Wil Slickers

On this week's Good Morning Hospitality, A Skift Podcast, Wil Slickers, Brandreth Canaley, and Jamie Lane break down the latest headlines shaping travel and short-term rentals.

This episode starts with a quick setup conversation between Wil Slickers and Skift’s airlines editor Gordon Smith, teeing up why this JetBlue session hits differently: it opens with a real-time…

If AI becomes the front door to travel, who wins and who pays?

The Vacasa acquisition may be executing on paper, but governance shifts at the top are creating unease among franchisees. In a franchise model, perception and confidence can matter as much as financial restructuring.

Short-term rentals are no longer a frontier business. Outside of a small group of disciplined operators, the sector has settled into a slow, operational grind that favors local execution over national ambition.

Marriott’s abrupt termination of its licensing deal with Sonder has sent shockwaves through hospitality and finance circles alike. For Sonder, this collapse now marks the end of its operations entirely, with the company confirming an immediate liquidation. For Marriott, it raises hard questions about risk, diligence, and the future of its extended-stay strategy.

Data isn't just guiding where people travel, it’s determining how and why. Jon Huntsman makes the case for travel as both a catalyst for economic growth and a bridge between cultures, powered by seamless payments and AI-driven personalization.

As the U.S. and Spain see tourism demand soar, destination marketers are shifting from promotion to curation. In the AI age, whoever shapes the algorithm shapes the itinerary.

Finland and Italy are approaching sustainability from different angles, but both see responsible travel not as an add-on — it’s the future. With U.S. travelers stepping in to fill critical gaps, the transatlantic connection just got even more strategic.

The transatlantic travel market doesn’t need more visitors – it needs better-distributed ones. Europe is doubling down on responsible tourism, and the U.S. traveler holds the key.