Moxy Hotels, Marriott’s first brand aimed at travelers in their 20s, is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill takes a look at how Moxy has looked to stay relevant in the marketplace throughout the years. O’Neill notes that Moxy doesn’t subscribe to the commonly held premise in the hotel industry that the room is everything. Moxy’s compact rooms have appealed to some Millennials used to cramped urban residences or minimalist lifestyles. In addition, h...
Oct 02, 2024•4 min
Episode Notes Carnival Corp. said demand for travel to Alaska is “off the charts,” writes Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam. Carnival CEO Josh Weinstein said Alaska has emerged as one of the cruise line’s top destinations in 2024, especially for first-time cruisegoers. Weinstein’s comments came as residents in the state capital Juneau are voting on a measure that would ban large cruise ships from docking in the city on Saturdays and the Fourth of July. Meanwhile, Carnival is seeing no si...
Oct 01, 2024•4 min
Episode Notes Hotel companies are trying to figure out how artificial intelligence will impact their businesses. Leaders in the industry aren’t quite sure yet, reports Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill, who attended the Destination AI summit in Washington, D.C. Jess Petitt, an executive at Hilton, said the number of hotel bookings made using generative AI is minuscule but added the technology would make a huge impact on the industry. However, some experts are skeptical about generative AI s...
Sep 27, 2024•3 min
Episode Notes Skift is taking another big step to shape the future of travel. We’ve launched Skift Elevate, an initiative that aims to empower underrepresented voices in the industry. Skift President Carolyn Kremins calls Elevate a movement to drive meaningful, collective action across the travel industry. Its inaugural event took place at the recent Skift Global Forum, where several prominent women in travel addressed topics such as gender equity, leadership development and inclusive workplaces...
Sep 26, 2024•3 min
Episode Notes Residents of Juneau, Alaska, are set to vote next Tuesday on a measure that would ban large cruise ships from docking in the city on Saturdays and July 4, writes Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam. The ban would apply to any large cruise ship with more than 250 passengers. The measure requires a simple majority to pass. Karla Hart, who helped gather enough signatures to put the proposal on the ballot, said overtourism has pushed some fellow residents out of the city. The ini...
Sep 25, 2024•3 min
Episode Notes Concerns have grown in recent weeks about how a potential recession could impact travel. But while the travel industry isn’t recession-proof, it could be recession-resistant, reports Senior Research Analyst Pranavi Agarwal. There are signs of weakness. The Skift Travel 200 Stock Index is up only 3% since the start of the year, and travel executives have noted of a slowdown in demand on recent earnings calls. But Agarwal writes travel today could be a little more insulated than it h...
Sep 24, 2024•3 min
Episode Notes Expedia Group CEO Ariane Gorin said at the Skift Global Forum on Thursday that some of its brands took a hit during its recently completed tech migration, writes Travel Technology Reporter Justin Dawes. But the new CEO said Expedia, which was the least disrupted of its core brands, has done well, with growth in room nights of 20% in the second quarter. Now Gorin is focused on getting more customers for Vrbo. The tech migration could help as Vrbo and Expedia Group’s brands can share...
Sep 20, 2024•3 min
Episode Notes Airbnb aims to focus on a lot more than short-term rentals. The company has plans to consistently launch new lines of business going forward, including those that may not be geared toward travel, writes Travel Technology Reporter Justin Dawes. CEO Brian Chesky said at the Skift Global Forum on Wednesday he anticipates launching two or three ventures annually that could eventually generate a billion dollars a year in revenue. He acknowledged not all of those ventures will be success...
Sep 19, 2024•3 min
Episode Notes Skift Global Forum kicked off in New York City on Tuesday with big news in the U.S. travel industry. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Verma said U.S. travelers will have the option of renewing their passports online starting on Wednesday, writes Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi. Verma told Skift CEO Rafat Ali that the State Department believes half of passport renewals will be done online in the near future. However, Verma acknowledged that the online option wouldn’t necess...
Sep 18, 2024•4 min
Episode Notes Thayer Ventures and Derive Ventures are teaming up to create Thayer Investment Partners, an investment platform the two VC firms believe will boost innovation in travel technology, writes Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill. The new platform aims to offer a full-service venture capital approach, with plans to invest in business-to-business and consumer startups. Thayer Investment Partners will consider startups in most destinations, with the exception of China, where it lacks ex...
Sep 17, 2024•4 min
Episode Notes Google Wallet will soon allow users to store a digital version of a U.S. passport, one of the app’s newest travel features, writes Travel Technology Reporter Justin Dawes. Google said on Thursday that the digital passport will work at select TSA checkpoints. The U.S. passport is the first one Google is adding to Wallet, an app the tech giant began rolling out in July 2022. Google also started enabling users to save select U.S. state IDs to Wallet last year. Dawes notes rival Apple ...
Sep 13, 2024•3 min
Episode Notes A growing number of women are making waves in leadership positions throughout the travel industry, and Skift is featuring 25 of them in our inaugural list, Generation Next: The Women Shaping Travel’s Future. We’re showcasing disruptors and innovators poised to take the industry to new places. We’re highlighting executives such as Standard International CEO Amber Asher, who has helped take the brand global, and Amelia DuLuca, who is playing a leading role in Delta Air Lines’ sustain...
Sep 12, 2024•3 min
Episode Notes Rome is considering introducing a reservation system to clamp down on overcrowding at Trevi Fountain, one of the world’s most popular attractions, writes Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam. Rome’s Deputy Mayor of Tourism Alessandro Onorato wants to introduce a ticketing reservation system around the fountain to better manage the flow of visitors. Residents of the Italian capital would still be able to visit Trevi Fountain for free, but tourists would have to pay a two euro “...
Sep 11, 2024•4 min
Episode Notes Apple revealed more details on Monday about how it’s incorporating generative AI into its latest iPhones. Travel Technology Reporter Justin Dawes delves into how the new products could help travelers. The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro have been built with a dedicated camera button that can activate a tool to ask AI about visuals. Dawes notes the new iPhone can obtain information such as hours and ratings when pointed at a restaurant. In addition, the iPhone can save details about an ...
Sep 10, 2024•4 min
Episode Notes The Department of Transportation officially launched a probe on Thursday into whether the loyalty programs of the four largest U.S. airlines are engaging in deceptive or noncompetitive practices, writes Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg sent a letter to American, Delta, United and Southwest requesting that they provide records about their loyalty programs. The department said its probe would focus on how frequent flyer programs are impacted...
Sep 06, 2024•3 min
Episode Notes Skift has unveiled its Power Rankings, our list of the most influential people in the travel industry. With the help of Skift Research, our editors spent several months establishing a methodology, crunching the numbers and weighing each leader’s influence to create our list of travel’s 30 most powerful people. Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta takes the top spot on our list. During his time as Hilton CEO, Nassetta has more than doubled Hilton’s global room. Number two is Airbnb CEO Brian C...
Sep 05, 2024•3 min
Episode Notes Thousands of hotel workers went on strikeacross several large U.S. cities between Sunday and Tuesday. Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill examines why the strikes are taking place and what they mean for the hotel industry. More than 9,000 workers at 21 hotels in 9 cities went on strike on Tuesday. O’Neill notes that hotels are struggling to balance maximizing profits with worker demands for better pay and improved working conditions. Gwen Mills, president of union Unite Here, to...
Sep 04, 2024•4 min
Episode Notes Airports worldwide are investing large amounts in tech upgrades for a projected huge increase in passenger traffic. Travel Technology Reporter Justin Dawes profiles five U.S. airports making upgrades. JFK Airport shared plans earlier this year for its new terminal 6, which will include digital concierge services as well as a self check-in and bag drop. The airport said its new terminal 1 would feature a state-of-the-art baggage handling system. San Francisco International Airport h...
Aug 30, 2024•3 min
Episode Notes A growing number of short-term rental hosts are turning to amenities such as pools, hot tubs and mini golf to help stand out from the competition. Reporter James Farrell examines what one executive calls an “amenities arms race.” Farrell writes hosts and owners willing to invest in developing properties with high-end amenities are likely to see benefits. Analysis from AirDNA found that listings with pools and hot tubs posted higher revenues and occupancy rates than listings without...
Aug 29, 2024•4 min
Episode Notes Columnist Colin Nagy believes a growing number of luxury travelers are looking for depth instead of hyper glitz. With that in mind, he provides his list of this summer’s biggest innovators in travel as well as information about more than a dozen noteworthy trends in the industry. Nagy writes his list is inspired by brands that build and execute with integrity and vision. He praised Belmond, his choice for hospitality brand of the year, for embracing the idea of slow luxury. Nagy al...
Aug 28, 2024•4 min
Episode Notes Recent data suggests Americans are traveling in large numbers for Labor Day, and short-term rentals are seeing a surge in bookings for the holiday weekend, writes Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam. More than 2.4 million nights have been booked on short-term rental platforms for the four-day period ending on September 1. That’s a 13% jump from last year, according to data analytics firm AirDNA. Short-term rental daily room rates are up 13% from last year. However, short-term...
Aug 27, 2024•4 min
Episode Notes Hotels are devising plans to bypass traditional booking intermediaries to help boost direct bookings from corporations and businesses. Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill explains why the shift could disrupt how business travel is sold. Some hotel executives believe they can attract business travelers to book directly if they provide more enticing offers that can’t be found via third parties. Several large hotels are testing a new pricing and booking process called attribute-bas...
Aug 23, 2024•3 min
Episode Notes The world’s largest hotel groups have made huge strides in signing up guests for their loyalty programs in recent years. But which one has the largest loyalty program? Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill provides the answer. Marriott has the largest loyalty program membership with more than 210 million members as of June 30. Hilton, IHG and Wyndham occupy the next three spots, with each of them recording more than 100 million members. Skift reported earlier this year that Hilton...
Aug 22, 2024•3 min
Episode Notes Hyatt announced plans on Tuesday to buy the five brands owned by Standard International, reports Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill. Hyatt will pay $150 million upfront, with up to an additional $185 million over time as more properties join its portfolio. Hyatt won’t acquire any physical assets in the deal, but it is buying the management, franchise and license contracts for hotels with roughly 2,000 rooms. Hyatt and Standard International expect the deal to close this year, s...
Aug 21, 2024•4 min
Episode Notes Marriott International and Sonder Holdings have signed a 20-year strategic licensing deal, reports Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill. Marriott will receive a royalty fee based on a percentage of Sonder’s gross room revenues. The deal will also increase the number of locations where Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program members can earn and redeem points. O’Neill adds Marriott will benefit from Sonder’s ability to run apartment buildings as licensed hotels, which has enabled Sonder t...
Aug 20, 2024•4 min
Episode Notes The Skift Research team on Thursday unveiled its State of Travel 2024 report, a 400-page document with over 350 slides on industry performance and consumer and business trends in travel. The State of Travel 2024 is strong, reports head of research Seth Borko. Travel businesses are growing with healthy margins. The report contains information on, among other topics, the state of international travel after the pandemic. It contains detailed tourism figures for each major global regio...
Aug 16, 2024•3 min
Episode Notes Travel executives still believe artificial intelligence will transform the industry — even if it’s taking longer than expected. Travel Technology Reporter Justin Dawes provides recent insights from several executives on AI. Booking Holdings CEO said the latest advances in AI could help make connected trips — travel experiences in which consumers can book all parts of a trip in one place — a reality. AI has already significantly boosted revenue for Tripadvior. CEO Matthew Goldberg s...
Aug 15, 2024•4 min
Episode Notes Delta Air Lines is launching free onboard Wi-Fi across its global network in the next several months. So how will Delta handle the complexities of international expansion? Airlines Editor Gordon Smith examines the matter in addition to comparing rivals’ Wi-Fi services. Smith notes Delta already offers free Wi-Fi on around 90% of its 700 domestic mainline aircraft, however, international expansion is much more complex. It is currently undergoing what it calls a “Wi-Fi transition per...
Aug 14, 2024•4 min
Episode Notes Disney has unveiled expansion plans for its parks, cruise line and digital platforms, writes Travel Experiences Reporter Jesse Chase-Lubitz. Disney announced it will debut four new cruise ships between 2027 and 2031, an expansion that will increase its cruise line fleet to 13 ships. Meanwhile, the Disneyland Resort in California will feature a water-based Avatar attraction and Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Florida will be home to Indiana Jones and Encanto-themed attractions. In additi...
Aug 13, 2024•4 min
Episode Notes Expedia Group — like several other major travel brands — has seen “softening” travel demand recently, but it registered growth in several key metrics during the second quarter, writes Executive Editor Dennis Schaal. CEO Ariane Gorin said Expedia Group is facing a more challenging environment since July, leading the company to adjust its expectations for the rest of the year. But Expedia Group said room nights at flagship brand Expedia.com jumped 20% from last year. In addition, boo...
Aug 09, 2024•3 min
