Dennis Schaal Archives

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.

Online Travel

9 Travel Companies and Hawaii Sign Court Documents to Overturn the Travel Ban

Travel companies have an economic self-interest in reversing the travel ban and maintaining the relatively free flow of visitors. But, in the current political climate, they obviously feel that the issues involved are important enough to risk stepping into the line of fire.

Dennis Schaal | 9 years ago

Business Travel

Travel Megatrends 2017: The Fifties Are the New Target Demographic for Travel Brands

Think of them as tweeners. And that's the point: Travelers in their 50s, squeezed between Gen Xers and Baby Boomers, are breaking new ground in their global meanderings. Brands had better pay attention, although Fifties may be tricky to pigeon-hole.

Dennis Schaal | 9 years ago

Online Travel

Expedia Calls Trump’s Travel Ban ‘Detrimental to Business’ in New Lawsuit

From a financial standpoint, President Trump's executive order temporarily blocking travel to the U.S. from the seven countries is going to cost money for Expedia and other travel companies. That's just the dollars and euros part of it -- the moral and legal issues loom large, as well.

Dennis Schaal | 9 years ago

Online Travel

Google Flights Is Making Gains With Consumers

Just because your company is paranoid doesn't mean Google Flights is not out to get you. Google Flights is making gains, albeit incrementally and seemingly unceasingly.

Dennis Schaal | 9 years ago

Tourism

Travel Booking Site CEOs Condemn Trump’s Travel Ban for Muslim-Majority Countries

What TripAdvisor CEO Kaufer tweeted about Republican Congress members holds true for the travel industry, as well: This is not the time to be silent about an issue that cuts to the core of travel and democracy in the U.S.

Dennis Schaal | 9 years ago

Media and PR

Expedia Trolled Trump on Inauguration Day With Anti-Wall TV Ad

A lot of public companies are actively wondering how they will counter an onslaught if they become a target of the new administration in Washington. It's therefore a fairly gutsy act when companies ranging from Expedia to Celebrity Cruises stick their proverbial necks out.

Dennis Schaal | 9 years ago

Business Travel

Venezuelan Travel Agencies Get Creative in Reinventing Themselves After Very Tough Year

Venezuelan travel agencies have refocused their strategies to face the economic crisis. The shift has not been enough to boost the business, which shows no signs of recovery.

Zayira Arenas | 9 years ago

Airlines

Google Flights Gets Aggressive by Intercepting Airline Trademarks

Google is aggressively placing itself more prominently than ever between the consumer and the airline in the quest for bookings. What does it mean? Airlines are getting more qualified leads but are losing control and getting even more beholden to Google.

Dennis Schaal | 9 years ago

Hotels

TripAdvisor Expands Subscription Business Into Restaurants

While investors and observers are rightfully focused on how TripAdvisor's transition to a hotel booking site will work out, the company has some meaningful hedges in the form of vacation rentals, tours and activities, and restaurants. Collecting monthly and annual fees is a very material part of the overall business and will likely become even more so.

Dennis Schaal | 9 years ago

SkiftX

Kayak Is Shopping for a Metasearch Acquisition in Europe

It's clear there is going to be further consolidation in online travel in Europe after Ctrip swooped in and acquired Skyscanner. Momondo would be a nice addition – not a game-changer for Kayak – and a deal could happen if the number-crunchers on both sides have a meeting of the minds.

Dennis Schaal | 9 years ago