Dennis Schaal

Puerto Rico

Executive Editor and Founding Editor at Skift

Skift Founding Editor, online travel trend-vetter. Ex-USA Today columnist. Good trouble. Contrarian. Writer. Dad. Citizen of the world.

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Articles

Hotels vs. Online Travel Companies: Who Owns the Customer in the AI Era?

1 week ago | skift.com | Dennis Schaal

Who owns the customer in the generative AI era: Search companies like Kayak or hotels? In other words, where is the travelers' loyalty and who controls their contact information and payments? That's been a battle between online travel companies and hotels for decades. Cloudbeds CEO Adam Harris described the status as "coopetition" at Skift's recent Data + AI Summit.
Online Travel Agency Flight Sales Jumped in May

1 week ago | skift.com | Dennis Schaal

Key Points Online travel agency (OTA) flight sales in the U.S. rose 8% year over year in May 2025, bucking the overall 5% decline in total travel agency air ticket sales. Traditional leisure and corporate travel agencies saw declines in flight sales, dropping 5% and 8% respectively, while Booking.com surpassed Expedia in U.S. flight bookings. Overall air ticket sales totaled $8.6 billion in May, with average ticket prices down 2% and a slight rise in international trips year over year.
Expedia Makes Gains as Google Hotels Is Increasingly 'Bruised'

1 week ago | skift.com | Dennis Schaal

With Google Hotels under pressure and "bruised," Expedia, Tripadvisor, Trivago and a newbie, Super.com, are making gains.
Skiplagged Ordered to Pay $9.4 Million to American Airlines - 'They Want to Take Us Down,' CEO Says

1 week ago | skift.com | Dennis Schaal

American Airlines said it will appeal a Texas federal court ruling that sided with Skiplagged’s use of the airline’s name — the ruling, however, still left the flight-booking site on the hook for $9.4 million in copyright damages for use of American's logo. The ruling is the latest step in a long-running feud over Skiplagged’s promotion of so-called hidden-city ticketing, which has stoked the ire of airlines for disrupting their operations.
Airbnb Partners With Club World Cup 2025 on Experiences and 'Alternative Accommodations'

2 weeks ago | skift.com | Dennis Schaal

Airbnb is the Official Alternative Accommodations and Experiences Booking Platform partner for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.
Los Angeles Immigration Protests Spur Some Travelers to Change Plans

2 weeks ago | skift.com | Dennis Schaal

Most of Los Angeles feels normal, but after days of protests over an ICE crackdown — and with curfews, arrests, and military deployments downtown — some tourists are starting to rethink their plans. "Clients are concerned with flying and driving to the cruise ports in the L.A. area and have changed plans for cruising for the summer," said travel agent Debbie Allen at NevadaTravelAgent.com.
Corporate Travel’s New Boss: The Finance Department

2 weeks ago | skift.com | Dennis Schaal

The balance of power in corporate travel decision-making has been shifting for years — but in 2025, the trend has become unmistakable. Travel programs, once firmly in the hands of procurement or travel departments, are now increasingly led or co-owned by finance teams. According to travel managers interviewed by Skift, finance is no longer just reviewing expense reports — it’s shaping policy, selecting platforms, and tightening oversight.
Airbnb Accused of Poaching Tour Guides From Rival Platforms to Grow Experiences

2 weeks ago | ca.finance.yahoo.com | Dennis Schaal

Airbnb needs to expand its tour supply for its newly relaunched Experiences business, and two rival tour platforms say Airbnb tried to poach their guides. Canada-headquartered ToursByLocals and Netherlands-based Withlocals said separately that people with Airbnb email addresses created accounts on their sites, and then violated their terms and conditions by messaging tour guides to recruit them to Airbnb Experiences.
Airbnb Accused of Poaching Tour Guides From Rival Platforms to Grow Experiences

2 weeks ago | skift.com | Dennis Schaal

Airbnb needs to expand its tour supply for its newly relaunched Experiences business, and two rival tour platforms say Airbnb tried to poach their guides. Canada-headquartered ToursByLocals and Netherlands-based Withlocals said separately that people with Airbnb email addresses created accounts on their sites, and then violated their terms and conditions by messaging tour guides to recruit them to Airbnb Experiences.
Brand USA Funding Would be Slashed by 80% in Senate Republican Proposal

3 weeks ago | skift.com | Dennis Schaal

A U.S. Senate Committee is proposing to slash Brand USA's annual funding to $20 million from the current $100 million. If the measure ultimately becomes law, it would severely hamper Brand USA's ability to market the U.S. internationally as a travel destination. "That will have very severe ramifications for what Brand USA will be able to do and not do," said a source close to Brand USA.