Skift Q&A: Why the business of global travel is under reported

Journalist Elizabeth Becker's new title Overbooked: The Global Business of Travel and Tourism is the book that Skift wished it wrote (if travel information brands wrote books, that is). Unlike few others, Becker's title approaches travel as the business behemoth it is, and dives into the nuts and bolts of tourism while simultaneously stripping away the pretenses. The publication date of Becker's book nicely coincided with our decision to begin a series of conversations with people we think are leading the way in travel, or who have something to say that the industry needs to hear. In the months ahead, we'll be speaking to experts and entrepreneurs and leaders and critics who have particular insight into the current state of travel as well as where it's headed. And we're happy to start with someone from the outside whose insight is much more knowledgeable than the majority of people on the inside. Skift: Why did you do this book now? What was the kick-in-the-pants to get it s