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PODCAST

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

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All Episodes

69:02

Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta on Leadership, Culture, and...

The Skift Travel Podcast ·

2025/09/25

In this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta joins Skift CEO/Founder Rafat Ali for a candid conversation about leadership, culture, and navigating nearly two decades at the top of one of the world’s largest hotel companies. Nassetta reflects on how his personal approach to hospitality — from cooking dinner for large groups of family and friends to leading a company of more than 7,000 properties — shapes Hilton’s culture and strategy. The discussion covers the demands of

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57:35

How AI, OTAs, and Shifting Consumer Behavior Are...

The Skift Travel Podcast ·

2025/09/11

As Skift gears up for Global Forum in New York, this week’s podcast features a replay of our recent webinar, Online Travel in Flux. Seth Borko and Sarah Kopit join founding editor Dennis Schaal to explore the forces transforming online travel.From the rise of AI in trip planning to the latest OTA strategies, loyalty innovations, and regulatory pressures, the conversation provides a timely look at how the industry is evolving. Dennis also brings in perspective from past Skift Global Forums, where

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34:42

The FIFA World Cup: Tourism, Strategy, and the $3.3B...

The Skift Travel Podcast ·

2025/09/04

The countdown to the FIFA World Cup 2026 is on, and New York–New Jersey is set to host the world’s biggest stage — including the final at MetLife Stadium. Seth Borko and Sarah Kopit sit down with Bettina Garibaldi, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for the NYNJ Host Committee, to unpack how the region is preparing for an event expected to bring $3.3 billion in economic impact. From transit and mobility challenges to fan festivals and local business engagement, Bettina shares how the

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51:19

Inside Agoda’s AI Bet: Building Silicon Valley in...

The Skift Travel Podcast ·

2025/09/02

Throughout the summer, Skift CEO Rafat Ali has been sitting down with travel leaders around the world for wide-ranging conversations about real estate, artificial intelligence, emerging destinations, independent hotels, and more. For the last episode in this series, Ali sits down with Agoda CEO Omri Morgenshtern to talk about the evolution of Agoda over the last 20 years, with a particular focus on technology, artificial intelligence, and talent strategy. Morgenshtern discusses Agoda’s role

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38:43

New York to London in 3 Hours? Boom Supersonic’s CEO...

The Skift Travel Podcast ·

2025/08/28

On this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, co-hosts Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko return from their summer break with a high-speed conversation featuring Boom Supersonic founder and CEO Blake Scholl. Scholl shares how Boom is working to make three-hour transatlantic flights a reality by the end of the decade, why Concorde failed to scale, and how Boom’s technology could silence the dreaded sonic boom. From regulatory wins in Washington to airline pre-orders from United and American, Scholl lays

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40:34

Brookfield’s Global Bet on Hospitality’s Future

The Skift Travel Podcast ·

2025/08/26

In this rare first-ever podcast appearance, Shai Zelering, Global Head of Hospitality Investments at Brookfield Real Estate, sits down with Skift CEO Rafat Ali to discuss how one of the world’s largest real estate investors is shaping the future of travel and hospitality. From billion-dollar acquisitions in Europe to long-term plays in India, Shai shares how Brookfield balances real estate fundamentals with operational excellence to build—not just extract—value in hospitality.They explore

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38:57

Good Morning Hospitality: Marriott Flat, Inclusive...

The Skift Travel Podcast ·

2025/08/21

While Seth Borko and Sarah Kopit are taking a short summer break, we’re sharing another episode from our show, Good Morning Hospitality. If you caught the first crossover episode earlier this month, you heard from the Monday short-term rental crew. Today, we’re featuring the Wednesday hotel crew—⁠Sarah Dandashy and ⁠Steve Turk⁠—who cover hotels, travel, airlines, and the broader shifts shaping the hospitality industry. The episode you're hearing today was broadcast on August 8th, 2025. In this

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44:36

Building Humanity into Hospitality Management with...

The Skift Travel Podcast ·

2025/08/19

In this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, Skift CEO Rafat Ali talks with Euan McGlashan, Global Co-Founder, CEO, and Owner of Valor Hospitality Partners, about what’s broken—and what’s still worth rebuilding—in U.S. hospitality. With a presence in 20 countries and nearly 100 properties, Valor is redefining what hotel management looks like, from talent pipelines to franchise relationships to frontline culture.Ali opens with a provocation — that U.S. hospitality has, in many ways, lost the plot

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52:27

Slick Talk: Beyond the Eight Hours & Hospitality’s...

The Skift Travel Podcast ·

2025/08/14

Wil Slickers here again, and I’m closing out our summer break by sharing one of my favorite episodes from Slick Talk — a deep, future-focused conversation with Richard Valtr, founder of Mews. Richard and I go beyond operations to explore what it means to think theologically about hospitality: why the real competition isn’t other hotels but the hours outside of a guest’s sleep, how technology should drive growth instead of just cutting costs, and what it takes to turn a property into a lifestyle

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42:15

From Local Roots to Global Reach: Asia’s Hospitality...

The Skift Travel Podcast ·

2025/08/12

Join industry leaders Rafat Ali, CEO & Co-Founder of Skift, and Siradej "Champ" Donavanik, Vice President Development (Global), of Dusit International, as they explore how Asian hospitality brands are carving out a unique identity amid global competition. From managing villas across continents to expanding beyond Thailand, they discuss the importance of cultural authenticity, personalized guest experiences, and balancing technology with the human touch. Dive into the challenges and opportunities

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67:44

Suite Success: Why Every City is a Food City,...

The Skift Travel Podcast ·

2025/08/07

While Sarah and Seth are on a summer break, we are taking the opportunity to introduce listeners to new shows. Today that is a Suite Success episode. Host Katie Cline sits down with Top Chef judge and culinary storyteller Gail Simmons to talk travel, taste, and the unexpected power of a good meal.From her early days in food media to two decades on Top Chef, Gail reflects on how curiosity—and a few bold leaps—shaped her career. She shares how food became her lens for understanding people and

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36:14

Good Morning Hospitality: Predictions for Travel,...

The Skift Travel Podcast ·

2025/07/31

This is a special crossover episode between Good Morning Hospitality and the Skift Travel Podcast.Following the recent acquisition of Good Morning Hospitality and Hospitality.FM by Skift, we’re sharing this episode to introduce Skift listeners to the voices, format, and perspective that power one of the industry’s most dynamic live podcasts. Good Morning Hospitality is a live, twice-weekly podcast covering the latest in short-term rentals, hotels, guest experience, and travel industry trends —

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31:51

Blending Hotels and Rentals: Dart’s Bet for Group...

The Skift Travel Podcast ·

2025/07/29

Skift CEO Rafat Ali talks with Chris Kelsey, President of Dart Interests, about how the firm is pushing the boundaries of what a resort can be. At the heart of the conversation is Evermore Orlando, Dart’s $2.5 billion destination next to Disney World that blends managed vacation rentals with luxury hotels, all designed with families and groups in mind.Kelsey breaks down why the traditional split between short-term rentals and hotels no longer works for modern travelers and how Evermore aims to

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21:11

Airbnb’s Expansion Strategy: How Services and...

The Skift Travel Podcast ·

2025/07/24

Today’s Skift Travel Podcast was recorded live at Skift Forum Asia Bangkok when Airbnb Chief Business Officer Dave Stephenson joined us to unpack one of the company’s biggest launches in years: the global expansion of curated experiences and in-stay services.Stephenson shares how Airbnb is integrating new offerings like private chefs, trainers, spa treatments, and local-led activities directly into the app—and why these features are available not only to travelers, but also to locals. The

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58:04

Simplicity in Loyalty: The Way Out For Indie Hotels

The Skift Travel Podcast ·

2025/07/22

In this in-depth conversation, Skift Founder Rafat Ali sits down with Chris Hartley, CEO of Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), to unpack how the world’s largest alliance of independent hotel brands is carving out a distinct path in the hospitality landscape. With more than 45 brands—and more joining every year—GHA is proving that collaboration, not consolidation, can be the key to long-term success.Hartley shares how GHA’s Discovery loyalty program is helping member hotels drive direct bookings and

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34:53

Why This Summer Is Breaking Flight Crews and the System

The Skift Travel Podcast ·

2025/07/17

This episode of the Skift Travel Podcast features an in-depth conversation with Sara Nelson, President of the Association of Flight Attendants. Host Sarah Kopit and Nelson discuss the challenges flight attendants face amid record-breaking summer travel, ongoing labor negotiations, and the evolving political landscape. Topics include aviation safety, contract bargaining, staffing, public perception, and the global solidarity among flight crews in a rapidly changing world.Record summer travel is

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49:14

Why the AI Revolution in Travel Depends on Payment...

The Skift Travel Podcast ·

2025/07/16

AI is rapidly reshaping the travel industry, but companies that want to fully leverage its potential must prioritize their payment infrastructure, says Jess Conroy, founder and CEO of ROH, a payment management platform for the hospitality sector.Conroy, who launched ROH two years ago, recently raised $9.2 million in a funding round led by Highgate Technology Ventures and Acrew Capital. Prior to ROH, Conroy launched Carats & Cake, a platform that provided assistance to couples looking to pay the

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43:17

Welcome to Extreme Heat Summer Travel

The Skift Travel Podcast ·

2025/07/10

Host Sarah Kopit is joined by Skift’s Climate Reporter Darin Graham to discuss the extreme heat that is dominating summer travel. Kopit and Graham give a brief perspective on the changing nature of summer travel before presenting Graham’s podcast about a NetZero hotel in England that positions itself as a way to improve upon the travel industry’s carbon footprint. Graham’s episode of GreenShift centers on a visit to Radisson’s first Net Zero Hotel, located in Manchester. He tours the property with

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60:50

Rafat Ali x Bhanu Chopra: On Building from India for...

The Skift Travel Podcast ·

2025/07/09

In this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, RateGain Founder Bhanu Chopra joins Rafat Ali to explore how the company is helping shape the infrastructure of modern travel. From AI-powered pricing to real-time distribution and demand insights, Bhanu breaks down how RateGain is evolving to meet the needs of a more connected and volatile travel landscape. The conversation spans AI innovation, global market shifts, and the role of empathy in tech leadership. With a growing portfolio of tools, new

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30:23

How Artificial Intelligence Is Transforming Business...

The Skift Travel Podcast ·

2025/07/03

Host Seth Borko is joined by Amadeus' Head of Research and AI Center of Excellence, Rodrigo Acuna Agost, and Marilyn Markham, VP of AI & Automation Strategy at American Express Global Business Travel. Both panelists emphasized that agentic AI — autonomous systems that pursue a goal and interact with their environment — is the hottest trend in travel technology. Markham highlighted that it goes beyond “talking” AI to AI that takes action, describing it as giving a talker a toolbox. Acuna Agost

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