After Sonder’s Collapse, Francis Davidson Returns With an AI Travel Agent
Another AI travel agent might not be news. One built by the founder of Sonder, with something to prove, is.
Dennis Schaal is Skift’s Founding Editor and Executive Editor. Dennis has been a reporter focusing on online travel and short-term rentals for more than two decades at Skift, Tnooz, USA Today, and Travel Weekly. He is well-known for tough one-on-one interviews on stage at Skift events, including with the CEOs and top execs of Expedia, Uber, Booking Holdings, Priceline, Kayak, Hopper, and more.
Expedia Names Ex-Pinterest Exec to Lead Ads. The Pitch: Real Bookings, Not Intent.
Expedia's advertising program has one thing that Google and Meta can't offer — confirmed bookers. As such, advertisers can target travelers with set plans and try to entice them to book additional products.
Jamie Dimon Says Moats in Banking Are Temporary. Sounds Like Travel.
In travel, as in banking, the moat you're defending today is probably shallower than you think. And it's likely someone is already digging around it.
Airbnb Invests in WeRoad — and Hired Its CEO to Lead Hotels
Airbnb has struggled to scale experiences. Investing in WeRoad — and hiring its CEO — is Chesky's preferred move: partner first, potentially acquire later.
Airbnb Names Booking.com Veteran in Hotel Leadership Shakeup
The hotel leadership shuffle represents somewhat of an about-face for Airbnb as it opts for a leader with online travel agency experience rather than a hotel brand track record. Still, these are early days for Airbnb hotels, and there is plenty of time to get things right.
$11.4 Billion and Zero Churn: What SpaceX Said About Starlink’s Travel Industry Grip
The competitors to Musk's Starlink will eventually up their game. It's never healthy for customers and end-users to be dependent on a single vendor, regardless of the Starlink's competitive advantage at this moment.
Expedia CEO Ariane Gorin: The B2B-B2C ‘Flywheel’ and AI’s Impact on How We Build
Gorin thinks Expedia's consumer businesses are vital cogs in the machine. But can she jumpstart their growth?
Booking Holdings to Sell Ads Across All Three OTA Brands for the First Time: Exclusive
Booking Holdings' brands are giving up a little of their independence when a single team handles ads across all three OTAs.
Expedia To Acquire CarTrawler in Second B2B Deal of 2026
Expedia CEO Ariane Gorin, who ran its B2B unit before becoming CEO two years ago, is giving Parades the freedom and resources to expand the business. Expedia now faces the complexity of integrating two new businesses: Tiqets and CarTrawler.
Uber CEO: Is AI Really Improving People’s Lives?
There's an AI backlash coming, for sure.