Rafat Ali

Rafat Ali, founder of Skift, has transformed his company into 'the Bloomberg of travel,' raking in $25 million in revenue. He shares insights on the power of hyper-targeted B2B media and how to build a successful audience through innovative strategies like newsletters and events. Rafat discusses the unique monetization opportunities for vertical media compared to consumer outlets and emphasizes the role of storytelling and talent in media storytelling. He also touches on advice for budding founders in the evolving media landscape.

Join Hans von Spakovsky, an election integrity expert from the Heritage Foundation, as he discusses the pressing issues surrounding election security and fraud in the U.S., especially leading up to the 2024 elections. He explores the implications of documented fraud cases and calls for better technological solutions for secure voting. Meanwhile, Rafat Ali, CEO of Skift, dives into the travel industry's developments and discusses potential shifts like Uber’s interest in integrating with major travel services, revealing the dynamics of this competitive market.

Rafat Ali joins Alex, Brian, and Troy to discuss the future of technology and its impact on work, personal life, and media consumption. They explore Apple Vision Pro's potential to revolutionize digital content interaction and its implications for traditional media and AI in content creation. They also touch on the rise of VR devices, changes in the media landscape, consumption of media content, OpenAI's news aggregation approach, the future of long-form content, and opinions on Ressie and American Express.

Hans von Spakovsky, a fellow at the Heritage Foundation specializing in election integrity, discusses the growing concerns around election security and documented fraud cases. He emphasizes the need for improved technology in elections and the importance of maintaining public trust. Meanwhile, Rafat Ali, CEO of Skift, shares insights into the travel industry, addressing rumors about major players like Uber and Expedia. The conversation also touches on customer acquisition and the evolving dynamics of loyalty programs in travel, revealing intriguing industry trends.

Rafat Ali, known for choosing the slow growth path, discusses eschewing VC funding for sustainable growth and practical AI use at Skift. From tech expert to premium B2B travel site founder, he shares insights on revenue diversification and avoiding media industry pitfalls.