In the latest Skift podcast, they discuss the most influential people in the travel industry, as well as the battle for portfolio growth between Marriott and Hilton, and Expedia Group’s defense of its B2B business. Skift has released its Power Rankings list of the 30 most powerful people in the travel industry, with Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta taking the top spot. Nassetta has more than doubled Hilton’s global room count during his time as CEO. Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky and United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby follow closely behind Nassetta on the list.
Both Marriott and Hilton have recently reached milestones in terms of portfolio growth, with Hilton and Accor seeing a 6% increase in property counts over the past five years. Hyatt, although starting from a smaller base, had a significant 25% growth in properties during the same timeframe. In terms of room count, Hyatt saw the largest increase at roughly 16% in the last five years. Skift’s Senior Hospitality Editor delves into this data to determine which company is leading the hotel growth race.
Expedia Group CEO Ariane Gorin has defended the company’s $25 billion B2B business, arguing that it is not diluting the company’s consumer businesses. Gorin stated at an investor conference that the B2B business is actually incremental to Expedia’s consumer businesses, such as Expedia.com, Hotels.com, and Vrbo. She also mentioned that 60% of bookings in the B2B business occur at points of sale on partner sites outside of the U.S., while only 36% of Expedia’s total revenue last year was generated outside of the U.S.
Despite Expedia Group’s defense of its B2B business, Skift’s Senior Research Analyst Pranavi Agarwal believes that Expedia may be creating more competition for itself. With the growth of the B2B business, there may be overlapping interests and potential conflicts with its consumer brands. Agarwal’s analysis raises questions about the strategy behind Expedia’s B2B arm and how it fits within the overall business model. Expedia will need to carefully navigate this balance to ensure the success of both its consumer and B2B businesses.
Overall, the travel industry continues to see shifts in power and growth among key players like Hilton, Marriott, and Expedia. The most influential leaders are driving change and innovation in the industry, while companies are expanding their portfolios and defending their business strategies. As the industry evolves, it will be important for companies like Expedia to carefully manage their different business streams and ensure that they are all working together towards a common goal. Skift’s insights provide valuable information for industry professionals and enthusiasts looking to stay informed about the latest developments in the travel industry.
