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

U.S. Travelers Are Using Their Mobile Phones A Lot More Than We Think

People love to search for tours and activities on their mobile phones while on vacation. TripAdvisor is going after this market, and could give the Viators and GetYourGuides formidable competition.

Dennis Schaal | 12 years ago

Airlines

JetBlue May Begin Charging for the First Checked Bag Next Year

The lure of bag fees may be too much for JetBlue to resist, but it would take a big brand hit if it decides to do so. Coupled with the airline's new business class service, many passengers will wonder if the JetBlue they loved is gone forever.

Dennis Schaal | 12 years ago

Airlines

Nearly 80% of Passengers Use Free Wi-Fi on JetBlue’s Long-Haul Flights

Airlines have no trouble getting passengers to use Wi-Fi -- when it's offered for free. The brand benefits would be enormous if JetBlue kept it that way. Other airlines should consider doing likewise.

Dennis Schaal | 12 years ago

Online Travel

Priceline CEO Huston Earned $17.9 Million in 2013, a ‘Very Good Year’ for the Company

The Priceline Group is the dominant online player based on its scale, speed, search engine marketing strategy, and conversion skills, but perhaps its compensation policy should be added to the list of factors, as well.

Dennis Schaal | 12 years ago

Airlines

What It’s Like to Fly a Hawaiian Airlines A330 Into Beijing

Having an in-house simulator of the type that Hawaiian Airlines now has seems like a huge investment, but it could turn out to be a money-maker, as well.

Dennis Schaal | 12 years ago

SkiftX

Hotel-Booking Site PointsHound Acquired by Points International

Whether PointsHound decided not to seek venture capital funding or simply couldn't, the startup has executed a soft landing, and will be absorbed into the much larger Points International.

Dennis Schaal | 12 years ago

Airlines

Majority of JetBlue Pilots Vote in Favor of Unionizing

JetBlue pilots twice previously rejected unionization, but consolidation in the U.S. airline industry may have contributed to the pro-union vote this time. If the pilots aren't organised it would be difficult for them to have a say on any issues of substance should JetBlue decide to accept any merger proposals in the future.

Dennis Schaal | 12 years ago

Tourism

CEO Interview: Hawaii Tourism Authority is Pivoting to Asia to Attract Chinese Travelers

Hawaii will definitely get in on the boom in travelers from Asia. The islands have lots to offer, but competition will be intense. With hotel rates soaring, hoteliers in Hawaii may come to realise that they may have to temper their rate hikes rather than make up for the 2007 recession in one fell swoop.

Dennis Schaal | 12 years ago

Online Travel

Interview: Qunar’s CEO on Building China’s Largest Travel Booking Site From Scratch

Qunar is a technology company with a big vision and an enormous opportunity as the Chinese traveler busts out into the world. He won't say it outright, but it's clear that CEO CC Zhuang likes where he sits, and wouldn't want to stop the momentum with the complications that a merger with Ctrip would bring.

Dennis Schaal | 12 years ago

Online Travel

SkiftStudio CEO Interview: HotelTonight Gets Predictive About Next Week’s Rates

Avid users of HotelTonight may find some value in its Look Ahead feature, but it is not a data-heavy game-changer by any means as there are no immediate actions to take, and no rate guarantee on the predictions.

Dennis Schaal | 12 years ago