Sean O'Neill

Sean O’Neill is Skift's senior hospitality editor, reporting on hotels. Send him news tips at [email protected]. He's been a full-time journalist for two decades. He lives in Washington, D.C. Stop him before he starts another home improvement project.

Latest Stories

SkiftX

Leading Companies in Tours and Activities Emerge But There Is Still a Vast Sprawl of Competitors Below

There is still a ton of consolidation to come in tours and activities as smaller consumer and tech companies, in particular, will get bought up or fade into the waiting arms of the usual suspects, which will pick up some of the pieces.

Sean O'Neill, Skift | 7 years ago

Leading Companies in Tours and Activities Emerge But There Is Still a Vast Sprawl of Competitors Below

Airlines

Airline Data Powerhouse Needs to Evolve as Fast as Airfares Have

The fare-filing clearinghouse ATPCO needs to adapt to airline distribution's rapid changes. Much depends on whether its new CEO can boost the organization's metabolism.

Sean O'Neill, Skift | 7 years ago

Airline Data Powerhouse Needs to Evolve as Fast as Airfares Have

Airlines

Amadeus Wins Air Canada Contract as It Digs In Deeper in North America

With this deal, the Madrid-based technology giant has scored another win in North America, after having finished moving Southwest Airlines to Amadeus' reservations platform earlier this year.

Sean O'Neill, Skift | 7 years ago

Amadeus Wins Air Canada Contract as It Digs In Deeper in North America

Online Travel

Secret Escapes Raises $111 Million in a Flash Sales Revival: Travel Startup Funding This Week

Groupon may have its struggles and many similar sites have gone out of business, but travel flash sales have a stubborn persistence — even if they would probably get additional traction in more perilous economic times.

Sean O'Neill, Skift | 7 years ago

Secret Escapes Raises $111 Million in a Flash Sales Revival: Travel Startup Funding This Week

Online Travel

Hotelbeds Eyes a Viable Wholesaler Path in the Shadows of Priceline and Expedia

Since 2016, the quiet wholesaler marketplaces for hotel supply have become noisy as private equity firms invested $2.9 billion to make Hotelbeds Group a market leader. Expect more consolidation.

Sean O'Neill, Skift | 7 years ago

Hotelbeds Eyes a Viable Wholesaler Path in the Shadows of Priceline and Expedia

Online Travel

Trivago Makes a Tech Acquisition That Bolsters an Industry Trend

While this deal is small, it signals that the Expedia-backed hotel-search company wants to better identify the desires of its customers and become more sophisticated at proposing tailor-made offers that are relevant.

Sean O'Neill, Skift | 7 years ago

Trivago Makes a Tech Acquisition That Bolsters an Industry Trend

Online Travel

AccorHotels Makes Acquisition to Deliver Other Hotel Brands to Travel Agencies

Europe’s largest hotelier continues to pursue CEO Sébastien Bazin's goal of diversification. Valued at about $117 million, Gekko Group will help AccorHotels grow its business-to-business services.

Sean O'Neill, Skift | 7 years ago

AccorHotels Makes Acquisition to Deliver Other Hotel Brands to Travel Agencies

Business Travel

TripAdvisor Tours and Activities Brand Viator Debuts a Booking Tool for Travel Agents

Who needs middlemen distributors? TripAdvisor-backed Viator is hoping that travel agencies come directly to its new platform to find tours and activities to sell to consumers.

Sean O'Neill, Skift | 7 years ago

TripAdvisor Tours and Activities Brand Viator Debuts a Booking Tool for Travel Agents

Online Travel

TripAdvisor CEO Responds to Analyst Critiques of Its Hotel Search Strategy

Analysts continue to critique TripAdvisor's near-term tactics. But CEO Steve Kaufer said Wednesday that no other company is as well-positioned to create value on mobile in the long run as his own.

Sean O'Neill, Skift | 7 years ago

TripAdvisor CEO Responds to Analyst Critiques of Its Hotel Search Strategy

Tourism

Tourism Leaders Plot Strategy in an Age of Permanxiety

Tourism leaders across continents are recognizing the challenge of marketing travel in this new age of Permanxiety. Destination marketers ought to share best practices with each other on how to adapt.

Sean O'Neill, Skift | 7 years ago

Tourism Leaders Plot Strategy in an Age of Permanxiety