Podcasts

This episode starts with a quick setup conversation between Wil Slickers and Skift’s airlines editor Gordon Smith, teeing up why this JetBlue session hits differently: it opens with a real-time…

Hotels are facing political pressures they were never built to handle.

If AI becomes the front door to travel, who wins and who pays?

Short-term rentals are no longer a frontier business. Outside of a small group of disciplined operators, the sector has settled into a slow, operational grind that favors local execution over national ambition.

Marriott’s abrupt termination of its licensing deal with Sonder has sent shockwaves through hospitality and finance circles alike. For Sonder, this collapse now marks the end of its operations entirely, with the company confirming an immediate liquidation. For Marriott, it raises hard questions about risk, diligence, and the future of its extended-stay strategy.

Explora Journeys isn’t trying to compete with the cruise industry — it’s trying to reinvent it. By replacing “cruising” with “ocean travel,” the brand aims to redefine what time, space, and luxury mean on the water.

Iberostar’s family ownership lets it make bold, long-term bets on guest experience and ocean health that many public hotel groups can’t.

Vrbo's expanded distribution across Expedia platforms, integration into the One Key, and experiments with AI-powered reviews show how the brand is evolving inside its parent’s ecosystem. The challenge: balancing consistency for operators with new demands from a global marketplace.

Chris Nassetta’s longevity as Hilton’s CEO shows that culture is as important as growth. His leadership philosophy — grounded in family, hospitality, and consistency — offers lessons for an industry balancing rapid expansion with the human side of travel.

To wrap up the week we look at our new list of risk-taking travel leaders, Marriott's tale of two economies, and Hyatt's all-inclusive wins.