Best Western CEO on Airbnb, Direct Bookings and Virtual Reality

Best Western CEO David Kong isn't afraid to speak his mind when it comes to fundamental issues impacting the overall travel and hospitality industry. He even blogs about them on a regular basis. Kong has also served as chairman of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), as well as serving on the board of the U.S. Department of Commerce Travel and Tourism Advisory Board. Under Kong's leadership, when he became Best Western's CEO in 2004, the company has transformed itself, and immersed itself heavily into expanding its international footprint, and innovating its digital and on-site guest experiences. Most recently, the company announced its plans to offer an online virtual reality experience for all of its 2,200 Best Western-branded hotels in North America. Skift recently sat down to speak with Kong at the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference to ask him about his thoughts on the state of the hospitality industry and where he sees it he