Good Morning Hospitality Home Swapping Heats Up, World Cup Costs & OTA AI Anxiety
On Monday's Good Morning Hospitality, a Skift Podcast, Michael Goldin, Brandreth Canaley, Jamie Lane, and Wil Slickers break down the latest headlines shaping short-term rentals and online travel — from new funding bets to investor jitters around AI.
They start with Kindred’s $125 million funding round, unpacking why investors are backing home swapping as a lower-cost, lower-friction alternative to traditional short-term rentals and hotels.
The conversation then turns to the FIFA World Cup 2026™ - Canada, Mexico and the United States, and how host cities are bracing for rising prices, tighter regulations, and growing scrutiny of Airbnb as mega-events collide with local housing markets.
The episode also checks in on OTA stocks, where analysts say recent sell-offs in Booking Holdings (NASDAQ: BKNG) and Expedia Group reflect AI anxiety more than weakening travel demand. Both Mizuho and Baird argue fundamentals remain strong, with OTAs likely to stay powerful distribution players even as AI reshapes search.
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