Dennis Schaal

Skift Founding Editor/Executive Editor, member of leadership team: Author of The Definitive Oral History of Online Travel, The Oral History of Travel's Greatest Acquisition, Booking.com, and The Definitive Oral History of Short-Term Rentals. Dennis Schaal also wrote a Skift ebook, The Future of Travel Booking. He 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. Freelance for Boston Globe, Computer Shopper, and Etihad Airways Inflight Magazine. Also worked at The Star-Ledger, Connecticut Post, and was Editor in Chief of Corporate Responsibility Officer Magazine. Known for tough one-on-one interviews on stage at conferences, including CEOs/top execs of Expedia, Airbnb, Uber, Booking Holdings, Priceline, Kayak, Hopper, Marriott, Agoda, Skyscanner, Vacasa, and more.

Latest Stories

Online Travel

Tripadvisor’s Potential Sale: Apollo Still a Suitor and a Financing Deadline

There will be a lot of moving pieces over the next few months if indeed a sale of Tripadvisor gets done.

Tripadvisor’s Potential Sale: Apollo Still a Suitor and a Financing Deadline

Online Travel

American Airlines Cuts Travel Agencies Slack: Extends Deadline For Loyalty Points

Who's in and who's out of American Airlines' new preferred agency program to date? The deadline extension seems to indicate their are some hiccups along the way.

American Airlines Cuts Travel Agencies Slack: Extends Deadline For Loyalty Points

Online Travel

Trivago Tests New TV Commercials

Just as online travel companies experiment with new features on their website pages, Trivago does something similar with its TV ads. Too soon to tell which ones will make the cut.

Trivago Tests New TV Commercials

Online Travel

Travelers Say They Want Sustainable Options – But It’s Not the Top Priority

The survey encapsulates a seeming dilemma for the travel industry. What proportion of their resources should they pour into promoting sustainable travel choices when a wide swath of travelers aren’t focused on the issue.

Travelers Say They Want Sustainable Options – But It’s Not the Top Priority

Online Travel

What Happened to the Trivago Guy?

Will AI replace the Tim Williams (Trivago Guy) and William Shatner (the Priceline Negotiator) types? Could be. Trivago, meanwhile, is already testing a second AI-infused commercial.

What Happened to the Trivago Guy?

Travel Agents

Hotelbeds Delays IPO Until the End of 2024 at the Earliest: Reports

When it comes to potential IPOs, timing is everything in life, right? Hotelbeds seemingly thinks so.

Hotelbeds Delays IPO Until the End of 2024 at the Earliest: Reports

Short-Term Rentals

Airbnb CEO’s 10-Year Pay Package Could Turn Into $1 Billion or More

The net proceeds of Brian Chesky's 10-year pay package — which he said would be donated to host programs and to charities — would really soar if Airbnb's share price breaches tough-to-reach targets.

Airbnb CEO’s 10-Year Pay Package Could Turn Into $1 Billion or More

Online Travel

What’s Next for Tripadvisor After Viator Chief Resigns?

Viator was a potential spinoff candidate in 2021. But with a potential sale of Tripadvisor, all bets are off for now.

What’s Next for Tripadvisor After Viator Chief Resigns?

Short-Term Rentals

Expedia Is Considering Ways to Introduce Sponsored Listings on Vrbo

Short-term rentals could be the next frontier for sponsored listings. Hotels are difficult enough, but vacation rentals may be even more complex to get right.

Expedia Is Considering Ways to Introduce Sponsored Listings on Vrbo

Short-Term Rentals

Sonder Faces Potential Nasdaq Delisting —Again

Sonder's second notice of potential delisting is for a different reason than the first notice a year earlier. Neither, though, is a good look for the struggling company.

Sonder Faces Potential Nasdaq Delisting —Again