Episode Notes Amex GBT announced plans on Monday to acquire CWT for $570 million, a deal that would combine two of the world’s largest corporate travel agencies. Travel Technology Reporter Justin Dawes explains why Amex GBT executives are pushing for the megadeal.  Amex GBT CEO Paul Abbott said acquisitions are a key part of its growth strategy, noting the combined company would generate revenue of at least $3 billion. Abbott added acquiring CWT would strengthen several areas of Amex GBT,...

Episode Notes Hilton recently held a private presentation for investment analysts at its U.S. headquarters. Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill lists the three biggest takeaways from the presentation’s 223 slides.  First, Hilton claims the world’s largest hotel pipeline. The company said it controls about 20% of the rooms under construction worldwide. Hilton added its loyalty members are responsible for 64% of its total room nights booked, which it claims is an industry high. The company...

Episode Notes Ennismore co-CEO and founder Sharan Pasricha believes India is a sleeping giant in the lifestyle hotel sector, writes Middle East Reporter Josh Corder.   Pasricha told Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill at the Skift India Summit on Wednesday that the new wave of lifestyle hotels could be in India. Ennismore currently doesn’t have any hotels in India in its portfolio. But Pasricha said that could change as soon as this year, citing India’s growing middle class and...

Air India has major goals. CEO Campbell Wilson is looking to turn the company into a “top-tier and world-class airline” after decades of underinvestment by Indian officials, writes Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi.   Wilson discussed Air India’s strategy during a discussion with Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia at the Skift India Summit today. The company has undergone a major overhaul in recent months that includes new business class cabins and a new logo. In addition to going on a major...

Episode Notes Indian weddings are a billion dollar business — and not just in India. Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia delves into the increasingly lucrative phenomenon.  Bhutia writes Indian weddings aren’t just celebrations — they’re massive economic engines. The roughly 3.5 million couples that got married in India between November 23 and December 15 last year spent about $57 billion on wedding-related expenses. Meanwhile, the more than 900 weddings Marriott hosted in India last year generated...

Episode Notes The growing push to ban TikTok in the U.S. has raised questions about how travel brands would market themselves without the popular app. Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam writes several state tourism offices have already directed more resources toward Instagram and YouTube.  Habtemariam notes Visit Utah has increased its investment in Instagram Reels after Utah’s governor banned state government agencies from using TikTok in 2022. Katlyn Svendsen, an executive at Travel...

Episode Notes Skift on Wednesday unveiled its newest venture: Executive Search. The aim: Address the growing demand for skilled and visionary leaders within the travel sector. The people we place will define the future of travel.  Skift has helped thousands of travel industry leaders establish connections at our events throughout the years, often indirectly acting as a recruitment firm. The Executive Search unit is the next step in assisting companies looking not only to acquire talent but...

Episode Notes A total solar eclipse will pass diagonally across the U.S. on April 8, a development that’s poised to spark a tourism surge. So are destinations prepared to take advantage of the visitor boom? Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam examines the issue.  The eclipse will cross the country from the south to the east, touching roughly a dozen states. Habtemariam cites Niagara Falls, New York as one destination expecting to see large crowds for the eclipse. A local tourism...

Episode Notes Airbnb announced on Monday it’s banning the use of all indoor security cameras, writes Short-Term Rental Reporter Srividya Kalyanaraman.  The company said the change comes after it received feedback from guests, hosts and advocacy groups. Indoor cameras had been permitted in common areas of homes under certain conditions, but the cameras had to be disclosed to guests and not be in private spaces. Hosts not complying with the new policy by April 30 could see their listings or...

Episode Notes Millions of travelers look to TikTok for help in planning their next trip. So we discussed the company’s influence in the travel industry, among other topics, with Stuart Flint, head of TikTok’s global business solutions for Europe and Israel. Flint told Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam that several major travel brands are working with TikTok, including Booking.com. Although TikTok doesn’t currently allow travelers to book directly on the platform, Flint acknowledged...

Episode Notes Speculation has been rife about what company could be behind the possible sale of Tripadvisor since the news first broke last month that it was in play. Executive Editor Dennis Schaal writes about recent reporting that one possible buyer is private equity firm Apollo Global Management.  Apollo has expressed interest in a bid , according to Bloomberg. Schaal notes that Apollo’s exploration of any purchase is believed to be in an early phase.  Tripadvisor has formed an independent...

American Airlines is changing its strategy. The company is turning to smaller U.S. cities and its loyalty program to boost revenue, writes Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi.  American Chief Commercial Officer Vasu Raja cited the Sun Belt region as a location the carrier is focusing on. The region has accounted for 75% of U.S. population growth in the past decade, according to U.S. Census data. American’s focus on smaller U.S. cities lies in contrast to rivals like Delta and United, which...

Episode Notes Airbnb said on Monday it’s approaching 1.5 million verified listings, a key part of its strategy to build trust among users, reports Executive Editor Dennis Schaal. The company added that badges will be pinned to listings that have completed the verification process. Airbnb has long struggled to deal with fake listings and scammers, Airbnb’s verification push is designed to combat those issues. The short-term rental giant said it removed 59,000 fake listings last year.  Airbnb...

Timeshare operator rivals Hilton Grand Vacations, Marriott Vacations Worldwide and Travel and Leisure Company have all reported financial results recently. Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill delves into those reports to search for broader trends in the segment.  HGV executives said they’ve seen more consumers hesitant to agree to deals in part because of inflation. However, O’Neill notes that HGV has actually had to deal with more demand than the group can efficiently handle. Meanwhile,...

Episode Notes Gilda Perez-Alvarado surprised some hotel industry insiders when she left JLL to become Accor’s chief strategy officer last October. Perez-Alvarado outlined her plans for Accor in her first interview since taking the new role.  Perez-Alvarado touched on Accor’s efforts to make inroads in the U.S., among other subjects, with Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill. She said Accor would target markets and segments in the country where the company believes it should be present....

Episode Notes American Airlines and United Airlines are among the major carriers that have increased baggage fees in recent months. Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi explains why checking bags at airports has gotten more expensive.   Maharishi writes that nearly every carrier cited inflation, higher fuel and operating costs as reasons they hiked baggage fees. JetBlue Airways said it raised baggage fees as part of its plan to return to profitability.  Airlines may also be increasing bag fees...

Episode Notes Hotel guests in Las Vegas during Super Bowl weekend earlier this month paid the highest room rates in continental U.S. history, writes Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam.  Industry data company STR said guests shelled out on average $800 for rooms in Las Vegas that weekend, the highest ever for any Saturday and Sunday in the continental U.S. Hotel guests on the Las Vegas Strip paid an even higher rate on Super Bowl Sunday — $962 on average. Meanwhile, short-term rentals...

Episode Notes Wyndham executives say the company’s efforts to fend off Choice Hotels’ hostile bid weighted on its results in the fourth quarter, reports Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill. Wyndham CEO Geoff Ballotti said its fourth quarter could have been better without the distractions from Choice Hotels’ merger proposal. The company’s revenue and income in 2023 both fell from the previous year, which may have been a result of Wyndham devoting resources to prevent the hostile...

Episode Notes Marriott and Hilton have both released their annual financial reports for 2023. Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill lists 12 noteworthy takeaways after comparing the companies’ 10-K filings.  The two hotel giants have a rivalry in terms of loyalty program membership numbers. Marriott currently has roughly 16 million more loyalty program members than Hilton. But O’Neill notes Hilton could overtake Marriott in 2025 if the two companies maintain their most recent growth rates...

Episode Notes Some analysts had wondered if Airbnb could increase its supply of hosts and listings to meet the growing demand from travelers worldwide. That question has been put to rest, writes Executive Editor Dennis Schaal.  Airbnb said during its fourth-quarter earnings call on Tuesday it has around 7.7 million active listings. That’s an increase of more than 1 million from the end of 2022. The company ended 2023 with a roster of more than 5 million hosts, also a jump of roughly 1 million...

Episode Notes The Bahamas saw a drop in short-term rental bookings and hotel reservations in January after a U.S. State Department safety alert to travelers, writes Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam. Habtemariam notes short-term rental bookings fell 7% in January from the same month in 2023. Meanwhile, hotels in the Bahamas also registered weekly occupancy declines from last year throughout the month. While higher average daily rates may have deterred bookings, those drops followed a...

Episode Notes Expedia Group will have a new CEO soon. Ariane Gorin, currently president of Expedia for Business, will succeed Peter Kern starting on May 13, writes Executive Editor Dennis Schaal.   Schaal reports Gorin will also take a seat on Expedia Group’s expanded board of directors, effective February 12. Expedia Group Chair Barry Diller said the company was looking for an internal candidate to succeed Kern. As president of Expedia for Business, the company’s business-to-business arm,...

Episode Notes Taylor Swift’s massive influence on U.S. culture and the economy isn’t slowing down anytime soon. And as her ongoing Eras Tour continues to pack stadiums and boost tourism worldwide, Editor-in-Chief Sarah Kopit explains why Swift might be the most powerful person in travel. Swift’s impact on the travel sector is vast, with major influence over tourism dollars, hospitality spending and the short-term rental market. Kopit notes that each Swift concert has the economic impact of...

Episode Notes A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board has provided information about what possibly caused the January blowout aboard Alaska Airlines Flight 1282. Four bolts appeared to be missing on a door plug that blew off that Boeing 737 Max 9 jet, writes Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi.  Maharishi notes it’s not exactly clear how the four bolts meant to keep the door plug intact went missing. The board said it plans to interview Boeing and aircraft supplier...

Episode Notes Nearly 94% of 737 Boeing Max 9s are back in service after the aircraft was grounded for roughly three weeks in January, writes Airlines Reporter Meghan Maharishi.  The Federal Aviation Administration said that 135 Max 9s have been inspected and returned to service following a blowout aboard an Alaska Airlines flight in early January. The grounding of the Max 9 forced United Airlines and Alaska — the only two U.S. carriers operating the aircraft — to cancel thousands of flights...