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The Skift Travel Podcast

Skift
Travel Industry
Airbnb
Artificial Intelligence
Tourism
India
Luxury Travel
Short-Term Rentals
Travel
Dubai
New York City
Saudi Arabia
Skift Global Forum
AI In Travel
Hospitality
Aviation Industry
Airlines
Tiktok
Hospitality Industry
Customer Service
Middle East

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 a... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes367Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Business NewsNewsPlaces & TravelSociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Skift Travel Podcast

Latest Episodes

Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko examine how the U.S. midterm elections could affect international tourism, traveler sentiment, and oil prices.

They also unpack Marriott's strong earnings and the growing tension with hotel owners over fees, plus new Skift... more

YouTube

U.S. airfares are up nearly 19%, but passenger volumes are essentially flat. Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko examine what the latest travel data reveals about pricing power, consumer spending, and the industry's outlook for 2027.

They also discuss JetBlu... more

YouTube

Baby boomers and retirees represent a $100 billion annual travel spending opportunity, but are travel companies paying enough attention?

Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko break down new Skift Research on older travelers, premium spending, and the next deca... more

YouTube

Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko test whether AI agents can actually complete everyday purchases, and discover why the next battle in travel distribution may be over who can accept an agent's booking.

Fresh from Skift's Data and AI Summit Europe, Seth sha... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Andrew Zimmern
Celebrity chef and travel host featured as guest
Self/Spilled Milk; Food Network
Episode: Andrew Zimmern on Why Travel Needs Trust in the AI Era
Heather Balsley
Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer
IHG Hotels & Resorts
Episode: Growth Under Pressure: The Decisions Hotel Brands Are Making Now
Peter Manoogian
Partner
ZS
Episode: Growth Under Pressure: The Decisions Hotel Brands Are Making Now
Prince Harry
Duke of Sussex, keynote speaker on Travelist and destination health
Travelist
Episode: AI Is Here. Now Travel Has to Figure Out Who to Trust.
Dara Khosrowshahi
CEO of Uber, speaker on leadership and technology in travel
Uber
Episode: AI Is Here. Now Travel Has to Figure Out Who to Trust.
Brett Taylor
Chairman of OpenAI, speaker on AI policy
OpenAI
Episode: AI Is Here. Now Travel Has to Figure Out Who to Trust.
Steve Case
Co-founder of AOL, entrepreneur reporting on AI regulation
AOL (historical), AI advocate
Episode: AI Is Here. Now Travel Has to Figure Out Who to Trust.
Alex Trusca
Associate Principal at ZS Associates
ZS Associates
Episode: Premium Is Becoming Table Stakes for Travel. Now What?
Bailey Schultz
Tourism reporter for Skift
Skift
Episode: Fake AI Hotel Videos Are Coming for Travel

Hosts

Sarah Kopit
Host with a focus on industry dynamics, travel tech, and strategic storytelling.
Seth Borko
Host and Skift Research contributor, leading discussions on travel tech, OTAs, and market shifts.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 87 ratings
  • Out of Touch

    As a travel industry professional, I listen to Skift for insights into industry, innovation, and economic trends. In the latest episode, Seth mentions the U.S economy being in 'pretty good shape.' He goes into surface-level statistics that appear good at a glance but are a far cry from the bleak economic outlook Americans/the globe are facing. It is this man's job to have a comprehensive overview of the economy, an in-depth analysis of spending habits, and an understanding of discretionary/di... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Dmactizzy
    Canada10 months ago
  • Good contents but poor production

    I really enjoy the contents but I can’t imagine it an extravagant investment to improve the recording and audio quality. That recent episode on the industry research is absolute torture to listeners ears.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    mmmmmmengsun
    United States2 years ago
  • Soundproblems?

    Do they use microphones? Not sure.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Makadini
    Switzerland4 years ago
  • Highly recommend!

    The Skift Travel Podcast has quickly become a favorite in my feed! Their insightful content and engaging conversations had me hooked from the very first listen. Thanks so much for putting out such a stellar show guys - keep up the great work!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mvelasco07
    United States4 years ago
  • A must-listen for travel business people

    Insightful and authentic content for travel business people. Helps you develop a holistic view of travel and tourism industry

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Alireza Aghasi
    United States7 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Praises depth of analysis and solid guest rosters for strategic insights.
Frequent praise for relevant industry focus and actionable takeaways for professionals.
Mixed audio quality noted by some listeners, but content valued.

Chart Rankings

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Growth Under Pressure: The Decisions Hotel Brands Are Making Now
Q: What is one decision an owner should make differently for next year?
Content is key not just in quality but in structure and machine-readability, because AI-enabled search relies on accessible, consistent data. Ensuring content is relevant, accurate, and comparable across channels will drive demand and avoid confusing travelers during discovery.
Growth Under Pressure: The Decisions Hotel Brands Are Making Now
Q: How do you balance conversions versus new builds in growth strategy?
Conversions are a massive trend driven by market conditions; they require a tailored commercial ecosystem and faster on-property execution to capitalize on demand, while new builds provide longer ramp-up time to pre-sell and educate. Both paths are necessary for high-quality growth, but the timing and operations around each are different.
Growth Under Pressure: The Decisions Hotel Brands Are Making Now
Q: Heather, what does your brand have to do differently when owner margins are under pressure?
We focus on prioritizing owner returns, lowering marketing and loyalty costs, and accelerating the use of AI-enabled tools to drive revenue while keeping costs in check. We are launching lower-cost commercial services in the Americas and leveraging an AI-enabled revenue management platform to unlock value beyond the top line, ensuring both customer experience and owner profitability.
Premium Is Becoming Table Stakes for Travel. Now What?
Q: How should brands think about unbundling versus premiumization when charging for services that used to be included, like extra legroom or early check-in?
Premiumization should add value for the customer, not simply charge for what was previously free; unbundling without adding value undercuts the potential impact and fails to deliver meaningful results.
Premium Is Becoming Table Stakes for Travel. Now What?
Q: Can you share a concrete example where a brand achieved incremental value through premiumization without becoming a luxury-only play?
A hotel brand with multiple chains implemented in-stay upsell opportunities, offering in-room upgrades or late checkout for a small fee, which generated about $1 million in incremental revenue across a dozen properties in six months.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Skift Travel Podcast

What is The Skift Travel Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show delivers sharp, data-informed takes on travel industry dynamics, covering everything from branding, distribution, and loyalty to AI, financing, and policy impacts. Episodes frequently feature analyses of big-brand strategies, OTA evolution, and how macro shifts—like inflation, visa policies, and major events—reshape traveler behavior. A standout trait is the mix of rigorous market context with accessible storytelling, plus frequent references to Skift Research insights and real-world anecdotes from industry insiders. Listeners are likely industry professionals seeking actionable takeaways for brand strategy, partnerships, and investment in travel.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Skift Travel Podcast?

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How many listeners does The Skift Travel Podcast get?

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How many subscribers and views does The Skift Travel Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Skift Travel Podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Skift Travel Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Skift Travel Podcast:

1. Skift Daily Briefing
2. Airline Weekly Lounge
3. Good Morning Hospitality
4. The Air Show
5. Simple Flying Aviation News Podcast

How many episodes of The Skift Travel Podcast are there?

The Skift Travel Podcast launched 11 years ago and published 367 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Skift Travel Podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on The Skift Travel Podcast?

Recent guests on The Skift Travel Podcast include:

1. Andrew Zimmern
2. Heather Balsley
3. Peter Manoogian
4. Prince Harry
5. Dara Khosrowshahi
6. Brett Taylor
7. Steve Case
8. Alex Trusca

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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