Rafat Ali

The pandemic indeed has been a portal to change in so many ways, and the innovation is coming at the edges as it always does. Here are some of the reasons why I am excited about the travel industry today, almost a decade into running and building Skift.

Sonder revenues are rising while its losses are widening, even as SPAC deals are coming under additional pressure. The new funding raised will help continue to focus on building the company and hopefully keep the economics in check enough to complete the deal.

The travel industry's pandemic interregnum period is over. We have gained so much in what we lost.

This is America, the land of the free and hyper-polarized. Sadly. Though good news, enough will exists across the country for a vaccine requirement for air travel, but the vocal opposition will unlikely let it happen.

Oyo's original use case in a country like India was the genius level breakthrough that has persisted, despite all its troubles over the last few years. Glad it is doubling down on its core focus, as this IPO doc shows.

These are strangely precarious and hopeful times. These are the big questions I have as travel is poised for a big recovery, even as some answers have emerged in the last year.

When DMOs are performing consistently at the optimal level it adds a significant amount that no one other body is able to provide. A great overview and recommendations on what should be done in post-covid era.

Concise, no-nonsense insights delivered straight to your inbox — that has been the promise of Daily Lodging Report for 25+ years, and we at Skift will continue to deliver on that.

This will be the most consequential event Skift has ever done. Come and experience our Skift Global Forum 2021 at the stunning TWA Hotel.

Two well-known family travel agencies come under one umbrella, driven by private equity backing to grow. Expect more such deals to happen in the coming months.