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

News
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Society & Culture
201
Megatrends Defining Travel in 2019
On this episode of the Skift podcast, we explore the biggest trends that will define travel in 2019, with audio from one of our annual Megatrends events. Skift experts discuss topics including consumer demand for more control; the appeal of undertourism;...
53 min
202
The Next Big Challenges for Low-Cost Airlines
This episode of the Skift podcast explores a major hurdle for low-cost airlines: how to make long-haul flights make money. Our experts are Skift Senior Aviation Business Editor Brian Sumers and Seth Kaplan, editor of Airline Weekly, a 14-year-old newslet...
39 min
203
Travel's Tough Truths and Inspirations
This episode of the Skift podcast explores uncomfortable truths about travel, as well as the things that inspire us about the industry. The conversation was sparked by two pieces of writing from Skift Founder and CEO Rafat Ali, who is one of our guests. ...
40 min
204
The Amazon Factor in Travel
This episode of the Skift podcast dives into Amazon's history in travel and the retail giant's potential future in the sector. Our experts are Skift Executive Editor Dennis Schaal and Senior Research Analyst Seth Borko.
34 min
205
Why Marriott Is So Attached To Its 30 Brands
On today's episode of the Skift Podcast, we're hearing from Tina Edmundson, global brand officer for Marriott International. At Skift Forum Europe in Berlin, Edmundson spoke to Skift Senior Hospitality Editor Deanna Ting about why the company decided not...
28 min
206
How European Tourism Came Back From the Brink
On today's episode of the Skift Podcast, we're talking about why your European summer vacation might seem extra crowded. The number of international arrivals in Europe grew 8 percent in 2017, with more growth expected this year, and some destinations are...
26 min
207
Why Accor Had No Choice But To Change
On today's episode of the Skift Podcast, we're hearing from AccorHotels CEO Sébastien Bazin. You may recognize his name from dozens of stories about acquisitions the company has made in recent years. At Skift Forum Europe in Berlin, Bazin spoke to Skift ...
28 min
208
Travel Brands Want to Be Experience Platforms
On this sponsored episode of the Skift podcast, we're diving into the Skift Megatrend: Travel Brands Want To Become Experience Platforms. We’re taking a look at how travel brands are expanding beyond what they’re known for doing in travel into new segmen...
33 min
209
Bonus Analyst Sessions: Exploring the Vacation ...
There is a tech arms race underway in the vacation rental market. As this space enters a new phase of growth and scale, the need for tech solutions is real, but not every company will succeed. Understand the vacation rental tech stack, its major players,...
21 min
210
The Airbnb Threat
This episode of the Skift podcast goes all in on Airbnb and the competitive threat it poses to traditional hotel companies and booking sites. Leading the discussion is Skift Hospitality Editor Deanna Ting, joined by Executive Editor Dennis Schaal and Ski...
40 min
211
Bonus Analyst Sessions: Hotel Owner Operating a...
Hotel owners have their hands full with choosing the appropriate operating model, ensuring their properties are being run efficiently and effectively, and remaining innovative and thoughtful. Doing all of this in an increasingly complex environment can b...
19 min
212
Bonus Analyst Sessions: Venture Investment Tren...
This was a record year of funding for travel startups. It's exciting for travel to be in the spotlight, but it also means that founders and their VC backers see a field full of market openings, oftentimes at the expense of established incumbents. Travel ...
26 min
213
Megatrends Defining Travel in 2018
On this episode of the Skift podcast, we explore the biggest trends that will define travel in 2018, with audio from one of our annual Megatrends events. Skift experts discuss topics including the way travel brands are turning into experience platforms, ...
45 min
214
Bonus Analyst Sessions: 2018 Global Travel Mark...
There is room for optimism heading into 2018 for the global travel industry with numerous indicators pointing to a solid year of macroeconomic growth. In this Analyst Session we discuss our expectations for the global travel market, as a supplement to ou...
14 min
215
Finding Solutions for the Overtourism Dilemma
On this episode of the Skift podcast, we're tackling the issue of overtourism with some ideas for addressing the problem. Our guest is Megan Epler Wood, director of the International Sustainable Tourism Initiative at the Harvard School of Public Health. ...
31 min
216
Bonus Analyst Sessions: Outlook On Hotel Direct...
With more hotel booking options becoming available to travelers, hotel brands must consider their distribution approach and direct booking strategies. This Analyst Session discusses hotel distribution, with a particular focus on direct booking. As a supp...
36 min
217
Bonus Analyst Sessions: Ctrip and the China Onl...
As China's travel market continues to grow and Chinese travelers are increasingly booking online, Ctrip and the country's travel industry are poised for high growth. This Analyst Session offers a recap of Skift Research's report, A Deep Dive Into Ctrip a...
58 min
218
How London is Powering a Travel Startup Cluster
On this sponsored episode of the Skift podcast, we’re talking about what destinations can do to better forge alliances between tourism and tech. Our guests come from both worlds: London and Partners innovation relationship manager Danielle Sheerin joins ...
53 min
219
What to Expect From the New Expedia
Anyone who follows travel knows that Expedia has been making a lot of news lately. Now-former CEO Dara Khosrowshahi left to take the top job at Uber, and Expedia promptly promoted its CFO Mark Okerstrom to the chief executive position. At Skift, we've be...
37 min
220
What Next-Level Hotels Have in Common
On today's episode of the Skift Podcast, we're hearing from hotel experts who make a living helping travelers find standout properties. Our guests are Claus Sendlinger, CEO and founder of Design Hotels, and James Lohan and Tamara Heber-Percy, the founder...
30 min
221
Bonus Analyst Sessions: The State of Destinatio...
This analyst call discusses the current state of destination marketing, with a particular focus on current and developing content marketing, digital advertising and data analytics strategies. Destination marketing is a changing landscape. Technological i...
45 min
222
InterContinental Hotels Group CEO on Customers ...
Our guest on today's mini-episode of the Skift Podcast is Richard Solomons, the soon-to-retire CEO of InterContinental Hotels Group. He spoke at Skift Forum Europe this year and joined us backstage in the Skift Take Studio to discuss how IHG is trying to...
17 min
223
Travel Search, Bargain Hunting and the Future o...
On today's episode of the Skift Podcast, we're talking about the way consumers comparison shop for travel. Our guests are executives from some of the top metasearch companies in the world: Trivago managing director Johannes Thomas, Kayak CEO Steve Hafner...
47 min
224
Norwegian Air CEO on Flying Cheap and Long-Haul
On today's mini-episode of the Skift Podcast, we're talking about disruption in the airline industry. Our guest is Bjorn Kjos, the CEO of Norwegian Air. He spoke about low-cost transatlantic flights, competition from legacy carriers, the airline’s growth...
11 min
225
Global Tourism in a Time of Volatility
On today's episode of the Skift Podcast, we're talking about volatility in the world, and how the travel industry deals with it. Our guests are Olivier Jager, CEO and co-founder of ForwardKeys, which compiles tourism data based on reservations transactio...
35 min