Good Morning Hospitality

On this episode of GMH Hotels, Sarah Dandashy is joined by guest-host Katie Cline to unpack a pivotal week in travel and hospitality. Spirit Airlines prepares to furlough 1,800 flight attendants, raising questions about service, labor relations, and the ripple effects across the travel sector. Agoda faces growing backlash over its job cuts and controversial employee clauses, highlighting tensions between cost control and workplace trust. IHG Hotels & Resorts introduces Ruby Hotels to the U.S. market with a focus on compact urban properties, a move that could reshape competition in city centers. The conversation also examines Booking Holdings (NASDAQ: BKNG) AI strategy and investor unease, drawing comparisons to the dot-com era, alongside Expedia Group’s acknowledgement of sluggish U.S. demand. Together, these stories reveal the pressures and opportunities that are shaping the next chapter for hotels and the broader travel industry. Follow the Hosts: Katie Cline – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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.

Michael Goldin, Jamie Lane, and Wil Slickers unpack the biggest takeaways from Skift Global Forum and Vrbo’s Connect conference while Brandreth Canaley is away preparing for her move to Boston. Jamie shares his perspective as a speaker at Vrbo’s event, where Expedia Group announced major distribution expansion, stricter listing standards, and new host tools. The conversation also touches on Airbnb’s tech overhaul and how these shifts are shaping competition, guest expectations, and host opportunities. Next week, Tim Rosolio, VP of Vacation Rental Partner Success, joins the show for a deeper dive into the changes happening at Vrbo.This episode is brought to you by Guesty!

Join Sarah Dandashy and Katie Cline as they discuss what's happening at Skift Global Forum and the greater travel industry! Please forgive any audio issues, as we had some wifi signal issues during this broadcast. Follow the Hosts: Katie Cline – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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.

On today’s episode of Good Morning Hospitality, Michael Goldin, Brandreth Canaley, and Jamie Lane recap the big themes from GuestyVal, from oversupply pressures and the call for greater standardization to whether unreasonable hospitality at scale is truly achievable (we believe it is). In the second half of the show, Jamie takes us through the two-year anniversary of New York’s short-term rental ban and the lessons it continues to offer. We also revisit our earlier discussion on Bad Bunny’s San Juan residency, this time with data on its tourism impact and a look at whether other cities could sustain a similar cultural draw. And don’t forget, Skift Global Forum kicks off tomorrow in New York and runs through September 18th. If you’re not attending in person, you can still catch the livestream with a Skift Pro subscription at Skift.com. 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.

This week on GMH Hotels, Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk break down the latest shifts shaping travel. U.S. visa rules are tightening, creating longer waits and higher costs for applicants. YOTEL names a new CEO from Marriott International as it eyes bold growth. Accor makes a high-stakes entry into Las Vegas with Treasure Island Hotel & Casino, potentially its largest property worldwide. JetBlue rolls out a new platform to cut emissions and boost fuel efficiency. And OTAs ramp up marketing spend to $5 billion in Q2, betting big on social media and AI. From regulations and leadership changes to sustainability moves and digital strategy, we unpack how these forces are reshaping travel’s future! 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.

On this week’s Good Morning Hospitality, Michael Goldin and Brandreth Canaley dive into three stories reshaping the hospitality landscape. Oman’s $7 million investment in UnderTheDoormat Group highlights how government support is fueling the growth of alternative accommodations. The team then unpacks the cautionary tales of Selina and Sonder Inc., two once-hyped disruptors whose struggles show the dangers of chasing scale without sustainable fundamentals. This topic is based on a great article and video by Rafat Ali, which was published not too long ago. Finally, Michael and Brandy discuss the trend of hotels and Airbnb turning their focus toward locals — whether through day-use packages, work-from-hotel offers, or community-focused stays — and what this shift means for the industry’s future. 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.

On GMH Hotels this week, Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk start with Copenhagen’s CopenPay program that rewards visitors for traveling sustainably and is quickly becoming a model for more than 100 other cities worldwide. They then turn to a new J.D. Power report showing declining guest satisfaction at third-party managed hotels, with frustrations growing over food quality, cleanliness, and upkeep. In the luxury space, India-based TBO.COM Tek is acquiring Classic Vacations in a $125 million deal that combines tech-driven distribution with the reach of U.S. luxury travel advisors. Finally, new U.S. visa rules requiring most applicants to attend in-person interviews are set to impact students, business travelers, and international visitors as processing times lengthen. 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.

On this Labor Day episode of GMH STR Crew, Jamie Lane and Michael Goldin break down Airbnb’s major shift requiring PMS-connected hosts to adopt the host-only fee structure, explaining what it means for professional managers and individual hosts. They unpack how Airbnb’s “total price” display strategy impacts conversion, why this aligns with its push into hotels, and what changes hosts need to make now to avoid losing revenue. The crew also dives into TikTok’s new partnership with Booking.com, exploring how social platforms are becoming powerful travel booking engines and why influencers may be the next generation of travel agents. 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.

This week on GMH Hotels, Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk unpack some of the biggest moves in travel and hospitality. Hyatt expands its loyalty program into lifestyle perks, while Hilton reimagines its 106-year-old flagship brand for a new generation of guests. In Las Vegas, a closed Strip hotel is auctioning off iconic memorabilia, raising questions about preservation and reinvention in hospitality. The crew also covers Ryanair’s return to major OTAs, Hertz’s furry new “Gold Squad” delighting airport travelers, and the controversy swirling around Southwest Airlines’s new plus-size seating policy. With industry shake-ups across airlines, hotels, and guest experiences, this episode takes a closer look at where loyalty, design, and customer connection are heading next. 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.

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.