Good Morning Hospitality

This week on Good Morning Hospitality, Michael Goldin, Brandreth Canaley and Jamie Lane dive into the latest shifts shaping short-term rentals and travel. Vrbo’s new guest cancellation policy aims to increase flexibility and bookings but raises concerns from hosts about risk and revenue stability. Tripadvisor faces investor pressure to spin off Viator, signaling how tours and experiences are becoming central to the travel ecosystem. Meanwhile, Casago doubles down on its franchise model, taking over hundreds of former Vacasa properties to push a localized, service-driven approach. Join us as we break down what these moves mean for hosts, managers, and the future of the STR industry. This episode is brought to you by ⁠Guesty⁠! Follow the Hosts: Brandy Canaley – ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jamie Lane – ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ Michael Goldin – ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Skift: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ WhatsApp: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/skift⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to ⁠@SkiftNews⁠ and never miss an update from the travel industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week’s episode, Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk unpack Soho House & Co’s $2.7B move to go private and what it means for the future of luxury lifestyle clubs, plus the risks of influencers relying on ChatGPT for visa advice after one viral travel mishap. They also explore TikTok’s push into travel commerce with its new affiliate program for hotels, raising questions about whether social content can truly drive bookings. On the travel side, Spirit Airlines’ uncertain future looms large as experts warn its collapse could send fares soaring, while Google Flights adds AI-powered “Flight Deals” that may challenge OTAs, and AAA forecasts record Labor Day travel across air, road, and rail. Follow the Hosts: Steve Turk – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sarah Dandashy –⁠ ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Skift: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ WhatsApp: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/skift⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to ⁠@SkiftNews⁠ and never miss an update from the travel industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This Monday, the GMH Short-Term Rental Crew, with Michael Goldin, Brandreth Canaley, and Jamie Lane dive into the latest moves shaping the STR and travel landscape. Airbnb rolls out its new “Reserve Now, Pay Later” option, signaling a shift toward more flexible booking terms that could boost conversions for longer stays. BNPL trends are expanding across airlines, hotels, and cruises, raising questions about guest spending habits and potential adoption in vacation rentals. Expedia Group makes a strategic design hire with Rachel Been as SVP, underscoring the power of user experience in driving loyalty. Sonder faces a leadership shake-up with the departure of CFO Michael Hughes, while Vrbo’s WeatherPromise program offers automatic payouts for rain-affected stays—no claims required—hinting at new ways to protect and reassure travelers. The hosts unpack what these changes mean for operators, platforms, and guests, and explore how innovation, design, and traveler trust are becoming critical in the competition for bookings. This episode is brought to you by Guesty! Follow the Hosts: Brandy Canaley – ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ Jamie Lane – ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ Michael Goldin – ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ Connect with Skift: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ WhatsApp: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/skift⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to ⁠@SkiftNews⁠ and never miss an update from the travel industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Good Morning Hospitality, Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk dive into the latest trends shaping hotels and travel. They explore how a luxury property running entirely on renewable energy could set a new standard for eco-conscious hospitality, Hyatt’s sharpened focus on luxury and asset-light growth, and the mounting challenges — and creative fixes — for declining hotel loyalty program value. On the travel side, the hosts look at Seabourn Cruise Line’s launch of high-end Arctic and Antarctic expedition cruises and practical strategies for passengers to secure extra space on flights without paying full business class prices. From sustainability to loyalty innovation to premium experiences, this episode covers the moves shaping the industry’s next chapter. Follow the Hosts: Steve Turk – ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sarah Dandashy –⁠ ⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Skift: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ WhatsApp: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/skift⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to ⁠@SkiftNews⁠ and never miss an update from the travel industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re diving into a busy week across the OTA landscape. Booking.com just launched its first U.S. credit card in partnership with Visa and Imprint, and we unpack what this means for direct bookings, loyalty, and whether it can really compete with the big travel cards already in your wallet. We also break down Expedia Group’s Q2 earnings, where strong B2B ad performance and international travel lifted their guidance, but Vrbo’s continued silence raises some questions. Then we shift to Airbnb’s latest financials since rolling out their new services bundle — early check-in, luggage storage, and more — and talk through what kind of platform Airbnb is becoming. Plus, we share our predictions on who Airbnb might acquire next and why as they gear up to deploy their warchest of cash. This episode is brought to you by Guesty! You can join us at GuestyVal in Mexico City by getting your ticket here: https://lnkd.in/gWnfp-Re Follow the Hosts: Wil Slickers – ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ Brandy Canaley – ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ Jamie Lane – ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ Michael Goldin – ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠ Connect with Skift: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ WhatsApp: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/skift⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to ⁠@SkiftNews⁠ and never miss an update from the travel industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Good Morning Hospitality Hotels, Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk break down Marriott Hotels’s flat Q2 performance and a dip in U.S. hotel occupancy, plus they spotlight new inclusive hiring initiatives where hotels are employing individuals with intellectual disabilities. On the travel side, they unpack TSA’s potential rollback of the 3.4-ounce liquid rule, Delta Air Lines’s refusal to use AI for customer targeting, and a controversial U.S. visa bond proposal. Tune in for this insightful episode exploring how the hospitality industry is evolving operationally, socially, and technologically. Follow the Hosts: Steve Turk – ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ Sarah Dandashy –⁠ LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Skift: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/⁠⁠⁠⁠ WhatsApp: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠ X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/skift⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to ⁠@SkiftNews⁠ and never miss an update from the travel industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of GMH EU, Leo and Sarah cover Airbnb's latest ad campaigns, Booking.com's Q2 earnings report, and an exclusive interview with Andrea Degli Innocenti from Spacest about their recent acquisition of TheHomeLike. The discussion includes insights on regulatory challenges in the rental market, market trends, and future opportunities. Follow the Hosts: Leo Walton – ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ Sarah Nan Dupre – LinkedIn⁠⁠ Connect with Skift: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/⁠⁠⁠ WhatsApp: ⁠⁠⁠https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/skiftnews⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/⁠⁠⁠ Threads: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews⁠⁠⁠ Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠ X: ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/skift⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to ⁠@SkiftNews⁠ and never miss an update from the travel industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brandreth Canaley, Wil Slickers, and Jamie Lane break down key developments across the travel and short-term rental landscape. They cover Booking Holdings (NASDAQ: BKNG) Q2 results, including strong growth in Europe and Asia, a softer U.S. market, and how loyalty and direct booking strategies are evolving. The episode also unpacks new insights from AirDNA’s latest outlook report, an acquisition at MadeComfy in Australia, and what recent economic signals really mean for operators without getting lost in headlines or politics. This episode is brought to you by Guesty. Follow the Hosts: Wil Slickers – ⁠LinkedIn⁠ Brandy Canaley – ⁠LinkedIn⁠ Jamie Lane – ⁠LinkedIn⁠ Michael Goldin – ⁠LinkedIn⁠ Connect with Skift: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/⁠⁠ WhatsApp: ⁠⁠https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠https://facebook.com/skiftnews⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/⁠⁠ Threads: ⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews⁠⁠ Bluesky: ⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social⁠⁠ X: ⁠⁠https://twitter.com/skift⁠⁠ Subscribe to ⁠@SkiftNews⁠ and never miss an update from the travel industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Good Morning Hospitality, we’re sharing some big news: we’ve officially joined the Skift family! We talk about what this means for the show, how the opportunity came together, and why this move makes so much sense for the community we’ve built over the past five years. From back-of-napkin ideas to early-morning recordings and wild conference weeks, this journey has been nothing short of incredible — and we’re just getting started. We open up about the behind-the-scenes of the acquisition, what Wil will be doing as part of Skift, and most importantly, what won’t be changing: the vibe, the crew, and the conversations that matter most to this industry. Thanks for being on this ride with us — seriously. We wouldn’t be here without your support, and we can’t wait to show you what’s next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of GMH Hotels, Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk explore Hilton’s strategy to drive direct bookings from small business travelers, while Marriott Hotels finalizes its acquisition of citizenM hotels, expanding its lifestyle portfolio. The vanishing hotel minibar takes center stage as operators rethink in-room profit models. In travel, Tripadvisor reveals its top 2025 attractions, JetBlue doubles down on tech with its Travel Products platform, and Royal Caribbean Group plans a loyalty refresh to meet the demands of last-minute cruisers. Tune in for all the latest trends, headlines, and insights shaping the hospitality world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices