To survive in today’s economic climate, travel and hospitality organizations must stay on the cutting edge of technology, business strategy, and more. This section focuses on industry trends and technologies, marketing strategies, customer experience best practices, and more!
In March 2025, Whitney Wolfe Herd, founder of the dating app company Bumble, returned as CEO after a year away from the role. Her goal was to reset the company’s direction as it struggled in a turbulent market. Wolfe Herd’s high-profile departure and comeback were timely reminders of the strain of leading from the top...
Five years after the start of the pandemic, the global tourism market has roared back to life. Demand for air travel has surpassed pre-pandemic levels, and the industry is celebrating modest year-over-year gains. Travelers are returning — but with a new mindset, balancing a passion for exploration with a more cautious approach to spending. Yet...
Skift Take: As Boomers leave the workforce in record numbers, more companies are promoting the benefits of retaining mature employees. But are they walking the talk? It’s estimated that 10,000 Baby Boomers turn 65 every day, according to the U.S. Census Bureau — a ‘silver tsunami’ that’s just starting to impact the meetings industry. “Companies...
Every trip starts with a bag. And every bag begins with a decision: what comes with you, and what gets left behind. You check the weather. You think about your itinerary. You ask yourself if you really need that extra pair of shoes (my answer is always YES!). You don’t pack for where you’ve been....
Hospitality is facing a set of challenges that feel oddly familiar. Loyalty programs aren’t hitting the way they used to. Personalization often feels more like a buzzword than a reality. And guest expectations are evolving faster than many systems can keep up. If this rings a bell, it should. Retail dealt with these same growing...
As the travel and hospitality industry undergoes rapid transformation, businesses must adapt swiftly to a variety of emerging trends to stay ahead. From a surge in technological and generative artificial intelligence innovations to rapidly changing consumer behaviors and demands, industry executives have to constantly analyze trends and figure out which ones to jump on (hello,...
Dee Ann Turner, former vice president at Chick-fil-A and founder and CEO of Dee Ann Turner & Associates, LLC, worked for years helping to drive the chicken restaurant’s success. The secret sauce to Chick-fil-A’s growth, she says, is its talent. In this clip from Turner’s keynote at the 2025 Women Leading Travel & Hospitality Summit,...
How did SoulCycle cut through the crowded fitness industry? What made the brand “sticky” enough to grab consumers’ interest? Amy Shecter, CEO of Cast Jewelry, asked these questions of Julie Rice, co-founder of Peoplehood and SoulCycle, on stage during the 2025 Women in Retail Leadership Summit, held April 28-30 on Amelia Island, FL. The annual Women...
Think back to when the internet started (if you are old enough to know what living without internet was like). Did we have internet experts telling us how search engines worked? Did we have search engine engineers on hand to tell us exactly how to use the internet? Did we have webinars, workshops and books...
Pride Month 2025 presents hospitality leaders with an unprecedented opportunity. Washington, D.C., for example, is hosting WorldPride for the first time, marking the 50th anniversary of Pride in the nation’s capital. For brands, this isn’t just seasonal marketing — it’s a chance to demonstrate authentic LGBTQ+ inclusion. The numbers tell the story. The global LGBTQ+...
