Dennis Schaal

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.

Cruises

Shakeup at Carnival Continues as the Old Guard Steps Aside

Carnival CEO Arnold Donald is likely asserting himself with these changes, as some of the old guard loses its grip and management gets a refresh. Although Buckelew isn't exactly an insurgent, having been at the top ranks of Princess for almost a decade.
Dennis Schaal |
Hotels

Expedia’s Uphill Climb Must Meet Booking.com’s Structural Advantages

One of Expedia's answers to Booking.com is the Expedia Traveler Preference Program, giving consumers the choice to prepay for a hotel (merchant model) or pay at the hotel (an agency model like Booking.com's). Booking.com's sole use of the agency model gives it a speed advantage as the merchant model is more complicated when signing on and retaining hotels.
Dennis Schaal |
Airlines

Southwest Wi-Fi Could Get Going Below 10,000 Feet

If Southwest starts letting its passengers use Wi-Fi when the aircraft leaves the gate or soon thereafter that will amount to a lot more time online than other airlines are offering. That's more opportunity for increasing Wi-Fi fees, too.
Dennis Schaal |
Hotels

Expedia CEO Is Bullish About the Future of Airbnb

Expedia partnered with HomeAway on vacation rentals last week. One day it is going to partner with or acquire a sharing economy company built in the Airbnb mold, depending how the market shakes out. When you are as big as Expedia, you can afford to sit back and see how things shape up.
Dennis Schaal |