline’s revenue now comes from households earning $100,000+—a key reason carriers are leaning into premium and international travel even as budget travelers dampen domestic demand. Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky signaled AI could reopen expansion plans (including flights and transportation), with AI-powered search com…

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What’s Happening at WestJet? 35:42

13d ago35:42

35:42

As WestJet places the biggest aircraft order in its history, we discuss the past, present, and future direction of Canada’s second-largest airline. The conversation also includes updates on the latest developments at JetBlue and British leisure carrier Jet2. Follow the Hosts:Gordon Smith – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jay Shabat – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Conne…

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How AI, OTAs, and Shifting Consumer Behavior Are Reshaping the Industry 57:35

13d ago57:35

57:35

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 pre…

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GMH Hotels: Accor Goes Vegas, OTAs Drop $5B, and Visas Get Tougher 35:21

14d ago35:21

35:21

This week on GMH Hotels, Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk break down the latest shifts shaping travel. U.S. visa rules are tightening, creating longer waits and higher costs for applicants. YOTEL names a new CEO from Marriott International as it eyes bold growth. Accor makes a high-stakes entry into Las Vegas with Treasure Island Hotel & Casino, poten…

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Travel Power Players, Translating AirPods and a Healthier United 2:16

15d ago2:16

2:16

Skift’s latest Power Rankings spotlight bold leaders reshaping travel, from Airbnb’s Brian Chesky relaunching Experiences, to Perplexity’s Aravind Srinivas challenging Google’s travel search with AI, and IndiGo’s Pieter Elbers pushing long-haul expansion with new widebodies. Apple’s new AirPods Pro 3 add live language translation for English, Frenc…

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How Property Managers Can Offer Flexible Cancellations Without Losing Revenue – with Sasha Lawler of Roam 45:01

14d ago45:01

45:01

Send us a message! Flexible cancellation policies are no longer optional in today’s vacation rental market. Guests expect them, OTAs prioritize them, and competitors are already adapting. But for property managers, relaxed policies often feel like a direct threat to revenue and owner trust. In this episode, we talk with Sasha Lawler, CEO and Founde…

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S5E15: The Explorer's Return: Sven-Olof Lindblad, Co-Chair and Founder of Lindblad Expeditions, on Stepping Back to See Forward 49:24

15d ago49:24

49:24

Sven-Olof Lindblad on transitioning from CEO to co-chairman of Lindblad Expeditions, the evolution of adventure travel, and why conservation is a business investment rather than philanthropy. We explore the delicate balance of protecting remote destinations whilst providing access, the changing psychology of modern travellers, and how expedition tr…

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Hotels and Airbnb Chase Locals as Startup Hype Fades 27:56

16d ago27:56

27:56

On this week’s Good Morning Hospitality, Michael Goldin and Brandreth Canaley dive into three stories reshaping the hospitality landscape. Oman’s $7 million investment in UnderTheDoormat Group highlights how government support is fueling the growth of alternative accommodations. The team then unpacks the cautionary tales of Selina and Sonder Inc., …

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20 Risk-Taking Travel Leaders, Marriott's Split Performance and Hyatt's All-Inclusive Boom 3:07

21d ago3:07

3:07

Skift’s Generation Next series highlights 20 women transforming the travel industry, including leaders like Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson and Shaika Nasser Al Nowais, who will become the first Emirati and first woman to lead UN Tourism. Marriott CEO Anthony Capuano pointed to a “bifurcation of the consumer,” with luxury travel booming while mid-tier ho…

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GMH Hotels: Copenhagen’s Eco Push, Hotels Struggle, Visa Shift 32:07

20d ago32:07

32:07

On GMH Hotels this week, Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk start with Copenhagen’s CopenPay program that rewards visitors for traveling sustainably and is quickly becoming a model for more than 100 other cities worldwide. They then turn to a new J.D. Power report showing declining guest satisfaction at third-party managed hotels, with frustrations grow…

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Vrbo’s Crackdown, Accor’s Subscription Push and Europe’s AI Lag 3:59

22d ago3:59

3:59

Vrbo will begin enforcing 100% penalties on U.S. hosts starting October 1 if guests are denied access to booked homes, with fines equal to the reservation amount and potential suspensions, as part of broader crackdowns by Vrbo and Airbnb on poor host service. Accor is consolidating its regional subscription cards under the global All Accor+ brand, …

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Profits A'Plenty for Australian Airlines 29:19

21d ago29:19

29:19

In part one, Gordon and Jay discuss robust financials from the Qantas Group and Virgin Australia, and explore why Air New Zealand continues to struggle. In part two, the conversation turns to China and the headwinds dragging on profitability for the country's three largest airlines. Follow the Hosts:Gordon Smith – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jay Shabat – ⁠⁠⁠…

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The FIFA World Cup: Tourism, Strategy, and the $3.3B Opportunity 34:42

22d ago34:42

34:42

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 …

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How Xplorie Helps Elevate the Guest Experience Through Local Activities with Adrienne Clark & Caleb Yaryan 49:49

23d ago49:49

49:49

Send us a message! In this week’s episode, we’re joined by Adrienne Clark (President & COO) and Caleb Yaryan (Chief Product Officer) of Xplorie, a trusted partner for vacation rental operators looking to enhance guest satisfaction while gaining a competitive edge. For nearly 30 years, Xplorie has been connecting lodging providers with local attract…

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Leasing the Skies, Redefining Luxury and Expanding Across Borders 4:03

23d ago4:03

4:03

A group led by Sumitomo Corp and SMBC Aviation Capital will acquire aircraft lessor Air Lease for $7.4 billion, marking a major shift in an industry where leased planes now make up more than half of the global fleet. Relais & Châteaux is carefully modernizing while expanding into markets like India, China, and Southeast Asia, balancing digital adop…

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Inside Agoda’s AI Bet: Building Silicon Valley in Bangkok 51:19

23d ago51:19

51:19

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…