The Skift Global Forum, taking place in New York City from September 17-19, will gather top executives in the online travel industry to discuss the future of the sector. Among the key topics of discussion will be the growth and momentum expected in online travel over the next few years, amidst the law of large numbers and increased competition. Companies such as Booking Holdings, Expedia Group, and Airbnb will be under the spotlight, with a focus on where the industry is headed and what strategies are being put in place to maintain growth.
Expedia Group CEO Ariane Gorin will be making her first major industry conference appearance since taking on her new role, where she will discuss the changes she has implemented during her first four months. While room night growth rates used to be in the high 20% range a decade ago, only one of the major online travel companies, Expedia Group, managed to break into double digits in the second quarter. This trend raises questions about where future growth will come from in the industry.
One potential area for growth that will be explored at the Forum is experiences. Airbnb has recently revamped its experiences product, which could be a potential source of growth for the company. Additionally, leaders from other experience-focused companies such as GetYourGuide, Viator, and Klook will be sharing their insights on the topic. The future of Tripadvisor, including the potential sale of the company and the spin-off of its Viator experiences unit, will also be discussed during the event.
The closing session of the Forum will feature Tripadvisor board member and Certares founder Greg O’Hara, who will address the company’s need to repay a $325 million preferred stock investment by March 2025. This financial scenario could have an impact on Tripadvisor’s future and will be a key topic of discussion. The event will also feature insights from top executives such as Booking’s Glenn Fogel and Airbnb’s Brian Chesky. Booking claims to generate two-thirds of Airbnb’s room nights and is growing faster, which raises questions about the future of alternative accommodations and Airbnb’s expansion beyond its core short-term rental product.
One of the major topics that will be explored at the Forum is generative AI and personalization, and how these technologies will impact the travel industry in the future. The event will provide a platform for industry leaders to discuss their strategies and plans for the coming years, as well as explore the potential impact of emerging technologies on the sector. Overall, the Skift Global Forum promises to be a thought-provoking event that will shed light on the future of the online travel industry and the key trends that will shape its growth in the years to come.
