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. Presented by EF World Journeys.
Read the latest news every day at skift.com/news
226
What Hotels Are Doing to Win Your Loyalty
On today’s episode of the Skift podcast, we’re talking hotel loyalty: who’s doing it right, who’s still trying, and how it is continuing to evolve. Our guest is Gary Leff, founder of the View from the Wing blog. We also have insights from Best Western Ho...
38 min
227
Why Flights Are So Cheap (And You Might Hate Yo...
On this episode of the Skift podcast, we’re talking about why bargain-priced airfare is all over the news, the true cost of cheap flights, the reason airlines are fighting to capture price-sensitive travelers, and what they’re charging for instead. Our g...
29 min
228
What Cruise Lines Are Doing to Win a New Genera...
On this episode of the Skift podcast, we're hearing from leaders of the world’s two largest cruise lines on attracting newcomers to cruising, appealing to millennials, and considering the needs of Generation Z. The episode features portions of separate c...
23 min
229
How New York City Tourism Changes the City
On this episode of the Skift Podcast, we're talking about tourism growth in New York City, the role of gentrification, the new ways that visitors are experiencing the city, and what kind of growth is sustainable. Our guest is Skift reporter Andrew Sheiva...
32 min
230
Bonus Analyst Sessions: Consolidation and Tech ...
While the vacation rental industry is becoming more popular among consumers, particularly in urban areas, behind the scenes three waves of consolidation are hitting the sector.
In this Skift Research Analyst Session we discuss the global vacation rentals...
49 min
231
The Evolution of Accessible Travel
On this episode of the Skift podcast, we're talking about the legal and technological changes that have made travel more accessible to people with disabilities, the opportunities that the travel industry has been missing, and what lies ahead for the disa...
40 min
232
Megatrends Defining Travel in 2017
On this episode of the Skift podcast, we explore the biggest trends that will define travel in 2017, with audio from our annual Megatrends event. Skift founder and CEO Rafat Ali and co-founder and editor-in-chief Jason Clampet delve into topics including...
31 min
233
How Where-to-Go Lists Get Made
On this episode of the Skift podcast, we’re talking about a very specific form of travel advice — the where-to-go-in-the-coming-year list — and what goes into making them. Our guests are Dan Saltzstein, a travel editor at The New York Times who organized...
43 min
234
How Travel Companies Can Win the Hearts of Supe...
On this episode of the Skift podcast, we're hearing from supertravelers about what they like, dislike, and merely tolerate on the road. The conversation took place at the Skift Global Forum last year.
Panelists are Alexandra Wood, chief operating officer...
32 min
235
SXSW and Superfly Pros on Making Events Better
On this mini-episode of the Skift podcast, we welcome Mike Shea, chief logistics officer and partner at South by Southwest, and Rich Goodstone, co-founder of Superfly, the production company behind Bonnaroo.
Mike and Rich joined us in the Skift Take Stud...
12 min
236
Google Travel VP on the Power of Virtual and Au...
On this mini-episode of the Skift podcast, we welcome Oliver Heckmann, Google's vice president of engineering who heads the search engine's travel product. We spoke backstage in the Skift Take Studio during the Skift Global Forum.
He spoke to us about ho...
13 min
237
Booking.com CEO on Taking a Mobile-First Approach
On this mini-episode of the Skift podcast, Booking.com CEO Gillian Tans discusses last-minute behavior, direct bookings, advertising, new search methods, and more. We interviewed Gillian backstage in the Skift Take Studio during the Skift Global Forum. T...
11 min
238
Lola CEO on Why Messaging Matters
On this mini-episode of the Skift podcast, Lola Travel CEO Paul English discuses the inspiration for his new travel agency messaging app, how he is trying to improve the tools that travel agents use, and why chatting via message is more popular than talk...
7 min
239
TripAdvisor CEO on Setting Realistic Expectations
On this mini-episode of the Skift podcast, TripAdvisor CEO Stephen Kaufer speaks to us about the threat of competition, challenges for instant booking, the changing ways consumers are using the site, and what is still left to review. We interviewed Steph...
15 min
240
SilverRail CEO on Tackling Trains
On this mini-episode of the Skift podcast, SilverRail CEO and co-founder Aaron Gowell speaks to us about his company's mission to make it easy to book train travel online by building a digital infrastructure for the global rail industry. We interviewed A...
9 min
241
Frits van Paasschen on Being Your Own Disruptor
On this mini-episode of the Skift podcast, former Starwood Hotels and Resorts CEO Frits van Paasschen speaks to us about Marriott’s recent acquisition of Starwood, the pain points that still plague travel, and what kind of disruption hotels should be wor...
9 min
242
Bonus Analyst Sessions: Google’s Reach and Impa...
Google's steady push into the online travel space has deep implications for both established players and aspiring startups.
In our first Skift Analyst Streamcast, we discuss Google's steady and seemingly relentless push into online travel. From search to...
40 min
243
What's Next for Choice and Loyalty in Air Travel
On this episode of the Skift podcast, we’re bringing you three short conversations on air travel that we had in the Skift Take Studio backstage at the Skift Global Forum.
The first conversation is with Robert Albert, founder and CEO of Routehappy, follow...
31 min
244
Club Med President on the Future of All-Inclusive
On this mini-episode of the Skift podcast, Club Med President Henri Giscard D’Estaing speaks to us about the iconic company's transformation, its efforts to reach affluent millennials, and what's in store for all-inclusive model. We interviewed him backs...
8 min
245
Carnival CEO on Exceeding Expectations
On this mini-episode of the Skift podcast, Carnival Corp. CEO Arnold Donald speaks to us about the cruise giant's efforts to reach new travelers, the company’s expansion into China, and what the future holds for cruising. We interviewed him backstage in ...
9 min
246
The Evolution of Tours and Activities
On this episode of the Skift podcast, we’re bringing you two conversations on tours, activities, and experiences that we had in the Skift Take Studio backstage at the Skift Global Forum.
The first is with Brett Tollman, CEO of The Travel Corporation. The...
24 min
247
What Airbnb and Hotels Should Learn from Each O...
On this episode of the Skift podcast, we're talking about the conflict between Airbnb and hotels — and how some of them are actually learning from each other.
In the Skift Take Studio backstage at the Skift Global Forum, we spoke to Amar Lalvani, managin...
40 min
248
The Serious Business of Modern Theme Parks
On this episode of the Skift podcast, we’re talking about the business of theme parks: How they’re trying to reach broader audiences, use technology to personalize visits, and raise the bar in the park experience as they raise prices. Our guests are Robe...
45 min
249
Iceland and the Perils of Overtourism
On this episode of the Skift podcast, we’re talking about how Iceland became a hot tourist spot, the tiny country’s complicated relationship with its visitors, and how the problems of overtourism can be solved. Our guest is Skift reporter Andrew Sheivach...
29 min
250
What Online Travel Legends Say About the Future...
On this episode of the Skift podcast, we're talking to some of the biggest names in online travel: Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Expedia Inc.; Jay Walker, founder of Priceline; Brad Gerstner, founder and CEO of Altimeter Capital; and Rich Barton, founder of ...
23 min