Stay ConnectedThe hospitality industry is constantly growing, changing, and innovating! This podcast will bring you the top news and topics from industry experts in different hospitality fields. Good Morning Hospitality publishes two thirty-minute weekly episodes, starting Monday and Wednesday at 7 a.m. PST / 10 a.m. EST. Presented by StayFi.
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This week on GMH Hotels, Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk explore four stories that capture the shifting landscape of hospitality and travel.
They begin with Accor’s newest luxury soft brand, created to attract independent hotel owners seeking the reach of a global chain while maintaining local character.
Next, they look at how hotels are turning to AI tools and smaller-plate strategies to cut food waste and reduce emissions — proving that sustainability and profitability can go hand in hand.
Sarah and Steve then dive into Expedia Group’s growing B2B momentum as its consumer business steadies, a strategic pivot that’s redefining how hotels leverage partnerships and distribution. Finally, they discuss how ongoing air travel disruptions are driving a surge in rail and bus bookings, reshaping traveler habits, and opening new opportunities for hotels near secondary markets and transport hubs.
From brand expansion and AI innovation to distribution power plays and multimodal demand, this episode covers the full scope of where hospitality is headed next.
Presented by Lodgify
Follow the Hosts: Sarah Dandashy – LinkedIn Steve Turk – LinkedIn
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Update: This episode was recorded just an hour before Sonder published its official notice of shutting down operations. Read more here.
On this episode of Good Morning Hospitality, A Skift Podcast, Wil Slickers, Michael Goldin, and Brandreth Canaley are joined by Skift Senior Hospitality Reporter Sean O'Neill to unpack the breaking story of Marriott Bonvoy ending its licensing agreement with Sonder Inc. after the company defaulted on the deal.
The partnership had been a much-needed lifeline for Sonder, allowing its apartment-style properties to be listed across Marriott’s booking channels. But with the agreement now terminated, and Sonder’s own website currently showing zero available listings, the situation is raising questions about the company’s operations, liquidity, and future as a public brand.
Marriott has said it’s assisting guests with existing bookings made through its platforms, while those who booked via third parties should contact their providers directly.
As this story continues to develop, Sean shares what’s known so far, and the GMH crew digs into what this could signal for Marriott’s extended-stay ambitions, Sonder’s next move (if any at all), and how confidence in hotel–tech partnerships may shift in the days/weeks ahead.
Presented by Lodgify
Follow the Hosts: Brandy Canaley – LinkedIn Wil Slickers – LinkedIn Michael Goldin – LinkedIn
Connect with Skift:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/
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Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
This week on GMH Hotels, Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk are joined by Skift Airlines Reporter, Meghna Maharishi, to kick off the show with updates on how the government shutdown has impacted the airline industry and what ripple effects it’s had on Marriott’s business performance.
After Meghna’s segment, Sarah and Steve dive into Marriott International’s 2026 outlook, unpacking the company’s plans for new credit card partnerships, expected gains from the World Cup, and continued strength in the luxury segment.
They also discuss the latest corporate layoffs at American Airlines and explore how hotels and travel companies are turning to soil carbon credits as part of their sustainability strategies. From shutdowns and staffing to carbon markets and brand growth, this episode offers a grounded look at the forces shaping hospitality right now.
Presented by Lodgify
Follow the Hosts: Sarah Dandashy – LinkedIn Steve Turk – LinkedIn
Connect with Skift:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews
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Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social
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Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
This week on Good Morning Hospitality, Brandreth Canaley, Jamie Lane, and Michael Goldin unpack three big stories shaping travel.
Has Airbnb hit its ceiling as growth slows and regulations tighten? Why are luxury all-inclusives becoming the go-to for high-end travelers? And how is Vrbo’s new “Loved by Guests” program using trust and transparency to win over travelers?
From platforms to guest experience, the GMH crew breaks down what these shifts reveal about where hospitality is headed next.
Presented by Lodgify
Follow the Hosts: Brandy Canaley – LinkedIn Jamie Lane – LinkedIn Michael Goldin – LinkedIn
Connect with Skift:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews
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Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social
X: https://twitter.com/skift
Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
In this episode of GMH Hotels, Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk tackle the latest strategic moves re-shaping travel and hospitality. We start with how Death & Co. is disrupting hotel design by introducing a bar-first hotel brand that fuses nightlife and stay experiences.
Next, we examine why airlines are moving to premium, with JetBlue announcing a domestic first-class cabin in 2026 and what that signals for hospitality brands in guest segmentation and experience.
Then, we dive into how Mews is acquiring an AI firm to simplify hotel data usage and streamline operations.
We also review how IHG Hotels & Resorts is expanding its soft brand strategy amid its strongest-ever pipeline, and what it means when Accor confirms a potential IPO for its lifestyle division Ennismore.
Presented by Lodgify
Follow the Hosts: Sarah Dandashy – LinkedIn Steve Turk – LinkedIn
Connect with Skift:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews
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Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social
X: https://twitter.com/skift
Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
This morning on Good Morning Hospitality, Michael Goldin, Brandreth Canaley, and Jamie Lane explore three major forces reshaping travel and hospitality.
First, they examine how the rise of agentic AI could transform OTAs into passive order-takers. Next, they dive into the new social-features rollout on Airbnb Experiences that aim to deepen guest-to-guest connection and engagement.
Finally, with the U.S. federal hiring freeze entering day 27 of the shutdown, Jamie brings data and insight on how this continues to ripple through airports, national parks, and hotel-adjacent services.
Presented by Lodgify
Follow the Hosts: Brandy Canaley – LinkedIn Jamie Lane – LinkedIn Michael Goldin – LinkedIn
Connect with Skift:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social
X: https://twitter.com/skift
Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
On this week’s episode of GMH Hotels, Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk unpack five major developments reshaping the hospitality and travel ecosystem.
First, the luxury-hotelier Mandarin Oriental Oriental is being taken private in a deal valued at $4.2 billion. Then they examine the ripple effects of a major Amazon Web Services (AWS) outage that disrupted travel operators and highlighted infrastructure fragility.
Waymo enters the business-travel arena with its new “Waymo for Business” robotaxi program aimed at corporate clients. They also dive into the cheeky marketing strategy of Ryanair—from tanks to TikTok—and how travel brands are waging attention wars.
Finally, they explore how host cities for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ - Canada, Mexico and the United States are raising hotel taxes ahead of 2026 and what that pressure motion looks like for hotel operators.
Sarah and Steve provide a full-spectrum briefing on what hotel leaders need to watch right now and how to stay ahead of the curve!
Presented by Lodgify
Follow the Hosts: Katie Cline – LinkedIn Steve Turk – LinkedIn
Connect with Skift:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews
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Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social
X: https://twitter.com/skift
Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
Michael Goldin, Brandreth Canaley, and Wil Slickers celebrate five years of Good Morning Hospitality by diving into this week’s biggest industry stories — from American Express Travel’s record bookings and Capital One’s new 5x points on short-term rentals, to United Airlines cutting 4% of management roles due to AI, and Airbnb launching a political organization in Arizona.
Presented by Lodgify
Follow the Hosts: Brandy Canaley – LinkedIn Wil Slickers – LinkedIn Michael Goldin – LinkedIn
Connect with Skift:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social
X: https://twitter.com/skift
Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
Join Steve Turk and guest-host Katie Cline as they dive into this week’s biggest stories in the world of travel. They’ll unpack the latest hotel loyalty rankings and what they mean for loyalty programs, a brewing squatter scare for short-term rental hosts in France, and evolving rules for travel to Europe. Then, they’ll explore Delta Air Lines' strategic push toward affluent travelers via their American Express partnership and finally, how hotels are reimagining resorts as coral restoration labs in the face of climate stress on reefs.
Presented by Lodgify
Follow the Hosts: Katie Cline – LinkedIn Steve Turk – LinkedIn
Connect with Skift:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social
X: https://twitter.com/skift
Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
This week on Good Morning Hospitality, Michael Goldin, Brandy Canaley, and Jamie Lane put OpenAI’s integrations with Expedia and Booking.com to the test — planning full trips through ChatGPT. The crew compares notes on how the AI handled flights, hotels, and recommendations, and where it still falls short of replacing the human touch in travel planning.
Then, they unpack how AI is transforming operations on the back end too, with a look at the $12 million funding round fueling a new generation of AI-powered property management systems. Finally, Delta’s CEO shared that they don't see many flight delays due to the government shutdown, but as we enter Q4 and the shutdown continues, this could all change very quickly.
From booking bots to flight delays, it’s an episode that bridges tech innovation with real-world travel realities.
Presented by Lodgify
Follow the Hosts: Brandy Canaley – LinkedIn Jamie Lane – LinkedIn Michael Goldin – LinkedIn
Connect with Skift:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social
X: https://twitter.com/skift
Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
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