The Skift Travel Podcast

This is a special crossover episode between Good Morning Hospitality and the Skift Travel Podcast. Following the recent acquisition [https://skift.com/2025/07/29/skift-expands-community-and-multimedia-offerings-with-two-strategic-acquisitions/] 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 [https://www.youtube.com/@goodmorninghospitality] is a live, twice-weekly podcast covering the latest in short-term rentals, hotels, guest experience, and travel industry trends — hosted by a team of operators, analysts, and creators who are in it every day. In this crossover episode, hosts Wil Slickers [https://www.linkedin.com/in/wil-slickers/] (Skift’s new Director of Audio and Video Strategy), Brandy Canaley (COO at Roami), Jamie Lane (Chief Economist at AirDNA), and Michael Goldin (COO/Co-Founder of Nook) share their top predictions for hospitality in 2025 — from STR performance and pricing shifts to hotel tech, guest expectations, and the impact of AI across the industry. Whether you're new to GMH or already a listener, this conversation gives a strong look at where the team believes the hospitality world is headed — and how operators and brands should be thinking ahead. GMH broadcasts live every Monday and Wednesday morning: * Mondays focus on the short-term rental space * Wednesdays dive into hotel topics with recurring guests like Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk Thanks for tuning in to this crossover. We’re excited to bring these conversations into the Skift ecosystem — and to keep pushing the industry dialogue forward. Follow the Hosts: Wil Slickers – LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/wil-slickers/] Brandy Canaley – LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandrethcanaley/] Jamie Lane – LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiehlane/] Michael Goldin – LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelgoldin1/] Connect with Skift: LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ [%E2%81%A0https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/]⁠ WhatsApp: ⁠https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/⁠ [https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/%E2%81%A0] Facebook: ⁠https://facebook.com/skiftnews⁠ [%E2%81%A0https://facebook.com/skiftnews%E2%81%A0] Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ [%E2%81%A0https://facebook.com/skiftnews%E2%81%A0]⁠ Threads: ⁠https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews [%E2%81%A0https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews]⁠ Bluesky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social⁠ [%E2%81%A0https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews] X: ⁠https://twitter.com/skift⁠ [https://twitter.com/skift%E2%81%A0] Subscribe to ⁠@SkiftNews⁠ and never miss an update from the travel industry.

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 fill that gap. He also shares how loyalty plays a central role in Dart’s strategy, especially through its alignment with Hilton Honors, and why they’ve embraced what he calls an “anti-theme park” philosophy when it comes to design. The discussion spans the evolution of Evermore, Dart’s growing portfolio across mountain and beach markets, and how the company is rethinking fundamentals like food and beverage, landscaping, and labor models. It's a deep dive into what happens when long-term vision, intentional design, and group-first thinking come together to challenge the status quo. Key themes: * Why Dart is betting big on hybrid resort-vacation rental models * Building at scale for families, groups, and multigenerational travelers * How loyalty programs like Hilton Honors can unlock differentiation * The “anti-theme park” design lens and what it means for experience * Long-term value over short-term yield in real estate and hospitality * Expansion into mountains, beaches, and overlooked secondary markets * Reinventing food and beverage, landscaping, and workforce strategies * Positioning Evermore against Airbnb, hotels, and legacy resorts Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/] WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ [https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/] Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews [https://facebook.com/skiftnews] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ [https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/] Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews [https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews] Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social] X: https://twitter.com/skift [https://twitter.com/skift] Subscribe to @SkiftNews [https://www.youtube.com/@SkiftNews] and never miss an update from the travel industry.

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 conversation explores how Airbnb is shifting toward a full-trip platform by combining bookings, services, and activities in one place. Stephenson also explains the company’s localization strategy across Asia-Pacific, its response to economic uncertainty, and the growing role of pop culture in shaping travel behavior. From Michelin-star ramen in Tokyo to wellness treatments in your New York apartment, Airbnb is aiming to remove friction and deliver more personalized, high-quality travel experiences—without requiring you to stay in one of its listings. Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/] WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ [https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/] Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews [https://facebook.com/skiftnews] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ [https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/] Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews [https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews] Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social] X: https://twitter.com/skift [https://twitter.com/skift] Subscribe to @SkiftNews [https://www.youtube.com/@SkiftNews] and never miss an update from the travel industry.

In this in-depth conversation, Skift [https://skift.com/] Founder Rafat Ali [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rafatali/] sits down with Chris Hartley [https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherhartleygha/], CEO of Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) [https://www.globalhotelalliance.com/], 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 increase guest retention through its unique Discovery Dollars currency. The conversation spans GHA’s airline alliance-inspired roots, the evolving economics of distribution, and the balancing act of maintaining autonomy while scaling global visibility. From the shifting value of leisure loyalty to the limits of “frequent stayer” models, this episode offers rare insight into the business case for staying independent—together. Key themes: * Why the future of loyalty is about leisure, not just business * The ROI of Discovery Dollars vs. traditional points systems * OTA dependency and distribution strategy for smaller hotel brands * What GHA learns from airline alliances—and where it diverges * Loyalty as both a brand-builder and bottom-line driver Connect with Skift LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/] ⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/]WhatsApp: ⁠⁠https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/⁠⁠ [https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/] Facebook: ⁠⁠https://facebook.com/skiftnews⁠⁠ [https://facebook.com/skiftnews] Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/] Threads: ⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews⁠⁠ [https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews] Bluesky: ⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social⁠⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social] X: ⁠⁠https://twitter.com/skift⁠⁠ [https://twitter.com/skift] Subscribe to ⁠⁠@SkiftNews⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@SkiftNews] and never miss an update from the travel industry.

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 overwhelming flight crews, with high passenger volumes, weather disruptions, and minimal staffing stretching flight attendants to their limits. Union President Sara Nelson warns of federal instability, citing workforce cuts at key agencies like the National Weather Service and TSA as safety risks. Despite political turmoil, Nelson praises Transportation Secretary Duffy for advancing FAA modernization and stabilizing air traffic operations. Contract negotiations are reshaping the industry, with major wins on boarding pay and healthcare at United Airlines and organizing momentum growing at Delta. Passenger aggression remains elevated, but public support for flight attendants is stronger than ever, fueling optimism for broader labor solidarity. Connect with Skift LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/] ⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/]WhatsApp: ⁠https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/⁠ [https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/] Facebook: ⁠https://facebook.com/skiftnews⁠ [https://facebook.com/skiftnews] Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/] Threads: ⁠https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews⁠ [https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews] Bluesky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social⁠ [https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social] X: ⁠https://twitter.com/skift⁠ [https://twitter.com/skift] Subscribe to ⁠@SkiftNews⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@SkiftNews] and never miss an update from the travel industry.