Good Morning Hospitality
Skift
The hospitality industry is constantly growing, changing, and innovating! This podcast will bring you the top news and topics from industry experts in different hospitality fields. Good Morning Hospitality publishes two thirty-minute weekly episodes, starting Monday and Wednesday at 7 a.m. PST / 10 a.m. EST. Presented by VRBO.
This podcast is a part of Skift. Go to Skift.com to hear and see more industry-leading content!
This podcast is a part of Skift. Go to Skift.com to hear and see more industry-leading content!
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jan 13, 2026 • 17min
GMH Special: Kayak Almost Went Private and No One Was Supposed to Know
In this GMH Special, Wil Slickers sits down with Skift Founding Editor Dennis Schaal to unpack one of the most surprising travel tech stories of the year: Kayak’s CEO quietly attempted to take the company private.
They walk through what actually happened, why the move was explored, and what it reveals about the pressure facing travel platforms in a world being reshaped by AI, Google, and shifting distribution economics.
The conversation explores how Kayak fits inside Booking Holdings, what a privatization attempt says about metasearch’s future, and why some of the biggest names in travel tech are questioning whether public markets still make sense.
For hotels, OTAs, and anyone watching how trips are discovered and booked, this episode breaks down what this story really signals about where power and profit are moving in travel.
Read the full article here: https://skift.com/2026/01/09/kayak-ceo-tried-to-take-the-company-private-scoop/
Connect with Skift:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews
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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.
Jan 12, 2026 • 35min
Credit Card Rewards vs Loyalty, Kayak Buyout Drama & Trump’s Home Rule
On this episode of Good Morning Hospitality, A Skift Podcast, Wil Slickers, Michael Goldin, Brandreth Canaley, and Jamie Lane dig into three stories shaping travel and lodging as 2026 gets underway.
They start with how credit card rewards are now rivaling traditional airline and hotel loyalty programs, reshaping how travelers earn, redeem, and choose where to stay.
The team discusses a major development in travel tech following reports that KAYAK’s CEO attempted to take the company private. Wil is going to host a short GMH special with Dennis Schaal to dive deeper into that story for anyone who wants the full backstory.
They close with a look at former President Trump’s proposal to ban large investors from buying homes and what that could mean for housing supply, short-term rentals, and the broader hospitality market.
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.
Jan 7, 2026 • 33min
GMH Hotels: 2026 Predictions: What’s Ahead for Hotels This Year
On January 7th, GMH Hotels returns with one of the show’s annual traditions 🔮Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk share their predictions for 2026, breaking down what they expect to shape the hotel industry in the year ahead.
From demand and pricing to labor, loyalty, technology, and guest experience, they lay out the trends they believe will matter most — and the assumptions worth questioning as the year unfolds.
This episode sets the foundation for the months ahead, giving hoteliers and industry leaders a clear view of what to watch, prepare for, and revisit as 2026 takes shape.
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.
Jan 5, 2026 • 34min
GMH: 2026 Predictions: What Comes Next for Hospitality? 🔮
Welcome back to Good Morning Hospitality, A Skift Podcast, and the first episode of 2026! Wil Slickers, Michael Goldin, Brandreth Canaley, and Jamie Lane kick off the year by sharing their predictions for what lies ahead across travel and hospitality.
From demand and pricing to distribution, technology, and guest behavior, the crew lays out the trends they believe will define 2026, along with the risks and opportunities operators should be watching closely.
This annual predictions episode sets the baseline for the year, giving listeners a roadmap of what to track, challenge, and revisit as the industry evolves.
Dec 17, 2025 • 41min
GMH Hotels: The Year Ends With Pressure, Power Shifts, and New Rules
On the final GMH Hotels episode of 2025, Sarah Dandashy is joined by Katie Cline to break down the forces closing out the year in hospitality and travel.
They explore the “ugly new math” pressuring hotel margins, a wave of airline CEO changes signaling deeper industry shifts, and how luxury travel is being redefined beyond passports and borders.
The episode also looks at New York City’s newly approved casino and Spain’s crackdown on unlicensed Airbnb listings.
A fitting year-end wrap as Good Morning Hospitality, A Skift Podcast returns January 5th, 2026.
This episode is brought to you by Amazon! To learn more, go to advertising.amazon.com
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.
Dec 15, 2025 • 39min
GMH: 2025 Predictions Revisited
On this episode of Good Morning Hospitality, Wil Slickers, Michael Goldin, Brandreth Canaley, and Jamie Lane revisit the predictions they made at the beginning of 2025 to see how the year actually played out.
With a full year of data, headlines, and hindsight behind them, the crew breaks down what they got right, where they missed the mark, and which trends caught them completely off guard.
From demand patterns and distribution shifts to tech, labor, and guest behavior, this annual GMH tradition offers an honest and entertaining look back at the assumptions that shaped the year, and the lessons worth carrying into what comes next.
This episode is brought to you by Amazon! To learn more, go to advertising.amazon.com
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.
Dec 10, 2025 • 33min
GMH Hotels: 2025 Predictions Review: What We Hit & Missed
On this episode of GMH Hotels, Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk bring back one of the show’s favorite traditions: the annual predictions review.
At the start of the year, they each made bold calls about the trends, challenges, and opportunities that would shape hotels and travel in 2025.
Now, with December here, they’re revisiting every forecast to see what actually happened, what completely surprised them, and what they never saw coming.
From loyalty and labor to tech, guest behavior, and industry performance, this episode is a fun, honest, and insightful look at how the year unfolded — and how well their early instincts held up.
Perfect way to close out 2025 and set the stage for what’s next!
Dec 8, 2025 • 39min
World Cup Update, Startup Slowdown & the Vanishing Middle-Class Hotel
On today’s Good Morning Hospitality, Wil Slickers, Jamie Lane, Brandreth Canaley, and Michael Goldin dig into the trends shaping the start of the week across travel and lodging. Jamie brings fresh World Cup host-city data with early demand and pricing signals, along with his top takeaways from the DARM conference.
The team then looks at the slowdown in travel startup funding and how tighter capital is influencing innovation, competition, and the types of companies most likely to break through in the months ahead. They close by unpacking a new article on how U.S. lodging has shifted away from serving the middle-class traveler.
This episode is brought to you by Amazon! To learn more, go to advertising.amazon.com
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.
Dec 3, 2025 • 36min
Expedia’s AI Game, TSA Fees, Loyalty Reinvented & Hotel Capital Moves
Expedia's new AI chief hints at a future where planning your trip could be smarter than ever. Travelers face a $45 TSA fee for not having proper ID, raising eyebrows and questions. Hotel loyalty programs are shaking things up, focusing on personalization and operational realities. Marriott takes a bold step into branded residences, competing directly with vacation rentals. The hosts share a wild story about a Thanksgiving chase onto a tarmac, reminding everyone that travel can sometimes be outrageous!
Dec 1, 2025 • 38min
Evolve’s Big Buy, Luxury Escapes & the Future of Vacation Rentals
On this episode of Good Morning Hospitality, A Skift Podcast, Wil Slickers, Jamie Lane, Brandreth Canaley, and Michael Goldin dive into some of the biggest moves in short-term rentals and travel.
First, they unpack the recent deal where Evolve acquired 1,000 owner contracts from Casago, a bold consolidation that could reshape supply and operator models.
Then they explore why Luxury Escapes is doubling down on brick-and-mortar travel experiences, betting that traditional hospitality’s strengths give it an edge as travel behavior evolves.
The discussion expands with insights from industry trends in vacation rentals, including lessons from the recent Phocuswright Conference on where rentals are headed next.
Jamie also drops a new “Stat of the Week” that underlines shifts in demand and booking behavior.
From consolidation to experiential travel and evolving guest expectations, this episode maps where hospitality — hotels and rentals alike — is going next.
This episode is brought to you by Amazon! To learn more, go to advertising.amazon.com
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.
