The Skift Travel Podcast

How Pyramid Global Is Rethinking Hotel Management

In this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Sarah Kopit [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah] and Head of Research Seth Borko [https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-borko/] sit down with Warren Fields, CEO of Pyramid Global Hospitality [https://www.linkedin.com/company/pyramid-global-hospitality/], one of the largest hotel management companies in the world. Fields offers a rare inside look at how hotel operators really think, from the economics of rising costs and stagnant revenues to the ongoing talent challenges reshaping hospitality. The conversation spans the full landscape of hotel operations: why management companies are in the “value creation business,” how Pyramid negotiates healthcare, insurance, and labor efficiencies at scale, and why personalization is becoming the new standard for both branded and independent hotels. Fields also shares his views on AI’s practical role in hotel operations, the future of non-alcoholic beverage trends, and the generational shift reshaping hotel jobs and workplace expectations. Plus, he gives candid advice to travelers on how to get better service, reflects on the industry’s most outdated habits, and explains what truly makes a hotel stay feel memorable. A sharp, behind-the-scenes look at the business of running hotels today. This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon!⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://advertising.amazon.com/] To learn more, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠advertising.amazon.com⁠⁠ [https://advertising.amazon.com/] Connect with Skift: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] WhatsApp: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://facebook.com/skiftnews?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social?utm_source=chatgpt.com] X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/skift⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://twitter.com/skift?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Inside Soul Community Planet, the Hotel Brand Betting on Conscious Travel

On this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, hosts Sarah Kopit [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah] and Seth Borko [https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-borko/] sit down with Ken Cruse [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kencruse-scp/], CEO and Co-Founder of Soul Community Planet [https://scphotel.com/], one of hospitality’s most unconventional emerging brands. Cruse, whose background spans Marriott, Host Hotels, and Sunstone Hotel Investors, walks us through why he left the traditional hotel playbook behind to build a vertically integrated company centered on conscious living. Ken breaks down the philosophy that drove SCP’s creation, from its biophilic design and wellness-driven experiences to its “fair trade pricing” model that lets guests decide what they believe their stay was worth. He also talks candidly about the inefficiencies he sees across the industry, how AI and automation are reshaping hotel operations, the surprising demographics of the so-called “mindful traveler,” and how SCP raised 210 million dollars in venture capital for an asset-heavy hospitality concept. If you want a fresh perspective on what the next generation of hospitality brands might look like, why premium pricing doesn’t scare off today’s traveler, or how a hotel can blend community, wellness, and sustainability without losing financial discipline, this conversation offers a rare inside look. This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠Amazon!⁠⁠⁠ [https://advertising.amazon.com/] To learn more, go to ⁠⁠⁠advertising.amazon.com⁠ [https://advertising.amazon.com/] Connect with Skift: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] WhatsApp: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://facebook.com/skiftnews?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social?utm_source=chatgpt.com] X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/skift⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://twitter.com/skift?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Inside Saudi’s Big Tourism Bet and Google’s Booking Disruption

In this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, Sarah Kopit [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah] and Seth Borko [https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-borko/] unpack one of the biggest stories in global tourism right now: Saudi Arabia’s explosive push to become a world travel hub. Fresh off a reporting trip to Riyadh, Sarah shares on-the-ground insights from Tourise—including the scale of development, the country’s prestige mega-projects, and the challenges of turning early momentum into mass-market appeal. Seth analyzes Saudi’s real tourism numbers and what they reveal about the nation’s long-term strategy. The episode also breaks down Google’s latest move into AI-powered travel booking and what it could mean for OTAs like Expedia and Booking. Plus, the hosts revisit the Marriott and Sonder fallout, debate a controversial bet tied to the Epstein files, and wrap the show with their weekly winners and losers ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. Presented by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EF World Journeys⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.efworldjourneys.com/]. Connect with Skift: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] WhatsApp: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://facebook.com/skiftnews?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social?utm_source=chatgpt.com] X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/skift⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://twitter.com/skift?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Why Low Cost Airlines Win in Europe but Struggle in the U.S.

In this airline-deep-dive edition of the Skift Travel Podcast, Head of Research Seth Borko [https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-borko/] teams up with Airline Editor Gordon Smith [https://www.linkedin.com/in/smithgme/] to unpack one of the most puzzling trends in global aviation: why ultra-low-cost carriers soar in Europe while their U.S. counterparts continue to stumble. Drawing on fresh analysis and industry reporting, they break down the cost pressures reshaping the American market, the rise of basic economy among network carriers, and why loyalty programs work so differently across continents. The conversation ranges from Ryanair’s viral social strategy to Frontier’s push for premium seating, the economics behind airport infrastructure, and the surprising ways geography shapes airline profitability. It’s a fast, highly informed tour through the forces redefining modern air travel. Presented by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EF World Journeys⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.efworldjourneys.com/]. Connect with Skift: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] WhatsApp: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://facebook.com/skiftnews?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social?utm_source=chatgpt.com] X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/skift⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://twitter.com/skift?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

New York's New Mayor Zohran Mamdani & The Eastward Shift in Travel

In this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Sarah Kopit [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah] and Head of Research Seth Borko [https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-borko/] unpack a big week in travel and politics. Fresh off Skift Global Forum East in Abu Dhabi, they discuss how the center of gravity in global tourism is moving eastward and what it means for destinations across the Middle East and Asia. Then, they share exclusive insights from Skift’s interview with New York City’s newly elected mayor, Zohran Mamdani [https://skift.com/2025/10/29/zohran-mamdani-interview-increase-nycs-tourism-budget-yes-airbnb-and-world-cup-prep/?utm_source=ask_skift], who reveals plans to boost the city’s tourism budget, tackle Airbnb regulation, and appoint a “tourism czar” ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The conversation wraps with highlights from Abu Dhabi’s aviation boom, TripAdvisor’s restructuring, and a surprising “winner of the week” involving pampered falcons. Presented by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EF World Journeys⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.efworldjourneys.com/]. Connect with Skift: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] WhatsApp: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://facebook.com/skiftnews?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social?utm_source=chatgpt.com] X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/skift⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://twitter.com/skift?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.