Travel Industry CEO Interviews

It's a tough time to be a small, full-service airline in Europe. But SAS CEO Rickard Gustafson is trying to ensure his airline can compete both with low cost airlines, like Norwegian, and massive legacy airlines like Lufthansa Group and Air France-KLM.

Most CEOs said the same thing they’ve said about Airbnb countless times before — ‘We need a level playing field’ — but there are signs that some are starting to take the $31 billion alternative accommodations provider a bit more seriously.

KLM may not be a perfect airline, but it's surprisingly spunky considering it's owned by a giant French company that also controls Air France. The two airlines couldn't be more different.

Despite the challenges facing the industry, Sorenson remains optimistic and determined to make sure Marriott's $13.3 billion bet on loyalty pays off.

This fourth-generation hotelier isn’t afraid to think differently, and he has grand plans for introducing the rest of the world to his family’s luxe interpretations of Japanese hospitality.

The list of new brands that wanted to disrupt private jet flying in recent years is long, but successes are few. Having someone at the helm who has solid experience in commercial aviation sets JetSuite apart from the competition.

In his first Q&A with Skift, eDreams Odigeo CEO Dana Dunne says the travel company has made large gains since he took it over a couple of years ago. True. But more changes are needed before a conglomerate such as Ctrip would seriously consider buying it.

In his first Q&A with Skift, President and CEO of Travelport Gordon Wilson acknowledges that suppliers are no longer as dependent on distribution technology companies as they once were. He makes a persuasive case that better meeting the needs of suppliers is the way to thrive.

From a public relations perspective, United CEO Munoz had to get out there on TV so the public could view his remorse. Written statements wouldn't suffice. He's now saying a lot of the right things.

Better personalizing booking and travel tools for business travelers is something of a holy grail in corporate travel. Time will tell if Carlson Wagonlit Travel's newfound focus on technology will be effective.