The Skift Podcast

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 sector is rapidly expanding, with Space Perspective being part of a larger movement toward space accessibility. Developments such as private space stations, lower launch costs, and increased commercial interest suggest a thriving space economy that could soon become mainstream. Space Tourism through Balloons: Space Perspective, founded by Jane Poynter and Taber MacCallum, is pioneering a unique form of space tourism using high-altitude balloons instead of rockets. This method provides a smooth, slow ascent to the edge of space, offering passengers an experience akin to a luxurious space lounge. Accessibility and Affordabi

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 like first class, business class, and premium economy. Western airlines are quietly reducing their presence in China due to geopolitical and economic pressures, without fully exiting the market. The restriction on using Russian airspace increases operational costs for European airlines flying to China. Summary Airlines are increasingly investing in premium cabins, including first class, business class, and premium economy, to enhance their brand positioning and appeal to high-margin passengers. This move reflects a commitment to long-term enhancements despite the high costs and operational challenges involved. Me

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.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry

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. Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ X: https://twitter.com/skift Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry

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.linkedin.com/company/skift/ X: https://twitter.com/skift Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry

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 2024 on the official Skift Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SkiftNews Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ X: https://twitter.com/skift Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry

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: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry

Who’s the first phone call when a power player wants to make something big happen in the travel industry? Who moves markets and shapes trends with a single sound bite? Skift attempted to answer these questions and more in our first ever Skift Power Rankings. Seth and Sarah are joined by Airlines Editor Gordon Smith and Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O'Neill to discuss the methodology behind the rankings, who might make the list in the near future, and what power means to them. See the full Skift Power Rankings for 2024 here: https://skift.com/skift-power-rankings Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ X: https://twitter.com/skift Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry

Skift Global Forum returns to New York on September 17-19, featuring top travel industry leaders in exclusive interview sessions and talks. Skift's executive editor, Dennis Schaal, joins Seth and Sarah to preview the forum's themes and speakers. To purchase tickets or learn more about the agenda and speakers, visit https://www.live.skift.com. Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ X: https://twitter.com/skift Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Our coverage of the Skift State of Travel Report 2024 continues as Seth and Sarah are joined by Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi and Research Analyst Ashab Rizvi to discuss the report's insights about the aviation sector. Read the full report for FREE today at https://skift.com/insight/state-of-travel Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ X: https://twitter.com/skift Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

With the Skift State of Travel Report 2024 recently published, Seth and Sarah welcome back Senior Research Analyst Pranavi Agarwal and Senior Hospitality editor Sean O'Neill to discuss the report's insights about the hotel and online travel sectors. Read the full report for FREE today at https://skift.com/insight/state-of-travel Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ X: https://twitter.com/skift Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Erik Blachford has been the CEO of companies large and small (Expedia, Terrapass, Butterfield & Robinson) and serves or has served on numerous boards (Zillow, Peloton Interactive, Glassdoor, etc). He joins Seth and Sarah to answer their questions about what exactly a CEO does, and the qualities that make someone a good candidate for the job. Looking for the perfect candidate to fill a leadership opening? Skift Executive Search can help. To learn more, visit https://www.skift.com/exec-search, or email us at ExecSearch@skift.com. Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ X: https://twitter.com/skift Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Sarah and Seth are joined by Skift Managing Editor Lex Harris to discuss the recent market sell off and how it specifically impacts the travel sector. See how the industry is faring right now by checking out the Skift Travel 200, the first ever index that tracks the performance of the world's top publicly traded travel companies: https://data.skift.com/skift-travel-200/ Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ X: https://twitter.com/skift Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Seth and Sarah are joined by Greg Klassen, a Senior Director at Skift Advisory and former President and CEO of Destination Canada, to discuss what host cities stand to benefit and lose from hosting large sporting events such as the Paris Olympic Games. Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ X: https://twitter.com/skift Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Our series on the Paris Olympics continues as Seth and Sarah speak with Patrick Mendes, the CEO of Europe and North Africa for Accor—an official Olympic partner and the largest hotel group in Europe. Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ X: https://twitter.com/skift Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

In the wake of tourists in Barcelona being attacked with water guns by protesters upset over the consequences of perceived overtourism, Oliver Martin and Aleix Rodríguez Brunsoms of Skift Advisory and Skift global tourism reporter Dawit Habtemariam discuss the situation and what can be done to strike a balance between the benefits and pitfalls of being a highly touristed city. Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ X: https://twitter.com/skift Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

In the first installment of our series celebrating the upcoming Paris Olympics, Seth and Sarah speak with Ben Smith, the CEO of Air France KLM—an official partner of these games and one of the largest airlines in the world. Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ X: https://twitter.com/skift Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Seth is joined by senior research analyst Pranavi Agarwal and travel technology reporter Justin Dawes to discuss the current state of venture capital investment in the business of travel. Read the full research report "Venture Investment Trends in Travel 2024": https://research.skift.com/report/venture-investment-trends-in-travel-2024/ Read more travel news at https://skift.com

Presented by Brand USA In this episode of the Skift Travel podcast our hosts are joined by Jamie Lane, Chief Economist at AirDNA, to discuss the short-term rental industry’s outlook for Independence Day weekend. Lane notes that this year’s long weekend has boosted travel compared to last year, with bookings up 15% year-over-year due to last-minute planning. The discussion reveals that popular destinations include coastal and lake areas such as Orlando, Myrtle Beach, and the Outer Banks, with a notable absence of urban locations. Lane explains that traditional vacation spots are performing well, while cities like New York have seen declines due to regulatory changes and reduced international travel, particularly from Asia. He also highlights the rise of mid-sized cities like Chattanooga and Lubbock as emerging markets for short-term rentals. They also look at the impact of interest rates and hotel development in these growing areas, with Lane suggesting that high interest rates and cautious lenders have shifte

Presented by Brand USA Wealthy travelers aren’t just looking to lie on a beach during their vacations. The super rich are increasingly eager to shell out big bucks for experiences that may shock themselves — and leave others envious. Editor-in-Chief Sarah Kopit and Head of Research Seth Borko discussed the latest trends with Colin Nagy, a marketing strategist who writes a regular column for Skift. Read more travel news at https://skift.com