Episode Notes Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker, one of most influential executives in the global airline industry, announced on Monday he’s stepping down, effective November 5, writes Reporter Ajay Awtaney. Under his leadership, the airline has grown from five aircraft in 1996 to 258 aircraft today. Al Baker also played a critical role in the opening of Hamad International Airport, which has served as Qatar Airways’ hub since 2014. Badr Mohammed al Meer, the airport’s current Chief Operating Off...
Oct 24, 2023•3 min
Episode Notes First, the U.S. Department of State has issued a message urging all Americans traveling abroad to “exercise increased caution” due to heightened tensions in various locations and potential terrorist attacks and violent actions against U.S. citizens. The alert is in response to the global consequences of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, writes tourism reporter Dawit Habtemariam. Americans traveling abroad were advised to stay alert in locations frequented by tourists, enrol...
Oct 20, 2023•3 min
Episode Notes Google is constantly tweaking its hotels platform, and the latest iteration contributes directly to the democratization of the online travel industry, writes Skift Research analyst Pranavi Agarwal. Skift Research conducted a study of Google Hotels platform. Here are three insights from the analysis: paid sponsored listings are dominated by the largest online travel agencies; the introduction of organic results is allowing direct sites and smaller online travel agencies to compete h...
Oct 19, 2023•3 min
Episode Notes Choice Hotels has made a public bid to acquire Wyndham Hotels in what would be a hostile takeover. Valued at nearly $8 billion, the deal would combine the companies to create the largest franchisor of budget hotels in North America, writes Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neil. Wyndham’s board of directors, however, publicly rejected the deal, citing regulatory and execution risks and they said the deal was not fair to its shareholders. Choice made its offer public after its talks ...
Oct 18, 2023•3 min
Episode Notes Hilton will simplify how small-and medium-sized businesses book and manage billings for its small-group meetings and events and has opened a waitlist for Hilton for Business, reports Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neil. To encourage sign ups, Hilton will run a loyalty program that rewards business owners with points that can go toward their businesses or their personal travel. Hilton will also offer bonus points based on the number of employee sign ups, stays and stays over time....
Oct 17, 2023•3 min
Episode Notes Airbnb has been blamed in recent years for helping average rents in some cities increase. But Taylor Marr, Airbnb’s first senior housing economist, downplays its impact, reports Executive Editor Dennis Schaal. Marr said, in an exclusive news interview with Skift, that Airbnb is launching a housing research program. Although Marr acknowledged Airbnb could have negative impacts on some communities, he played down the company’s role in rent increases. He cited a recently published Con...
Oct 13, 2023•4 min
Ask Skift Is the AI Chatbot for the Travel Industry: Go deeper into the business of travel with Skift’s new AI chatbot. Ask Skift Your Questions Episode Notes The Biden administration has taken another step to combat so-called junk fees. The Federal Trade Commission unveiled a proposed rule on Wednesday that would stop businesses — including those in the travel industry — from charging misleading fees, reports Associate Editor Rashaad Jorden. Jorden writes the rule would require companies to sho...
Oct 12, 2023•3 min
Episode Notes New York City’s recently enacted stringent host registration rules for short-term rentals has led to a substantial reduction in Airbnb’s listings in the city. They’ve also helped create an underground market for Airbnb alternatives, reports Executive Editor Dennis Schaal in his weekly Online Travel Briefing. A recent article in Wired described New York City’s short-term rental regulations as “pure chaos.” Schaal cites a listing on Craigslist for a one bedroom property as one exampl...
Oct 11, 2023•4 min
Episode Notes Israel had high hopes this year for its tourism sector this year as it sought to surpass 2019 visitor numbers. But Hamas’ surprise attack on the country, which has led to at least 1,000 deaths, has completely halted Israel’s tourism industry, writes Middle East Reporter Josh Corder and Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia. Corder and Bhutia report that major airlines worldwide, including American Airlines and Air India, have stopped routes to Israel. Meanwhile, several governments, such a...
Oct 10, 2023•3 min
Episode Notes Saudi Arabia has just announced it will bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2034. A big question is, if chosen as the host, will the kingdom stage the first entirely alcohol-free World Cup, writes Middle East Reporter Josh Corder. Corder reports Saudi Arabia would have all the event spaces it needs as well as some of the world’s luxurious hotels by 2034. However, Saudi authorities would have to determine whether to ease the country’s long-standing ban on alcohol. Fellow Gulf State Qa...
Oct 06, 2023•3 min
Episode Notes Hilton has just released its annual whitepaper documenting major travel trends. So what did it reveal? Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill documents the three trends he found most noteworthy. O’Neill reports that only a small percentage of Hilton’s guests are checking in via the company’s app despite its efforts to upgrade the platform. He adds that other hotel groups may see even lower percentages of guests checking in via apps. In addition, Hilton has joined rival Marriott in ...
Oct 05, 2023•3 min
Episode Notes The U.S. tourism industry has made progress in its recovery from the pandemic, but two major issues are hurting its ability to attract international travelers. What are they? Long wait times for visitor visas and outdated air infrastructure, writes Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam. Executives speaking at the recent Skift Global Forum said the U.S. is facing fierce competition from overseas destinations that have improved their tourism infrastructure. NYC Tourism+Convention...
Oct 04, 2023•4 min
Episode Notes Executives speaking at the recent Skift Global Forum said hotel operators and short-term rental managers are not fighting for the same customers. However, hotel owners and Airbnb both have growth ambitions that could lead to more competition, reports Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill. The heads of both Hilton and Airbnb said at the Forum that lodging isn’t a winner-take-all market but one in which multiple companies can coexist. Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky added the overlap betwee...
Oct 03, 2023•4 min
Episode Notes Travel executives from some of the industry’s most important companies will be speaking at the 10th annual Skift Global Forum this week in New York City and they’ll address a wide range of topics. When it comes to the future of travel, Skift CEO and founder Rafat Ali has outlined four major themes that will impact travel the most: demographic shifts, the widespread loneliness crisis, the evolving future of work and the urgent need for climate adaptation. All pose significant challe...
Sep 26, 2023•4 min
Episode Notes Hilton told hotel owners on Thursday it would move quickly to disclose mandatory fees upfront on all of its platforms, according to information Skift obtained, reports Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill. O’Neill writes that Hilton’s support of fee transparency comes after it received legal pressure earlier this year. Texas’ Attorney General sued Hilton in May, alleging the company had a pattern of not disclosing the total price consumers would have to pay for a room upon bookin...
Sep 22, 2023•4 min
Episode Notes The travel industry now – for the first time – has an index to track public travel stocks. Skift unveiled on Wednesday the Skift Travel 200, the first benchmark for measuring the $1 trillion-plus market for public travel companies. Senior Research Analyst Seth Borko reports the Skift Travel 200 will track travel company stock performance as well as analyze metrics such as revenue growth and profit margins. Borko adds that the Skift Travel 200 will be able to break down travel indus...
Sep 21, 2023•3 min
Episode Notes A European parliament group has issued proposals to regulate short-term rentals that it believes will help make housing more affordable, writes Short-Term Rental Reporter Srividya Kalyanaraman. The Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats has proposed, among other measures, requiring online platforms to share host information with authorities and display host registration numbers. The coalition has argued short-term rental platforms have contributed to the “touristification...
Sep 20, 2023•3 min
Episode Notes California is looking to crack down on so-called junk fees at hotel and short-term rentals. The state’s legislators have passed two bills that could impact how California’s hotels and short-term rentals inform consumers about those fees, reports Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill. Senate Bill 537 would prohibit businesses that sell lodging for up to 30 days in California from displaying room rates that don’t include all fees or charges, except for government-mandated taxes. Sen...
Sep 19, 2023•4 min
Episode Notes Maui faces a long road to a full tourism recovery after wildfires decimated the western part of the island last month. Travelers have largely been slow to return to Maui out of sensitivity to local residents, writes Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam. Although Hawaii tourism officials have said most of Maui is ready to welcome tourists, Habtemariam reports some travel businesses believe it’s too soon for visitors to come back. Alaska Air Group Chief Financial Officer Shane T...
Sep 15, 2023•3 min
Episode Notes Airnbnb’s New York City listings for short-term stays dropped 77% over a three-month period during which the city enacted stringent host registration rules. A major New York City hotel operator believes that decrease will contribute to a significant tailwind for hotels next year, reports Executive Editor Dennis Schaal. An New York City-based hotel executive, who declined to be identified, said Airbnb’s struggles could give his company a boost. The hotelier noted that revenue per av...
Sep 14, 2023•4 min
Episode Notes The rise of artificial intelligence has been a major topic of discussion in the travel industry over the past year. So as the theme of this month’s Skift Global Forum is Connection in the Age of AI, what do major travel executives think about booming technology? Travel Technology Reporter Justin Dawes provides some of their opinions about it. Dawes cites Airbnb’s Brian Chesky and Uber’s Dara Khosrowshahi as two CEOs vocal about the impact of AI on their companies. Chesky said AI wo...
Sep 13, 2023•4 min
Episode Notes Hyatt has seen signs that more workers in big cities are returning to their offices. That could result in the company eventually seeing more business travelers, reports Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill. CEO Mark Hoplamazian said at a recent conference that some of its New York hotels are seeing increased levels of local traffic, a sign of more people back in their offices. Hoplamazian added the increased traffic doesn’t necessarily mean pre-Covid levels of business travel. Bu...
Sep 12, 2023•4 min
Episode Notes Travel companies have just finished reporting their second quarter results. So what did we learn about the state of the industry? Senior Research Analyst Seth Borko outlines four major trends Skift Research discovered after studying more than 200 publicly traded companies. Borko writes that second quarter revenue growth was still far higher than other sectors – but that it’s beginning to slow down to more normal rates. At the same time, he notes that profits for the travel industry...
Sep 08, 2023•3 min
Episode Notes Trivago has struggled in recent years, with its shares currently trading for a little more than $1 per share. So the company is returning to its old playbook by looking to significantly beef up advertising, reports Executive Editor Dennis Schaal in his weekly column. Schaal writes Trivago’s new leadership plans on intensifying its brand advertising, including on TV,by the end of the year. Schaal reports Trivago had built its brand as the place to find hotel deals through its seemin...
Sep 07, 2023•3 min
Episode Notes September 5 was the beginning of New York City’s host registration rules. However, the city’s electronic verification system isn’t ready yet, reports Executive Editor Dennis Schaal. Three sources familiar with the new process said the city hadn’t completed implementing the system for verifying listings with short-term rental platforms like Airbnb. Hosts with shared rooms need to obtain registration from the city to legally accommodate a maximum of two guests. Hosts also need to be ...
Sep 06, 2023•3 min
Episode Notes Washington, D.C. will spend roughly $20 million in an upcoming campaign to help boost the city’s lagging tourism recovery, writes Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam. The global campaign — called “There’s Only One DC” — will launch November 1. Habtemariam reports the campaign will support influencer collaborations, as well as advertising on social media and television. Destination DC, the city’s destination marketing organization, hopes the funding injection will help it in i...
Sep 01, 2023•3 min
Episode Notes Airbnb hosts in New York City are rapidly approaching a September 5 deadline to register with the Mayor’s Office of Special Enforcement. So the company could see a large reduction in its New York City listings, reports Executive Editor Dennis Schaal. Airbnb had 23,000 active listings in the city as of July and Schaal writes many would be unable to accept stays under new enforcement. Airbnb has said it generated $85 million of revenue in New York City last year. Schaal adds due to r...
Aug 31, 2023•3 min
Episode Notes Hyatt has joined MGM Resorts and Marriott in changing how they disclose resort fees on their websites and apps. However, those modifications still won’t quiet the growing uproar over so-called junk fees, reports Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill. In July, Hyatt began displaying nightly rates plus mandatory resort fees upfront on a traveler’s first search of its site and app. Hyatt’s move to more clearly disclose resort fees follows in the footsteps of Marriott and MGM Resorts....
Aug 30, 2023•3 min
Skift Short-Term Rental Report: Skift’s latest newsletter focuses on the business of short-term rentals. Don’t miss out on essential industry news. Get a Trial Subscription Episode Notes New York City is behind in reviewing hundreds of short-term rental applications prior to a September 5 deadline requiring hosts to register with the Mayor’s Office of Special Enforcement, reports Executive Editor Dennis Schaal. The enforcement office told Skift it’s only reviewed roughly 25% of the more than 3,2...
Aug 29, 2023•3 min
Episode Notes A new report said JetBlue Airways is planning to raise airfares on routes flown by Spirit Airlines by as much as 40% if the two carriers’ proposed merger is approved, reports Edward Russell, editor of Skift publication Airline Weekly. JetBlue would increase fares between 24% and 40%, according to a report by legal news service Law360. The report cited documents released as part of a lawsuit brought by travelers looking to block the JetBlue-Spirit deal. The travelers suing JetBlue a...
Aug 25, 2023•3 min
