The Skift Travel Podcast

In this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko explore the complex world of travel loyalty programs, focusing on the evolution of these systems, the role of credit cards, and how consumers can maximize their points. Guest Tiffany Funk, President and co-founder of Point.me, shares insights on the challenges consumers face in redeeming points and the importance of understand...

Today Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko discuss the significant influence of Bollywood on Indian culture and its impact on the travel industry. They’re joined by Raj Rishi Singh, CMO of MakeMyTrip, who shares insights on how Bollywood shapes travel aspirations and marketing strategies. The conversation explores the evolution of India's travel market, driven by rising affluence, improved infrastructure, a...

This week’s conversation takes a small turn to our recent Megatrends event in London. Guest host Gordon Smith, who you can hear on the Airline Weekly Lounge Podcast, is joined by Hannah Bennett, head of travel at TikTok, to talk about how TikTok has transformed the travel industry. They discuss how the platform is used not only for inspiration but also for actual travel planning and bookings. The...

In this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko discuss the significance of tourism in Australia with Pip Harrison, the Managing Director of Tourism Australia. They explore personal experiences in Australia, the economic impact of tourism, sustainable growth strategies, and the challenges of over-tourism. The conversation also delves into the growing importance of Asian mar...

In this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, recorded live in New York City at our recent Megatrends event. Seth Borko sits down with Thomas Reiner from Altimeter Capital to discuss the transformative impact of AI on the travel industry. They cover the shift from traditional keyword searches to conversational AI, the importance of trust in AI-driven travel planning, and the implications for online...

Skift’s Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko are joined by Jeremy Jauncey, CEO of Beautiful Destinations, to discuss the burgeoning field of social commerce within the travel industry. The conversation explores how platforms like TikTok and Instagram are reshaping travel discovery and planning, the evolving consumer behaviors in travel bookings, and the potential future of travel commerce driven by influenc...

In this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko engage in a comprehensive discussion with David Neeleman, founder of JetBlue and Breeze Airways. The conversation covers the fragility of the aviation industry, the challenges faced by low-cost carriers, the implications of mergers, and the regulatory landscape affecting market consolidation. Neeleman also shares his critical...

In this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, hosts Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko sit down with Steve Hafner, CEO of Kayak, in New York City to discuss this year’s travel Megatrends. They start with Skift’s lead Megatrend for 2025: The growing impact of live tourism on travel trends, highlighting how major events like Formula 1 races and Taylor Swift concerts drive significant travel demand, especiall...

In this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, hosts Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko discuss their travel predictions for 2025, reflecting on holiday experiences and the need for a return to routine. They explore consumer spending trends, regional differences in travel priorities, and the impact of social media on travel bookings. The conversation also covers growth in the online travel sector, the hotel...

In this episode of Skift's How I Travel series, Skift CEO & Founder, Rafat Ali, interviews Sarah Kopit, Editor-in-Chief of Skift, discussing her personal travel philosophy, habits, and reflections. They explore topics like her transition from fast-paced work life to relaxed, unplugged vacations, her family-oriented travel preferences, her minimalist approach to packing, and her cautious stance on...

In this episode of the Skift How I Travel series, Skift Founder & CEO, Rafat Ali, interviews Skift's Chief Product Officer, Jason Clampet, about his travel habits and philosophies. They discuss Jason's unfussy approach to travel, the balance between local and international trips, airline loyalty, packing strategies, and the importance of food in travel experiences. Jason shares insights on family...

Skift's How I Travel Podcast Series features intimate conversations diving deep into the personal travel philosophies, habits, and styles of industry insiders and cultural influencers. Each episode features an in-depth interview with an expert traveler, where they share their unique perspectives on various aspects of the travel experience. This episode features an extended interview exploring the...

On this week's Skift Travel Podcast, hosts Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko dive into Skift's annual Megatrends, offering insights into how the travel landscape is evolving to meet new consumer expectations and societal changes. Key trends include the growing demand for pet-friendly accommodations, the professionalization of influencer marketing in travel, and a significant focus on AI’s impact behind t...

Airline loyalty programs have long been considered highly valuable assets, generating significant revenue through credit card partnerships and brand affiliation. However, recent changes have made earning and redeeming miles increasingly complex, prompting frustration among everyday travelers. Lounges are overcrowded, and higher spending thresholds mean only top-tier customers maintain easy access...

Hosts Seth Borko and Sarah Kopit by their Skift Research colleague Pranavi Agarwal. Agarwal authored a recent report that looked at the prospects for hotel direct bookings. How and where consumers book their hotel rooms can have huge implications for hotels, online travel agencies, and pretty much anyone in the travel industry. This is the third time in seven years that Skift has commissioned this...

Today marks the start of the holiday travel season in the United States, and that means tens of thousands of airline passengers are going to make flying difficult for everyone else by being completely unprepared to go through security lines at U.S. airports. And the Transportation Security Administration will be on the front lines of their nonsense.  For this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast ho...

This special edition of the Skift Travel Podcast looks at Airbnb's future strategic direction and its ambitions to diversify its offerings beyond short-term rentals. Skift CEO Rafat Ali is joined by AirDNA Chief Economist Jamie Lane to discuss Airbnb's plans to create billion-dollar businesses annually, reintroduce and scale experiences, explore new markets, and build innovative services for hosts...

For this special episode, Sarah Nelson, International President of the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), sits down with Skift Editor-in-Chief Sarah Kopit to discuss critical issues shaping the aviation industry. From labor rights and union efforts to health, safety, and sustainability, Nelson provides candid insights into the challenges and opportunities facing aviation workers and their uni...

For this week's podcast, host Sarah Kopit is joined by Jane Poynter, a founder of the space tourism company Space Perspective to discuss the next frontier of travel. Kopit recently wrote a feature story about how the industry has developed over the last two decades, as well as where it is now positioned. Highlights of their conversation include: Growth of the Space Economy: The space tourism secto...

Airlines Editor Gordon Smith joins Seth to discuss all things airlines. First, the growing prevalence of premium cabins and products in aviation. Secondly, the quiet but noticeable divestment from China by many western airlines, the subject of Gordon's recent feature story "Why Are Airlines Quiet Quitting China?". Key Points Airlines are enhancing brand positioning by investing in premium cabins l...

According to a new Skift Research report on U.S. travel trends, family travel constitutes the largest segment of U.S. leisure travel. The report’s lead author, Skift Research Manager Varsha Arora, joins Seth and Sarah to talk about what it means for the business of travel. Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ X: https://twitter.com/skift Facebook: https://facebook.c...

The United Arab Emirates has moved quickly since 2022 to establish its very own gambling hub in the once sleepy emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, with gaming resorts from big hitters MGM and Wynn Resorts in the works amidst a slate of regulatory action and marketing. Skift Middle East Reporter Josh Corder joins the program to discuss how this could be one of the biggest shifts in tourism in modern memory...

The actions of governments can move markets as much, if not more than, any business or technological development. In this episode Sarah is joined again by Skift Managing Editor Lex Harris to discuss the implications of global immigration policies, the results of the upcoming U.S. presidential election and politics in general, on the business of travel.  Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.lin...

Seth recaps some of the biggest impact speakers and moments from last week's Skift Global Forum 2024. Highlighting the intertwined nature of the business of travel, Seth covers stage sessions with Deputy Secretary of State Richard Verma, Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky, Jetblue CEO Joanna Geraghty, and Wyndham Hotels CEO Geoff Ballotti. See full videos of all the stage sessions from Skift Global Forum 202...

Fresh off the heels of Skift Global Forum 2024, we present a conversation between Ariane Gorin, CEO of Expedia Group, and Skift Executive Editor Dennis Schaal, that took place on stage at The Glasshouse in New York on the final day of the forum. Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ X: https://twitter.com/skift Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: http...