On this sponsored episode of the Skift podcast, we're diving into the Skift Megatrend: Travel Brands Want To Become Experience Platforms. We’re taking a look at how travel brands are expanding beyond what they’re known for doing in travel into new segments of travelers’ experiences. Leading the discussion is Jeremy Kressman, SkiftX research editor and Deanna Ting, Skift hospitality editor. Our guest is John Greenleaf, global head of Hilton Garden Inn.

There is a tech arms race underway in the vacation rental market. As this space enters a new phase of growth and scale, the need for tech solutions is real, but not every company will succeed. Understand the vacation rental tech stack, its major players, and our outlook on where it’s all headed in this Analyst Session. This Analyst Session discusses the state of technology in the vacation rental market and provides useful insights for property managers and owners, technologists and investors alike. It serves as a supplement to our Skift Research Report, Decoding the Modern Vacation Rental Technology Landscape. We review the current state of the market, take a deep dive into the tech stack and segment the different types of end-customers. Lastly, we discuss our outlook for consolidation, professionalization, and convergence with hotel tech. What You'll Learn From This Podcast Why technology is so important to the vacation rental space How software can help vacation rental operators drive sales Which tech solutions are creating operational efficiencies Who the three major types of vacation rental managers are and why their needs differ Why some tech solutions could consolidate while others will to remain independent Why we believe there could be a convergence between vacation rental and hotel technology Get more travel insights with Skift Research. Subscription information at research.skift.com

This episode of the Skift podcast goes all in on Airbnb and the competitive threat it poses to traditional hotel companies and booking sites. Leading the discussion is Skift Hospitality Editor Deanna Ting, joined by Executive Editor Dennis Schaal and Skift Research Senior Analyst Rebecca Stone.

Hotel owners have their hands full with choosing the appropriate operating model, ensuring their properties are being run efficiently and effectively, and remaining innovative and thoughtful. Doing all of this in an increasingly complex environment can be challenging. Some will need the major brand chains' help, some won't. This Analyst Session discusses operating and branding strategies for hotel owners in today's environment. It serves as a supplement to our Skift Research Report, A Deep Dive Into Operating & Branding Strategies for Hotel Owners. We review different ownership operating models and the pros and cons of each, the benefits of brand affiliation versus non-affiliation, and our proprietary Brand Matrix which ranks the seven major brand chains according to 13 key quantitative metrics. We also provide our expectations for distribution costs, management contract terms, soft brands, non-branded operators, and independent hotels. What You'll Learn From This Podcast The advantages and disadvantages of different ownership operating models Key considerations when entering into management and franchise agreements An overview of the hotel industry in terms of branded versus non-branded and managed versus franchised versus owned properties Why the large brands have increasingly shifted to asset light The benefits of brand affiliation How consolidation has negatively impacted hotel owners Examples of when to remain independent versus affiliate with a brand An overview of Skift Research’s proprietary Brand Matrix ranking seven major brand chains Skift Research’s expectations for distribution costs, management contract terms, soft brands, non-branded operators, and independents Get more travel insights with Skift Research. Subscription information at research.skift.com

This was a record year of funding for travel startups. It's exciting for travel to be in the spotlight, but it also means that founders and their VC backers see a field full of market openings, oftentimes at the expense of established incumbents. Travel leaders need to keep tabs on what is driving the latest opportunities. This Analyst Session discusses the state of venture capital investing in the global travel market and provides useful insights for founders, investors, and incumbents alike. It serves as a supplement to our Skift Research Report, Venture Investment Trends and Startup Opportunities in Travel 2018. We review market sizing, active investors, and funding trends. We also try to separate fact from fiction in emerging technologies, such as blockchain. Lastly, we cover growing businesses in emerging economies and rising verticals. What You'll Learn From This Podcast The size of the travel startup financing market Trends in corporate venture capital investments and partnerships Challenges facing founders of early stage startups A look at travel startup 'unicorns' and their year of change Growth in emerging markets, such as China and India Separating hype from reality in emerging technologies Trends in verticals, including tours and activities Get more travel insights with Skift Research. Subscription information at research.skift.com

On this episode of the Skift podcast, we explore the biggest trends that will define travel in 2018, with audio from one of our annual Megatrends events. Skift experts discuss topics including the way travel brands are turning into experience platforms, how travel companies and destinations are responding to nationalist rhetoric, the return of European travelers to disrupted destinations, and the way restaurants are battling the delivery boom.

There is room for optimism heading into 2018 for the global travel industry with numerous indicators pointing to a solid year of macroeconomic growth. In this Analyst Session we discuss our expectations for the global travel market, as a supplement to our Skift Research Report, Room for Optimism: 2018 Global Travel Market Outlook. We review some key economic data points that are top of mind for Skift Research as we head into 2018, provide market sizing data for the travel and tourism industry today, detail global growth and travel industry expectations, and discuss U.S. and global economic policy uncertainty as well as risks to our economic outlook. What You'll Learn From This Podcast Global economic growth forecasts Sales and earnings growth expectations for the hotel, airline, and cruise industries U.S. consumer and corporate economic expectations International economic trends for key regions and countries A discussion of U.S. and global policy uncertainty Key items of focus that could positively and negatively impact economic growth in 2018 Get more travel insights with Skift Research. Subscription information at research.skift.com

On this episode of the Skift podcast, we're tackling the issue of overtourism with some ideas for addressing the problem. Our guest is Megan Epler Wood, director of the International Sustainable Tourism Initiative at the Harvard School of Public Health. Her latest book, Sustainable Tourism on a Finite Planet, was released earlier this year. She spoke with Skift tourism experts Andrew Sheivachman and Dan Peltier and news editor Hannah Sampson.

With more hotel booking options becoming available to travelers, hotel brands must consider their distribution approach and direct booking strategies. This Analyst Session discusses hotel distribution, with a particular focus on direct booking. As a supplement to our Skift Research Report of the same name, we discuss results from our Hotel Direct Booking Survey, which collected responses from 370 hotels around the world. Hotel distribution strategies are discussed, along with specific case studies of hotel companies. What You'll Learn From This Podcast Comparison of direct and non-direct channels Overview of commission rates and costs Case studies of hotel company distribution and direct-booking campaigns Get more travel insights with Skift Research. Subscription information at research.skift.com

As China's travel market continues to grow and Chinese travelers are increasingly booking online, Ctrip and the country's travel industry are poised for high growth. This Analyst Session offers a recap of Skift Research's report, A Deep Dive Into Ctrip and the China Online Travel Market 2017, and supplementary discussion. In the Session, we provide an overview of the Chinese travel market and insight regarding the size of this opportunity area. We discuss the particular consumer travel trends and preferences of Chinese travelers. We also provide a breakdown of major travel companies' roles in the Chinese market, and a deeper look at Ctrip from a financial and competitive perspective.   Also, take a look at our accompanying Data Sheet on Ctrip and the China Online Travel Market. What You'll Learn From This Podcast Overview of the Chinese travel market Unique consumer travel trends and preferences Roles of major Chinese and non-Chinese companies in the travel industry Deepdive into Ctrip Get more travel insights with Skift Research. Subscription information at research.skift.com