Skift Podcast: Travel's Tough Truths and Inspirations

Skift Take

Skift Founder and CEO Rafat Ali sparked some heated debate with a recent story on lessons he's learned about travel in the six years since he started the company. In this podcast, he riffs with Co-Founder Jason Clampet on uncomfortable observations as well as inspirations.

Skift Podcast

Compelling discussions with travel industry leaders and creatives who are helping to shape the future of travel.

Skift has never been shy about provoking our readers, and one recent story — The 21 Uncomfortable Truths That I Have Learned About the Travel Industry – certainly did that job. It was the musing of Skift Founder and CEO Rafat Ali, timed to run as the company marked its sixth year.

The response, as Ali has noted, was overwhelming. “Awesome truth bombs,” one person wrote on LinkedIn. Others were less enamored. As a follow-up, Ali recently wrote a love letter of sorts to travel, naming 25 things that inspire him about the industry.

On this episode of the Skift podcast, we talk about uncomfortable and occasionally unpopular observations about travel. Are industry associations useless? Is domestic travel ignored? Why, for the love of god, is MICE a term that the industry has embraced? (We’ll also touch on the inspiring stuff, like travel’s role in creating a global middle class.)

Our guests were Ali and co-founder Jason Clampet.

Up Next

Airlines

How Airlines are Redefining Premium Travel with Customizable and Personalized Experiences

As the airline industry adapts to evolving traveler expectations, premium cabins coupled with personalized experiences have become essential tools for driving loyalty and revenue. Airlines are turning to digital innovation and sustainable practices to redefine the premium travel experience and meet the needs of diverse customers.

American Airlines + Skift | 1 month ago

Tripadvisor’s New AI Deal, Southwest’s Hiring Freeze and Banyan Group’s Growth

Today's podcast looks at Tripadvisor's artificial intelligence deal, Southwest's hiring changes, and Banyan's brand expansion outside of Asia.

Rashaad Jorden | 7 hours ago

Tourism

Chinese Travel Agents See Full Outbound Recovery by 2025 — Exclusive

For destinations and suppliers, the roadmap is clear: embrace digital marketing, invest in cultural alignment, and remain responsive to the evolving needs of Chinese travelers. The future of outbound tourism depends on adaptability.

Peden Doma Bhutia | 10 hours ago

Airlines

India’s Domestic Air Numbers Continue to Soar — India Report

The Indian domestic aviation industry is expected to grow, albeit modestly, as travel demand remains robust. However, supply chain challenges continue to drive up costs for airlines, which then gets passed on to consumers.

Bulbul Dhawan | 11 hours ago

Online Travel

Tripadvisor’s New Partnership With ChatGPT-Competitor Perplexity

The Tripadvisor brand has been struggling, but there could be value in its huge dataset for AI search engines that want to deliver personalized results.

Justin Dawes | 16 hours ago

Skift Podcast: Travel’s Tough Truths and Inspirations