Dennis Schaal Archives

Dennis Schaal is Skift’s Founding Editor and Executive Editor. Dennis has been a reporter focusing on online travel and short-term rentals for more than two decades at Skift, Tnooz, USA Today, and Travel Weekly. He is well-known for tough one-on-one interviews on stage at Skift events, including with the CEOs and top execs of Expedia, Uber, Booking Holdings, Priceline, Kayak, Hopper, and more.

Online Travel

Tripadvisor Plus Creates Less Friction and Lower Costs for Hotels

Adding channel managers to bypass global distribution systems Amadeus and Sabre isn't a super-duper game-changer for Tripadvisor Plus, but less friction and lower fees can lead to greater traction.

Dennis Schaal | 5 years ago

Hotels

Oyo Claims a First Among Indian Startups in $660 Million Funding Round

Institutional investors seem to have confidence that Oyo will be able to survive the pandemic and live to fight on.

Dennis Schaal | 5 years ago

Online Travel

Priceline Extends Fintech Capabilities to the U.S. Military in Expanded Partnership

While travel management companies have battled over the years for government travel contracts, Priceline seems to have found a solid niche in a less lucrative leisure travel business for members of the U.S. military and their families. Priceline isn't looking for a big return from the effort while executives and employees feel proud to be a part of it.

Dennis Schaal | 5 years ago

Online Travel

Tripadvisor Plus Signs Its First Hotel Chains But Those Missing Are a Bigger Story

Despite Tripadvisor's gains with a few smaller hotel groups, the big chains aren't exactly crashing the gates to join Tripadvisor Plus. Their absence over the long term could threaten the program.

Dennis Schaal | 5 years ago

Online Travel

Expedia in Latest Exit From Hospitality Tech Sells Alice

Hotels generally don't want online travel agencies to run their front desks and house-cleaning services. And Expedia Group is much better at marketing and booking hotel rooms than operating them.

Dennis Schaal | 5 years ago

Online Travel

Fintech, Superapps and Subscriptions Will Spur Flurry of Online Travel Copycats

In its rough outlines, Expedia begot Trip.com Group while Kayak and ITA Software begot Google Travel. Get ready for a flurry of clones in fintech, superapps, and subscription services in travel. In fact, it's already happening.

Dennis Schaal | 5 years ago

Online Travel

Booking Holdings’ New Fintech Unit Aims to Help Travelers Beat Banks at Their Own Game

Bookings Holdings Fintech boss Daniel Marovitz says payments is arguably the world's largest industry. Across the online travel universe, look for payments to eventually become a line item — and very material to companies' financials.

Dennis Schaal | 5 years ago

Hotels

Vrbo Adds Hotels to Fill In Vacation Rental Gaps

Vrbo was leaving money on the proverbial table by sticking with whole homes. That seems to be changing, but it remains to be seen how far Vrbo will meander into hotels and other inventory types.

Dennis Schaal | 5 years ago

Hotels

Oyo Hotels Eliminates U.S. and China as Focus for Growth

Critics have been saying for years that Oyo needed to get its house in order and to tamp down on its reckless growth plans. Whether that actually happens or not will become clear over the next year or two.

Dennis Schaal | 5 years ago

Online Travel

AirAsia Digital Buys Superapp Gojek’s Thailand Operations for $50 Million

In an intensifying superapp rivalry in Southeast Asia, Gojek handed its Thailand business to AirAsia Digital in the face of competition from Grab. While these leading superapps battle, AirAsia Digital is being taken more seriously. After all, it has airplanes and a profitable logistics business to add to the mix.

Dennis Schaal | 5 years ago