Sean O'Neill

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.

Online Travel

Secret Escapes Raises $111 Million in a Flash Sales Revival: Travel Startup Funding This Week

Groupon may have its struggles and many similar sites have gone out of business, but travel flash sales have a stubborn persistence — even if they would probably get additional traction in more perilous economic times.

Sean O'Neill | 9 years ago

Online Travel

Hotelbeds Eyes a Viable Wholesaler Path in the Shadows of Priceline and Expedia

Since 2016, the quiet wholesaler marketplaces for hotel supply have become noisy as private equity firms invested $2.9 billion to make Hotelbeds Group a market leader. Expect more consolidation.

Sean O'Neill | 9 years ago

Online Travel

Trivago Makes a Tech Acquisition That Bolsters an Industry Trend

While this deal is small, it signals that the Expedia-backed hotel-search company wants to better identify the desires of its customers and become more sophisticated at proposing tailor-made offers that are relevant.

Sean O'Neill | 9 years ago

Online Travel

AccorHotels Makes Acquisition to Deliver Other Hotel Brands to Travel Agencies

Europe’s largest hotelier continues to pursue CEO Sébastien Bazin's goal of diversification. Valued at about $117 million, Gekko Group will help AccorHotels grow its business-to-business services.

Sean O'Neill | 9 years ago

tripadvisor viator travel agency platform ziplining costa rica

Business Travel

TripAdvisor Tours and Activities Brand Viator Debuts a Booking Tool for Travel Agents

Who needs middlemen distributors? TripAdvisor-backed Viator is hoping that travel agencies come directly to its new platform to find tours and activities to sell to consumers.

Sean O'Neill | 9 years ago

Online Travel

TripAdvisor CEO Responds to Analyst Critiques of Its Hotel Search Strategy

Analysts continue to critique TripAdvisor's near-term tactics. But CEO Steve Kaufer said Wednesday that no other company is as well-positioned to create value on mobile in the long run as his own.

Sean O'Neill | 9 years ago

Tourism

Tourism Leaders Plot Strategy in an Age of Permanxiety

Tourism leaders across continents are recognizing the challenge of marketing travel in this new age of Permanxiety. Destination marketers ought to share best practices with each other on how to adapt.

Sean O'Neill | 9 years ago

Airlines

Lufthansa Finds Collecting Passenger Data Is Easier Than Actually Using It

Airlines are getting better at data analysis. So now they face a fresh challenge of having to leverage that data by making their real-world operations correspondingly more responsive.

Sean O'Neill | 9 years ago

Online Travel

Home Rental Platform Le Collectionist Raises $10 Million: Travel Startup Funding This Week

With this funding, Le Collectionist ramps up its marketing of luxury vacation rentals. But Airbnb and other tech and lodging brands may not let this profitable segment be siphoned off by this and other young startups for long.

Sean O'Neill | 9 years ago

Online Travel

Despegar Hints at Its Latin American Travel Strategy After Successful IPO

With its IPO on Wednesday, Despegar became the world's seventh-largest online travel company by market cap. Its bosses talk a good game. But its major markets may have near-term hiccups ahead.

Sean O'Neill | 9 years ago