Sean O'Neill

Sean O’Neill is Skift's Senior Hospitality Editor. Sean's forte is reporting, and he's broken multiple industry scoops. Sean has also received praise as an event moderator, having interviewed the CEOs of major hotel groups such as Marriott, Hilton, and IHG on stage. He writes analysis pieces that pinpoint industry trends, and he profiles rising industry leaders. In his personal life, someone should stop him before he starts another home improvement project.

Latest Stories

Hotels

Marriott Starts to Lay Off Corporate Employees

Now that Marriott International has doubled in size over a decade, it saw an opportunity to rethink its organization and restructure for efficiency.

Marriott Starts to Lay Off Corporate Employees

Hotels

Wyndham and Lafayette Square Unveil $100 Million Fund for Diverse Hotel Owners

To expand the pool of hotel owners, it's not enough to provide access to capital. So in a pragmatic move, Wyndham is also providing a kind of support system (think mentorship in operations expertise and facilities management).

Wyndham and Lafayette Square Unveil $100 Million Fund for Diverse Hotel Owners

Experiences

Viceroy Bets on Experiences in Overhaul of Luxury Hotel Brand

Viceroy, a collection of hotels and resorts, has rebranded. It now promises to curate luxury experiences that will be consistently top-tier and locally immersive, from Portuguese beekeeping to glassblowing in Los Cabos.

Viceroy Bets on Experiences in Overhaul of Luxury Hotel Brand

Airlines

Flight Attendants Union Sees Opening at Delta: Labor Fight’s Next Phase

Delta's non-unionized flight attendants could make another push to organize "in a few months," said Sara Nelson, head of a 55,000-member union. Nelson cited broader public support for labor as one driver of change.

Flight Attendants Union Sees Opening at Delta: Labor Fight’s Next Phase

Hotels

The Peninsula Hotels’ New Brand Campaign: Focus on Staff Stories, Not Luxury Cliches

As The Peninsula's head of marketing puts it, "Travel is an incredible thing to do and to experience, and who better to tell that story than the people who make it possible?"

The Peninsula Hotels’ New Brand Campaign: Focus on Staff Stories, Not Luxury Cliches

Hotels

Travel + Leisure CEO’s Plan: More Upscale, New Markets and Sports Tourism

Timeshares are basically a real estate product wrapped in a financial product wrapped in a vacation. And Travel + Leisure Co. CEO believes the model has several distinctive advantages over other travel businesses.

Travel + Leisure CEO’s Plan: More Upscale, New Markets and Sports Tourism

Tour Operators

Student Travel Player EF Partners With Thai Tourism on Responsible Travel Effort

It's relatively rare for a destination marketing organization like Thailand's to work with a tour operator to help create and promote more sustainably designed tours.

Student Travel Player EF Partners With Thai Tourism on Responsible Travel Effort

Hotels

IHCL Takes Control of India’s Tree of Life Boutique Hotel Brand

The latest acquisition by India's largest hotel group suggests that "experiential leisure" is becoming popular. "Experiential leisure" means "hotels with small room counts and home-like architecture, so vacationers can pretend they're not at hotels."

IHCL Takes Control of India’s Tree of Life Boutique Hotel Brand

Business Travel

Amex GBT Cuts $100 Million as Small-Business Push Hits Headwinds

There's something appealing about a business model that makes money by saving other people money. So why is Amex GBT, the largest corporate travel management company, losing money?

Amex GBT Cuts $100 Million as Small-Business Push Hits Headwinds

Hotels

Choice Hotels Earnings: 7 Trends and a Catchphrase – ‘Revenue Intense’

Choice Hotels is adapting its business strategy because it believes the future of travel involves longer stays, Boomers prefering premium brands, and more trips built around sports and music events.

Choice Hotels Earnings: 7 Trends and a Catchphrase – ‘Revenue Intense’