A Billionaire’s Comeback, the Biggest Collapse, Airbnb’s Edge: Skift’s 2025 Hotel News Quiz
Test your knowledge of the year's events in the global hotel industry as reported in Skift.
Sean O’Neill is Skift’s Senior Hospitality Editor. Sean’s forte is reporting, and he’s broken multiple hotel industry scoops. He has also conducted 1:1 interviews on stage with the CEOs of Marriott, Hilton, IHG, Hyatt, and Wyndham.
Can Airbnb Work for Hotels? What Early Tests Show
Better rates and more visibility are clear advantages for independent hotels. But the presentation still needs some work.
Building Brands vs. AI’s Cheap Wins: How Hilton’s CMO Strikes the Balance
Hotel groups must ensure that short-term performance marketing doesn’t quietly erode brand loyalty, which may be key to unlocking bookings driven by agentic AI.
The Ugly New Math Crushing Hotels
The math is bad. Rising wages, taxes, insurance premiums, and other costs are outrunning revenue growth at many hotels.
Vibe Coding Will Unleash a Tsunami of Travel Startups
AI-powered "vibe coding" is turning travel sector insiders into amateur developers and product designers. A coming wave of new startups and digital services may fix travel's innovation problem.
Full Video: JetBlue CEO on How Smaller Airlines Compete Now
In a lively on-stage interview, JetBlue CEO Joanna Geraghty said the deck is stacked against smaller carriers in the U.S. airline industry, where four major players control 80% of the domestic market.
Hilton Extends Loyalty Program to Cruises in Explora Journeys Deal
Hotel loyalty programs have a retention problem. Members accumulate points, redeem them for free nights, and get bored. Hilton's answer: send them on cruises.
Marriott CFO: Year-End Softness, Sonder Lessons, and 2026 Rebound
Marriott appears unfazed by a fourth quarter that's trending softer and by Sonder's collapse. Its message instead: the strategy holds, luxury and group bookings are resilient, and 2026 might look better than many expect.
First Look at JetBlue’s JFK Lounge – Exclusive
JetBlue aims to use premium lounges to appeal to higher-spending travelers while simultaneously navigating operational turbulence and profitability headwinds.
Hotel Giants Race to Add Rooms: Marriott in the Lead, Hilton Gains Ground
Marriott's dominance in hotel room count remains secure. But changing growth rates across the major hotel groups create shifting power dynamics.