March, 2024

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Revolutionizing The Hotel Guest Experiences of Tomorrow with Velma: The AI-Powered Assistant

Are Morch

In the ever-evolving landscape of the hospitality industry, the quest for higher revenue, enhanced productivity, and greater guest satisfaction is relentless. Leading the charge in this digital transformation is Velma, an AI-powered assistant designed specifically for hotels. Velma is not just any virtual assistant; it’s a game-changer, transforming online visitors into loyal guests through a […] The post Revolutionizing The Hotel Guest Experiences of Tomorrow with Velma: The AI-Powe

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Tripadvisor Sale: Apollo’s Interest and Possible Scenarios

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Even Tripadvisor would agree that the sum of its parts is likely worth more the the whole. That's what a potential buyer is likely thinking.

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Why Hiring a Fractional Sales Manager Can Drive Sales Results

Anthony Cole Training

Running a company is very different than managing a sales team, so you need someone skilled in the specific strengths of coaching and motivating your sales team. Companies have choices and often it makes sense to hunt, interview, hire and pay for a full-time sales manager, but this is a position very difficult to fill. It will take time, money, lots of effort and then onboarding to your systems, people and culture.

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Meeting With Success

Lodging

What initially inspired you to get into the hospitality business? I was born with a love of travel and hotels, but it was really my grandmother who instilled in me a deep appreciation for beautiful and special places around the world. My father was also hugely influential in my interest in hotels as real estate and creative problem solving. Who were some of your mentors or role models, male or female, and what were their most […] The post Meeting With Success appeared first on LODGING Maga

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Smart Tools & Strong Teams: A People-First Approach to AI in Sales

Speaker: Matt Sunshine, CEO at The Center for Sales Strategy

AI isn’t replacing salespeople—it’s empowering them. The most forward-thinking sales organizations are using AI to enhance human performance rather than eliminate it. From coaching and messaging to prospecting and pipeline accountability, artificial intelligence is giving managers and SDRs the new tools they need to work smarter, sell better, and close more.

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Exclusive: championing inclusivity in the hotel industry on International Women’s Day

Hotel Management

Each year, International Women’s Day raises a variety of conversations about gender equity. In 2024, the focus is on inclusivity, with the theme ‘Inspire Inclusion’ looking at ways to combat bias, stereotypes, and discrimination in the quest for a gender equal world. Here, women in hotels, from a variety of cultural and career backgrounds, share their experiences of inclusion in the industry, and the ways in which they are committed to a more diverse future.

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Airbnb Privacy Update: A Ban On Indoor Security Cameras

Skift Blog

Indoor cameras have been allowed in common areas of homes. They had to be disclosed to guests, visible, and not in private spaces.

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China Expands Visa-Free Entry List — Is Your Country Included?

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Visa-free entry policies have long been recognized as potent tools for bolstering tourism numbers. China not only acknowledges the potential of this strategy, but is also keen to translate this into tangible results.

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Hilton’s LXR Boss: How to Stand Out Among Luxury Hotels

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Hilton's small LXR brand is enjoying a growth spurt this year as it aims to appeal to a new breed of luxury travelers.

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ChatGPT’s Value for Tourism: Fewer Boring Top 10 Lists

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Dublin's tourism chief predicts AI will unlock authentic value for tourists.

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Travel on TikTok: Top Trends, New Video Formats and the Future of Booking Trips

Skift Blog

Skift Take: TikTok has become an influential force in travel discovery. Selling travel more directly would make it formidable. In the meantime, experiments with horizontal-format video and its new protections for children are intriguing.

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How to Coach Reps on Overcoming Sales Objections with Confidence

Speaker: Brendan Sweeney, VP of Global Sales and David Phelan, Account Manager

In a world where buyers are more informed and objections are more nuanced, confidence isn't optional—it’s a competitive advantage. In high-stakes conversations, knowing how to handle pushback can make or break the deal. Join industry experts Brendan Sweeney and David Phelan for a behind-the-scenes look at how teams are transforming sales coaching with real-time feedback, objection-handling role plays, and pre-call preparation that actually sticks.

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Airbnb, Uber, Booking, Hilton: The Risks AI Poses on Business

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Experts compare the current AI-based tech revolution to the birth of the internet. With that level of magnitude comes plenty of issues.

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Biden Signs Law Funding New U.S. Tourism Czar

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Nearly every other country has a tourism minister or tourism secretary. In a halfway fix, the U.S. Congress passed funding bills Friday that included money to hire an assistant secretary of commerce for travel and tourism.

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Kayak Says New AI Tool Reads an Airfare Screenshot to Find A Lower Price. We Tested It

Skift Blog

Skift Take: A crazy twist in the world of travel and AI, here’s a tool that seems to actually work as intended.

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Ask Skift: What Are Major Trends in Solo Travel?

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Solo travel has grown enormously in popularity in recent years, so here's a look at the factors driving its boom as well as what solo travelers are interested in.

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Welcome to the Future of Hospitality: Smart Rooms Start Here

Speaker: Jady West, VP of Hospitality & Chris Bennett, Head of Sales & Engineering

The modern hotel room is no longer just a place to stay—it’s an experience to remember. Today’s guests expect seamless 5G connectivity, personalized comfort, and high-tech convenience. From AI-powered smart room controls to in-room entertainment and app-based services, technology is redefining hospitality from the inside out. In this new session featuring industry pros Jady West and Chris Bennett, we’ll explore how high-speed, high-bandwidth connectivity powers the innovations that are enabling

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Airbnb Closes in on 1.5 Million Verified Listings to Build Trust

Skift Blog

Skift Take: To verify 7.7 million listings, as untold numbers are constantly dropping off and new ones are added in more than 220 countries, is a daunting task. By its nature, this will be an imperfect process.

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See Why Google’s Competitors Think It’s Violating Europe’s Digital Markets Act

Skift Blog

Skift Take: As with privacy concerns, the European Union is ahead of the U.S. when it comes to regulating digital platforms such as Google. European online travel companies aren't satisfied with Google's changes — but hotels think they go too far.

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Achieving Sales Team Excellence with a Coaching Culture

Anthony Cole Training

Most sales managers spend less than 10% of their time on coaching, and only one third of managers actually coach their people on a weekly basis. Yet, the Coaching Competency is the most critical part of a sales manager's responsibilities; it is also the most difficult skill set to learn and master. There are many reasons for this, but among them are: the managers themselves were not coached or they had a bad experience with coaching; they were elevated to a team lead or manager position based on

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Amadeus Acquires Voxel to Expand Payments Business

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Amadeus acquired another company earlier this year to expand its biometrics business. Now it's taken the same strategy to expand its payments business.

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State of AI in Sales & Marketing 2025

AI adoption is reshaping sales and marketing. But is it delivering real results? We surveyed 1,000+ GTM professionals to find out. The data is clear: AI users report 47% higher productivity and an average of 12 hours saved per week. But leaders say mainstream AI tools still fall short on accuracy and business impact. Download the full report today to see how AI is being used — and where go-to-market professionals think there are gaps and opportunities.

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Saudi Tourism CEO: Lionel Messi Ad Campaign Targets Traveler ‘Preconceptions’

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Saudi Arabia is trying to change the negative perceptions held by some international tourists.

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United Airlines Announces New Routes Across Three Continents

Skift Blog

Skift Take: United is continuing to deepen its presence in markets overlooked by most other U.S. carriers. It’s a strategy that appears to be working well.

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Q&A: How Hotels Can Leverage AI and Digital Marketing to Win the Direct Booking Race

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Rising competition in the hotel bookings landscape is pushing the industry towards the smarter use of technology. Hotels that leverage first-party data to drive AI strategies can win the race against OTAs for guest attention and loyalty.

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4-Hour Waits at Immigration and $27 Hot Water: Has American Hospitality Lost the Plot?

Skift Blog

Skift Take: There's a worrying trend in American hospitality: Travelers coming to the U.S. from abroad often encounter sloppiness, rudeness, and ineptitude in stereo sound.

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Don't Let AI Pass You By: The New Era of Personalized Sales Coaching & Development

Speaker: Brendan Sweeney, VP of Sales & Devyn Blume, Sr. Account Executive

Are you curious about how artificial intelligence is reshaping sales coaching, learning, and development? Join Brendan Sweeney and Devyn Blume of Allego for an engaging new webinar exploring AI's transformative role in sales coaching and performance improvement! Brendan and Devyn will share actionable insights and strategies for integrating AI into coaching and development - ensuring personalized, effective, and scalable training!

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We Tested New AI Trip Planners From Despegar and Kayak: Fewer Errors, Still Buggy

Skift Blog

Skift Take: The industry is getting closer to the vision of the comprehensive digital travel agent, but it's still far away.

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Life House CEO Resigns as Hotel Startup Faces Complaints

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Reports suggest that Life House, the startup that Rami Zeidan founded in 2017, is facing a wave of complaints from the hotel owners who use its software and services. A new CEO could give the company a fresh start.

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Skift India Summit 2024: Trends Driving the Travel Boom

Skift Blog

Skift Take: The upcoming Skift India Summit is just around the corner, and I'm excited to explore trends in India's booming tourism.

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Accor Leans Into Premium Hotel Brands, Franchising, and China

Skift Blog

Skift Take: What is Accor's hotel group strategy as of February 2024? An interview with Jean-Jacques Morin, Group Deputy CEO, and Martine Gerow, Group CFO.

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Diving into Diversity: Decoding the Foundations of Inclusion in Hospitality Talent Acquisition

Speaker: Lauren Fernandez - CEO & Founder, Full Course

Companies all over the world, including Marriot International and Hilton Worldwide, are aware of the value of including DEI in their talent acquisition strategy. However, despite these initiatives, there is still plenty that the hospitality sector can do to promote DEI. When comparing the hospitality industries in India, Iraq, the UK, and the US, you will see that there is a consistent underrepresentation of persons from different ethnic, gender, and disability origins across all levels of the i

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United Halts Pilot Hiring Due to Boeing Delivery Delays

Skift Blog

Skift Take: One of Boeing’s biggest customers said it has paused pilot hiring in the spring due Max 10 delivery delays.

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Hyatt Regency Brand Collaborates With Future, a Personal Training Platform

Lodging

CHICAGO—Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced a collaboration between the Hyatt Regency brand and Future, a personal training platform that connects users with a fitness coach to create customized virtual workouts. Launching at 26 Hyatt Regency hotels and resorts in the United States, the collaboration includes workouts developed by Future trainers that are customized for each hotel and resort’s fitness center and equipment.

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Here to Stay

Lodging

What initially inspired you to get into the hospitality business? Hilton is an iconic brand and the vitality, complexity, and community surrounding hospitality are unique to this industry and continue to inspire me. Now that I am in hospitality, the team members, owners, and suppliers—the community I have the pleasure of working with—are why I will probably never leave this business!

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JetBlue and Spirit Airlines Agree to Terminate $3.8 Billion Merger

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Both airlines came to the conclusion that it would be unlikely for them to meet the requirements of the merger by July 24.

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New Research-Backed Strategies to Empower Managers as Culture & Engagement Leaders

Speaker: Beth Sunshine, SVP, Up Your Culture

When culture isn’t consistently lived out across the organization, engagement suffers—and it often starts with a disconnect at the top. In this session, Beth Sunshine, SVP of Up Your Culture at The Center for Sales Strategy, will reveal how HR and executive leaders can close the gap between vision and execution by equipping frontline and mid-level managers to become culture carriers.