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

Wyndham Hotels CEO: ‘No Waning in Leisure Travel Demand’

Hilton had painted a more subdued picture of leisure demand. Wyndham's results show the benefits of having a heavy mix of hotels and resorts in the economy and midscale segments.

Wyndham Hotels CEO: ‘No Waning in Leisure Travel Demand’

Hotels

New York City Hotels Face New Rules After Council Passes Licensing Law

New York City has tightened the rules for hotel operations. After having supported a campaign to rein in short-term rentals, the city's hotel sector has now gotten a taste of greater regulation of itself.

New York City Hotels Face New Rules After Council Passes Licensing Law

Hotels

Hilton’s Record Hotel Openings and Pipeline Growth

This summer, Hilton opened more hotels than they've ever opened in a three-month period. When you subtract the hotels they lost, it grew its hotel count by 7.8%, also a record.

Hilton’s Record Hotel Openings and Pipeline Growth

Hotels

Choice Opens 500th Extended Stay Hotel as It Expands Portfolio

Choice Hotels is betting big on extended-stay hotels but is doing so methodically.

Choice Opens 500th Extended Stay Hotel as It Expands Portfolio

Hotels

Hilton Trims Revenue Outlook as U.S. Travel Demand Softens

Hilton said its revenue growth won't quite reach forecasted heights this year because demand is softening (not cratering). The news arrived like room service: slightly delayed and not quite what was hoped for.

Hilton Trims Revenue Outlook as U.S. Travel Demand Softens

Hotels

IHG Doubles Hotel Openings Pace, But Revenue Growth Softens

IHG posted its strongest quarter of hotel openings in recent years, as the hotel giant accelerates its global expansion plans.

IHG Doubles Hotel Openings Pace, But Revenue Growth Softens

Hotels

Google to Let Hotels Show Real-Time Rates in Search Ads

Imagine converting a roadside billboard that you paste up once a season to an electronic screen with real-time pricing and images. That's how to think about Google's upgraded search ads.

Google to Let Hotels Show Real-Time Rates in Search Ads

Short-Term Rentals

Short-Term Rental Headwinds: U.S. Supply Growth Is Slowing

The U.S. vacation and short-term rental market has seen its supply growth rate drop in half over two years. It's like watching a sprinter decide to take up power walking.

Short-Term Rental Headwinds: U.S. Supply Growth Is Slowing

Hotels

Hilton CEO Touts Focus on Core Hotel Business as Competitive Edge

In an interview, Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta spoke about sticking to Hilton's "core competencies" with traditional lodging and not expanding into cruises and vacation rentals like rivals have.

Hilton CEO Touts Focus on Core Hotel Business as Competitive Edge

Hotels

Hyatt Hotels’ Bold Bet on the Midmarket

Hyatt's growth strategy seems to boil down to this: build more roadside hotels, not just urban luxury complexes, in places where travelers need to be for practical reasons, without trying too hard to be hip.

Hyatt Hotels’ Bold Bet on the Midmarket