Inside Saudi’s Big Tourism Bet and Google’s Booking Disruption
In this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko unpack one of the biggest stories in global tourism right now: Saudi Arabia’s explosive push to become a world travel hub.
Fresh off a reporting trip to Riyadh, Sarah shares on-the-ground insights from Tourise—including the scale of development, the country’s prestige mega-projects, and the challenges of turning early momentum into mass-market appeal. Seth analyzes Saudi’s real tourism numbers and what they reveal about the nation’s long-term strategy.
The episode also breaks down Google’s latest move into AI-powered travel booking and what it could mean for OTAs like Expedia and Booking. Plus, the hosts revisit the Marriott and Sonder fallout, debate a controversial bet tied to the Epstein files, and wrap the show with their weekly winners and losers ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.
Presented by EF World Journeys.
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Why Low Cost Airlines Win in Europe but Struggle in the U.S.
In this airline-deep-dive edition of the Skift Travel Podcast, Head of Research Seth Borko teams up with Airline Editor Gordon Smith to unpack one of the most puzzling trends in global aviation: why ultra-low-cost carriers soar in Europe while their U.S. counterparts continue to stumble.
Drawing on fresh analysis and industry reporting, they break down the cost pressures reshaping the American market, the rise of basic economy among network carriers, and why loyalty programs work so differently across continents.
The conversation ranges from Ryanair’s viral social strategy to Frontier’s push for premium seating, the economics behind airport infrastructure, and the surprising ways geography shapes airline profitability. It’s a fast, highly informed tour through the forces redefining modern air travel.
Presented by EF World Journeys.
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New York's New Mayor Zohran Mamdani & The Eastward Shift in Travel
In this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Sarah Kopit and Head of Research Seth Borko unpack a big week in travel and politics.
Fresh off Skift Global Forum East in Abu Dhabi, they discuss how the center of gravity in global tourism is moving eastward and what it means for destinations across the Middle East and Asia.
Then, they share exclusive insights from Skift’s interview with New York City’s newly elected mayor, Zohran Mamdani, who reveals plans to boost the city’s tourism budget, tackle Airbnb regulation, and appoint a “tourism czar” ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
The conversation wraps with highlights from Abu Dhabi’s aviation boom, TripAdvisor’s restructuring, and a surprising “winner of the week” involving pampered falcons.
Presented by EF World Journeys.
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Flying Cars, Privatized Airports, and the Future of U.S. Aviation
In this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Sarah Kopit and Head of Research Seth Borko are joined by aviation attorney Jennifer Trock, a partner at Morgan Lewis and one of the leading legal minds in global aviation.
Together, they unpack what the latest U.S. aviation legislation means for travelers — from a $12.5 billion overhaul of air traffic control to the slow path toward airport privatization. The conversation also explores the rise of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, the regulatory hurdles ahead, and how the race toward flying taxis could redefine short-haul travel by 2028.
Presented by EF World Journeys.
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Can the U.S.-Europe Travel Corridor Recover?
In this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Sarah Kopit and Head of Research Seth Borko unpack the transatlantic slowdown — why over a million European tourists are skipping the U.S. and what it means for global travel.
Fresh off Skift’s first-ever Transatlantic Summit, they dive into the data behind the world’s most important travel corridor, exploring how politics, sustainability, and shifting traveler behavior are reshaping cross-Atlantic tourism.
They also share insights from airline and rail leaders, debate the economics of sustainability, and launch a new rapid-fire format featuring predictions, myths, and travel tips.
Presented by EF World Journeys.
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Skift sits down with creatives, executives, and entrepreneurs from across travel to discuss their insights and perspectives on the hows and whys of travelers’ habits, industry patterns, and the seismic changes happening across the industry.
Listen for exclusive conversations with travel leaders and Skift's own in-house editors and analysts. Presented by EF World Journeys.
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