Best Skift Podcasts (2024)

1
Hurricane Milton Prep, Mandarin Oriental’s Plans and Thriving Travel 3:21

2h ago3:21

3:21

Airlines and airports are getting ready for Hurricane Milton, a “potentially catastrophic” storm expected to hit southwest Florida on Wednesday, writes Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi. Tampa International Airport and Orlando International have announced they plan to suspend operations in anticipation of Hurricane Milton. Several airlines — inclu…

1
What the Election and Today's Politics Mean for The Business of Travel 29:53

4d ago29:53

29:53

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 tra…

1
Get Skift’s Take on the Importance of Luxury, Family and Solo Travel 15:05

2d ago15:05

15:05

Seth Borko, head of research at Skift, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about key travel industry trends, including how domestic travel has surged post-pandemic but international travel is now surpassing it. Luxury and family travel continue to grow, with increasing demand for solo travel. Despite predictions of its decline, the travel…

1
Skift Global Forum: The Airline Storylines 27:08

18d ago27:08

27:08

Presented by American Airlines In this special episode, Gordon Smith and Jay Shabat are in New York City for the Skift Global Forum. Recorded just minutes after stepping off stage, the pair debrief following a wide-ranging discussion with United Airlines Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella. From Boeing strikes to overtourism we explore the big …

1
Why Avanti Destinations Is Revolutionizing the FIT Package 19:21

3h ago19:21

19:21

Paul Barry, CEO of Avanti Destinations, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about Avanti’s new program to provide fixed-price FIT vacations initially using three new regional microsites featuring 58 packages to Asia, Latin America, and the South Pacific. Those three new websites are The three microsites are https://asia.avantidest…

1
Experience the Luxury of Bulgari Hotel Rome 8:34

1d ago8:34

8:34

Vincenzo Falcone, general manager of Bulgari Hotel Rome, talks with Michaela Guzy, reporting for Insider Travel Report, about his spectacular luxury property, which offers one of the most exclusive experiences in the eternal city. And the interview itself takes place on the rooftop overlooking all the beauty of the seven hills of Rome. For more inf…

1
Accor’s Ambitions, G Adventures’ New Brand and Morocco’s World Cup Prep 3:17

3d ago3:17

3:17

Episode Notes Accor CEO Sebastien Bazin said the Paris-based hotel group has 47 brands in its portfolio. And the company has plans to add more, writes Middle East Reporter Josh Corder. Bazin said at the Future Hospitality Summit in Dubai that Accor doesn’t have too many brands. He noted in the era of technology, customers have enough resources to d…

1
Southwest and its New Plan 26:23

3d ago26:23

26:23

Presented by American Airlines In this week’s episode, Jay Shabat and Meghna Maharishi discuss Southwest's latest turnaround plan. They also look at the current state of the transatlantic market connecting the U.S. with Europe. Key Takeaways Southwest Airlines' Strategic Changes: Southwest plans to implement premium seating, red-eye flights, and cu…

1
How This Sri Lankan Wellness Retreat Redefines Sustainability 13:33

3d ago13:33

13:33

Vickum Nawagamuwage, founder and CEO of Santani Wellness in Sri Lanka, speaks with Jennifer Lutz of Insider Travel Report about the philosophy behind Santani and how they're promoting human sustainability with a nature-first approach. Also interviewed is the resort's naturalist and one of their Ayurvedic doctors. For more information, visit www.san…

1
Episode 289- Ari Koponen del 1 💚 37:41

2d ago37:41

37:41

Ukas gjest er Ari Koponen, mannen med mange baller i luften, og som ikke er redd for å hoppe ut i det ukjente. Det er jo bare å trene så blir du god!Tidligere jobbet han som educator med show og visninger over hele verden, i tillegg til styling/fotografering for kjente merker og magasiner. I dag har han startet sin egen bedrift med et helt unikt ko…

1
Hotels’ Performance, Priceline’s New AI and Klook's Evolution 3:07

4d ago3:07

3:07

Episode Notes The global hotel industry has seen some markets thrive this year while some others have struggled, reports Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill. A recent report by CBRE Hotels Research revealed U.S. revenue per available room would grow roughly 1% for the full year. That’s close to a 2 percentage point drop from its forecast in Febr…

1
Discover the Secrets of Anasa Wellness Resort in Sri Lanka 6:26

2d ago6:26

6:26

Rikaz Jaffree, operations manager at Anasa Wellness Resort in Ella, Sri Lanka, sits down with Jennifer Lutz of Insider Travel Report to share what makes Anasa a top-tier luxury retreat, including a luxe gym with personal trainers, a yoga studio, an organic farm and a full range of wellness treatments — all set in acres of untouched nature. For more…

1
Moxy Turns 10, Amtrak’s New Campaign and Tourism Traffic in Croatia 3:33

5d ago3:33

3:33

Moxy Hotels, Marriott’s first brand aimed at travelers in their 20s, is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill takes a look at how Moxy has looked to stay relevant in the marketplace throughout the years. O’Neill notes that Moxy doesn’t subscribe to the commonly held premise in the hotel industry that th…

1
How Malta Is Now Even More Connected to the U.S. 12:05

3d ago12:05

12:05

Carlo Micallef, CEO of Malta Tourism Authority, and Noel Zammit, CEO of Heritage Malta, talk with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about Malta's efforts to attract more tourism, particularly from North America. Malta plans to strengthen U.S. ties, improve travel connections and secure more direct flights. It even will focus on culinary connection…

1
Why Dubai Should Be on Your Client’s Bucket-List 5:57

6d ago5:57

5:57

Issam Kazim, CEO of Visit Dubai, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about his destination’s unique combination of luxury, adventure and culture. Easily accessible from the U.S., and visa-free for Americans, Dubai keeps expanding direct flight connections. Kazim highlights the city’s world-class hotels and 106 Michelin-listed restaurants.…

1
Carnival’s Alaska Boom, Travel Startup Funding, and Singapore vs. Hong Kong 3:37

6d ago3:37

3:37

Episode Notes Carnival Corp. said demand for travel to Alaska is “off the charts,” writes Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam. Carnival CEO Josh Weinstein said Alaska has emerged as one of the cruise line’s top destinations in 2024, especially for first-time cruisegoers. Weinstein’s comments came as residents in the state capital Juneau are v…

1
How a Travel Tech Founder Continues on the Cutting Edge 23:11

4d ago23:11

23:11

Lee Rosen, founder and president of Tres Technologies, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the evolution of his company, which developed the TRAMS back office and ClientBase CRM products. Rosen sold it to Sabre in 2006, but then bought it back in 2021. The company continues to provide vital back office and CRM systems to tra…

1
Why Fiji is an Island Destination Advisors Should be Selling Now 11:26

4d ago11:26

11:26

Brent Hill, CEO of Tourism Fiji, speaks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about Fiji’s record-breaking tourism numbers in 2023, emphasizing the goal of reaching one million visitors this year with the support of new direct flights from Fiji Airways, including a Dallas route. Hill also highlights Fiji’s appeal to adventure travelers, its susta…

1
Where Luxury Travel Stands at ILTM North America 9:25

5d ago9:25

9:25

Simon Mayle, event director for ILTM North America, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about last week’s annual conference, which for the second time in two years was held in the Bahamas at the Baha Mar resort. Mayle tells us who attended on the travel advisors and travel supplier front and how they interacted. Even more importan…

1
How AI and NDC Are Shaping the Future of Air Travel 13:11

8d ago13:11

13:11

Peter Vlitas, executive vice president of partner relations for Internova, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about airline industry trends, including challenges with NDC (New Distribution Capability), airline pricing, and AI in travel services. Vlitas highlights the importance of travel advisors in adapting to NDC, how airlines like Del…

1
Hotels and AI, Mallorca's Visitor Boom and Southwest's Optimism 3:06

11d ago3:06

3:06

Episode Notes Hotel companies are trying to figure out how artificial intelligence will impact their businesses. Leaders in the industry aren’t quite sure yet, reports Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill, who attended the Destination AI summit in Washington, D.C. Jess Petitt, an executive at Hilton, said the number of hotel bookings made using g…

1
El Al Comes Out on Top 27:31

10d ago27:31

27:31

Presented by American Airlines In this week's episode, Gordon Smith and Jay Shabat discuss the final results from Airline Weekly's Earnings Scoreboard for Q2 2024. From household names to niche regional players, we examine the carriers that had the strongest performance in the all-important second quarter. Connect with Skift Airline Weekly LinkedIn…

1
Explore Internova’s Luxury Hotel Programs 9:20

9d ago9:20

9:20

Dennis Grunden, vice president of luxury hotel programs at Internova, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about Internova's hotel products. These include the Internova Select collection of four- and five-star luxury properties, the Internova Curated collection of small luxury lifestyle and design-focused properties, and the Internova Worl…

1
How ADX Serves as the Technology Backbone Behind Ensemble 13:59

9d ago13:59

13:59

Dave Volman, senior vice president-technology for ADX and TripArc, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at Ensemble Horizons in Las Vegas earlier this month, about how the revolutionary ADX platform services as tech underpinning for Ensemble advisors. Using ADX, they can book air, hotel, insurance and more. Voleman says ADX is maki…

1
Daniel Hostettler Completes His Masterpiece at The Boca Raton 13:44

9d ago13:44

13:44

Daniel Hostettler, president of The Boca Raton, is on the verge of finishing the renovation of The Boco Raton, the iconic Florida luxury resort, by finishing the Beach Club, one of five hotels that make up this lavish resort complex. James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report talks with Hostettler about the renovation, the restaurants and the facil…

1
Big Impact Conversations from Skift Global Forum 2024 36:09

11d ago36:09

36:09

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 …

1
Meta's AI-Powered Update, Choice vs. Wyndham and Travel's New Initiative 3:13

13d ago3:13

3:13

Episode Notes Skift is taking another big step to shape the future of travel. We’ve launched Skift Elevate, an initiative that aims to empower underrepresented voices in the industry. Skift President Carolyn Kremins calls Elevate a movement to drive meaningful, collective action across the travel industry. Its inaugural event took place at the rece…

1
How Ensemble Supports Partners and Advisors with New Preferred Programs 6:34

10d ago6:34

6:34

Beth Butzlaff, senior vice president-global partner relations for Ensemble, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at this month’s Ensemble Horizon conference in Las Vegas about the consortium’s many programs for preferred partners, many of which she helped develop in the year she’s been with Ensemble. These include a major new progr…

1
How ALG Vacations Helps Travel Advisors Master Social Media and European Destinations 7:24

10d ago7:24

7:24

Kimberlin Arnold, an independent travel advisor with Peacock Travel Group, a member of Frosch Travel, speaks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about her experience on an ALG Vacation trip to Spain and Portugal. Social media plays a crucial role in her business, and the trip allowed her to improve her content creation for her primary romance a…

1
Episode 288- Med Basen i Paris ❤️ 34:58

11d ago34:58

34:58

Ukas gjest er Michael Bui, som er freelands frisør og stylist, og jobber over hele verden. Basen hans er Paris når han ikke farter rundt på moteshow, fashion week, fotoshoots og lever ut frisør drømmen. Michael har en spennende historie å fortelle, og er veldig inspirerende. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

1
Ship-Free Saturdays, Southwest's Special Meeting and Etihad's New Routes 3:02

12d ago3:02

3:02

Episode Notes Residents of Juneau, Alaska, are set to vote next Tuesday on a measure that would ban large cruise ships from docking in the city on Saturdays and July 4, writes Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam. The ban would apply to any large cruise ship with more than 250 passengers. The measure requires a simple majority to pass. Karla H…

1
How Ensemble Finds New Ways to Market Travel Today 9:33

11d ago9:33

9:33

Shayla Lalani, vice president of marketing for Ensemble, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last week’s Ensemble Horizons conference in Las Vegas about all the ways Ensemble helps its member agencies market travel day. Lalani reveals the innovative ways that Ensemble uses to sell more travel. For more information, visit www.jo…

1
How ALG Vacations Makes Multi-Stop Travel in Europe Seamless 5:32

11d ago5:32

5:32

Michele Duquaine, a Dream Vacations travel advisor with her own agency, speaks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about the growing demand among her clients for European travel. Duquaine describes a recent nine-day journey through Spain and Portugal, and emphasizes how ALG Vacations and its VAX booking system make multi-stop experiences seamle…

1
Expedia CEO at Skift Global Forum 2024 33:17

13d ago33:17

33:17

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 Facebo…

1
Recession-Resistant Travelers, Hotel Worker Discontent and Air-Traffic Controllers 3:29

13d ago3:29

3:29

Episode Notes Concerns have grown in recent weeks about how a potential recession could impact travel. But while the travel industry isn’t recession-proof, it could be recession-resistant, reports Senior Research Analyst Pranavi Agarwal. There are signs of weakness. The Skift Travel 200 Stock Index is up only 3% since the start of the year, and tra…

1
How Ensemble Is Launching New Programs for a Boutique Agency Group 10:12

15d ago10:12

10:12

Kristina Boyce, senior vice president-operations for Ensemble, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last week’s Ensemble Horizons in Las Vegas about how the consortium is working to develop a revolutionary agency group with new programs, technology and services. Ensemble is seeking to grow but also wants to remain a more intimat…

1
How Global Travel Collection Supports Independent Advisors for Business Growth 11:45

11d ago11:45

11:45

Angie Licea, president of Global Travel Collection (GTC), talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about how GTC supports independent travel advisors by helping them manage their businesses and achieve their goals. Licea highlights GTV partnerships, including AI-driven tech collaborations and a new travel-related TV show for NBC. For more info…

1
How the New Explora II Redefines Boutique Luxury Cruising 24:23

15d ago24:23

24:23

Chris Austin, president-North America for Explora Journeys, talks with Michaela Guzy about the vision behind Explorer Journeys' second ship, Explora II. Like its sister ship Explora I, Explora II delivers a boutique hotel-like experiences at sea. With plans to expand to six ships by 2028, Explora puts its focus on space, choice and exceptional dini…

1
How Ensemble Is on Track to Creating a New Kind of Agency Group 10:54

16d ago10:54

10:54

Michael Johnson, president of Ensemble, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report at last week’s Ensemble Horizon’s in Las Vegas about what progress the consortium has made over the past year, what programs it offers to members, and what’s to come. Johnson says Ensemble is on its way to creating a new kind of agency group for travel adv…

1
How the New Explora II Redefines Boutique Luxury Cruising 24:40

16d ago24:40

24:40

Chris Austin, president-North America for Explora Journeys, talks with Michaela Guzy about the vision behind Explorer Journeys' second ship, Explora II. Like its sister ship Explora I, Explora II delivers a boutique hotel-like experiences at sea. With plans to expand to six ships by 2028, Explora puts its focus on space, choice and exceptional dini…

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