Sean O'Neill

Sean O’Neill is Skift’s Senior Hospitality Editor. Sean’s forte is reporting, and he’s broken multiple hotel industry scoops. He has also conducted 1:1 interviews on stage with the CEOs of Marriott, Hilton, IHG, Hyatt, and Wyndham.

Hotels

Scandic Hotels Expects Strong Third Quarter With Steady Travel Demand

Scandic Hotels Group began the hotel earnings season with a financial update on Friday, voicing optimism about travel demand despite recent inflationary pressures.

Sean O'Neill | 3 years ago

Focused businesswoman showing information on laptop screen to focused male colleague sitting at table with documents in lobby of hotel

Hotels

Hotel Experts Say AI Will Make Room Pricing More Profitable

Most talk about generative AI is bombastic. Yes, today's tech has accuracy and security issues. But that will be resolved within a few years. The tech will then transform hotel revenue management.

Sean O'Neill | 3 years ago

Hotels

Choice Hotels’ Bullish Report Prompts More Wyndham Merger Speculation

Choice Hotels issued a positive business update in a seemingly random way. That fueled speculation it plans to do something newsy. Plus, other worldwide headlines in hotel deals and development.

Sean O'Neill | 3 years ago

Hotels

Choice Hotels Opens Properties at Faster Pace and Reaffirms Profit Outlook

Choice Hotels, a U.S.-based franchisor, said on Tuesday it had opened an average of more than four hotels a week in the first half of 2023 — a 39% jump…

Sean O'Neill | 3 years ago

Hotels

Accor’s Top Digital Exec Reveals Data on Its Hotel Tech Game

Accor's chief digital officer, Alix Boulnois, has been boosting the hotel giant's tech game. Her detailed data covers how any hotel company could use tech to drive loyalty, sell subscriptions, and distribute rooms.

Sean O'Neill | 3 years ago

Hotels

Hotel Chart of the Week: Europe’s Rising Room Rates Are Tolerated by Many Travelers

How are hotels doing post-pandemic? It all depends on the market and the type of hotel. In the U.S., average hotel rates nationwide have barely recovered to 2019 levels after…

Sean O'Neill | 3 years ago

Hotels

Analysts Pare Back Enthusiasm for Hotel Companies

Analysts become more cautious about leisure travelers' demand for hotels. Plus, more highlights from this week's news in hotel deals and development worldwide.

Sean O'Neill | 3 years ago

Airlines

More Airlines Use Next-Gen Tech to Sell Journeys on Other Carriers or Trains

Dozens of airlines have been creating alternatives to traditional interline agreements, selling fares on other airlines or railways. A few factors appear to be driving more of these deals.

Sean O'Neill | 3 years ago

sabre luxury hotel gift cards acquisition startup source the peninsula hotels

Travel Technology

Sabre Buys Startup That Helps Luxury Hotels Sell Gift Cards

The startup Techsembly performs a neat trick in letting luxury hotel brands like The Peninsula sell gift cards to boost upsells without creating a downmarket vibe. No wonder it caught Sabre's eye.

Sean O'Neill | 3 years ago

Hotels

Hotel Wellness Strategies With the Biggest Payoff

The profit potential for wellness can vary a lot between major and minor investments, according to new data. Hotel developers need to plan carefully.

Sean O'Neill | 3 years ago