The Skift Travel Podcast
Get the latest from the most-trusted travel industry news source.
Skift sits down with creatives, executives, and entrepreneurs from across travel to discuss their insights and perspectives on the hows and whys of travelers’ habits, industry patterns, and the seismic changes happening across the industry.
Listen for exclusive conversations with travel leaders and Skift's own in-house editors and analysts.
Read the latest news every day at skift.com/news
1
White Lotus, Artificial Intelligence and the Ne...
Today we explore the evolving nature of luxury travel, highlighting emotional connections, media influence, innovative experiences, and the role of advisors and technology in creating meaningful, personalized journeys.
57 min
2
Borders, Bans, and Bookings: Navigating U.S. Tr...
Skift Edit and Research leaders unpack how Trump-era economic policies—from travel bans to tariffs—continue to ripple through the travel industry, reshaping consumer confidence, luxury trends, and the U.S.'s global competitiveness.
27 min
3
The Next Generation of Golden Visas
In this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko discuss the emerging trend of golden visas, particularly in light of U.S. President Trump's recent announcement regarding a new program in the U.S.
35 min
4
Unlocking the Secrets of Travel Rewards and Loy...
Today’s episode is all about travel loyalty. Out hosts are joined by the President of Point.me who explains the basics of why "membership rewards means travel."
43 min
5
Bollywood: The Strongest Currency in Indian Tou...
With India’s box office expected to hit $2.8 billion by 2028, Bollywood is a blockbuster travel agent in disguise. It turns reel magic into real tourism – making destinations into superstars.
39 min
6
The TikTok Travel Discovery Engine
“It's not about who you're following, it's not about your demographic, it's what you're interested in.“
23 min
7
Tourism Australia's $230 Billion by 2030 Goal
How live tourism, sustainable growth, and new marketing campaigns will get Australia to its ambitious tourism goals.
41 min
8
How AI Will Transform Travel Search
Listen to this week's episode to learn how AI agents are already transforming the travel industry.
29 min
9
TikTok, Instagram and Travel Influencers with B...
Content creators and social commerce are changing how people discover destinations. Find out how in this discussion with an influencers’ influencer.
42 min
10
From JetBlue to Breeze: David Neeleman’s Aviati...
From low-cost challenges to sustainable aviation fuel and beyond, airline pioneer David Neeleman shares his perspective on the aviation sector.
34 min
11
Kayak CEO on This Year’s Travel Megatrends
Our hosts are joined this week by Kayak CEO Steve Hafner, who shares how he thinks Kayak and the wider travel industry will navigate 2025.
30 min
12
2025 Travel Outlook: Steady Growth, Consumer Op...
From consumer spending habits to industry shake-ups in hotels, airlines, and short-term rentals, our hosts break down the numbers, the surprises, and why travel remains the ultimate must-have expense—even in a world of economic uncertainty.
31 min
13
How I Travel: Rafat Ali Featuring Sarah Kopit
Skift’s How I Travel Podcast features an in-depth conversation with Sarah Kopit, Skift's Editor-in-Chief, on her renewed approach to travel
45 min
14
How I Travel: Rafat Ali Featuring Jason Clampet
Skift’s How I Travel Podcast features an in-depth conversation with Jason Clampet, Skift's Chief Product Officer and Co-Founder, on his casual, relaxed approach to travel and how his travel habits have evolved over time.
51 min
15
How I Travel: Rafat Ali Featuring Colin Nagy
Skift’s How I Travel Podcast features an in-depth conversation with Colin Nagy, a seasoned travel writer who emphasizes a long-term, authentic approach to travel focused on personal growth, regional fascination, and seamlessly balancing business and leisure.
64 min
16
From Pets to Psychedelics: Unpacking 2025 Trave...
The podcast explores Skift’s 2025 travel megatrends, highlighting shifts in pet-friendly travel, influencer-driven tourism, AI in the travel industry, and the rise of unique, authentic experiences and destinations.
41 min
17
The New Rules of Frequent Flying: How Loyalty P...
Airline loyalty programs, once reliable avenues to perks and upgrades, have grown increasingly complex and exclusive, prompting traveler frustration and regulatory scrutiny over their transparency and fairness.
36 min
18
Battle for Bookings: How Hotels and OTAs Compet...
How and where consumers book their hotel rooms can have huge implications for hotels, online travel agencies, and pretty much anyone in the travel industry. We break it down.
33 min
19
The TSA's New Advice for Holiday Travel
Remove your belts, shoes, and jackets and listen in to some tales from the front lines of airport security.
41 min
20
What's Next for Airbnb
Skift CEO Rafat Ali and AirDNA Chief Economist Jamie Lane break down Airbnb's new lines of business
41 min
21
Labor in the Air: A Conversation With the Presi...
For this special episode, Sarah Nelson, International President of the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), sits down with Skift Editor-in-Chief Sarah Kopit to discuss critical issues shaping the aviation industry.
26 min
22
A Ticket to Space is Tourism's Final Frontier
For this week's podcast, host Sarah Kopit is joined by Jane Poynter, a founder of the space tourism company Space Perspective to discuss the next frontier of travel.
27 min
23
Premium Has a Moment While Airlines Quiet Quit...
Airlines are increasingly placing a heavy emphasis on premium products, and we discuss why in this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast — as well as why some carriers are quietly withdrawing from China.
35 min
24
Are We There Yet?: The Arrival of the Family Tr...
26 min
25
How the United Arab Emirates is Building Its Ve...
29 min