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

Hyatt Checks Out of Hotel Ownership, But Eyes More Deals Like Mr & Mrs Smith

You might think "asset-light" means "we don't own stuff." In Hyatt's case, it means: "We don't own hotels, except when we occasionally buy some so we can flip them at a profit and help fund our M&A."

Hyatt Checks Out of Hotel Ownership, But Eyes More Deals Like Mr & Mrs Smith

Tour Operators

Fosun Sells Thomas Cook to Private Equity-Backed eSky: 8 Takeaways

For eSky, Thomas Cook's storied brand offers a shortcut to recognition in Western Europe. Or at least that's the wager of eSky's new private equity backer MCI Capital. As for Fosun, what will it sell next? Club Med?

Fosun Sells Thomas Cook to Private Equity-Backed eSky: 8 Takeaways

Hotels

Hotel Growth Race: Hilton and Hyatt Are Opening Properties Fastest

Marriott has proudly opened its 9,000th property. Hilton has debuted its 8,000th. We put these milestones into perspective by creating a five-year growth scorecard for all the major hotel groups.

Hotel Growth Race: Hilton and Hyatt Are Opening Properties Fastest

Hotels

Skift Power Rankings: Sébastien Bazin

Bazin has boosted Accor's global competitiveness by amassing the industry's largest family of brands while improving the hotel group's finances.

Skift Power Rankings: Sébastien Bazin

Hotels

Skift Power Rankings: Amanda Hite

Hite sees STR's must-read reports on hotel performance as a foundation for creating the Bloomberg Terminal of travel lodging.

Skift Power Rankings: Amanda Hite

Hotels

Skift Power Rankings: Anthony Capuano

Capuano has transformed the world's largest hotelier from an operator of traditional hotels to a group that runs all kinds of lodging, from vacation rentals to luxury cruise ships.

Skift Power Rankings: Anthony Capuano

Hotels

U.S. Hotel Workers on Strike: What to Know

About 40,000 hotel workers have contracts expiring over the next year. So these few days of strikes might just be a preview of coming attractions at several dozen hotels.

U.S. Hotel Workers on Strike: What to Know

Travel Agents

Travel Agency Giant Flight Centre Notches Record Revenue

For Flight Centre, key risks to continued growth include the pace of business travel recovery and the execution of productivity initiatives. If airfares drop in price, it will be crucial to shift to a higher-margin product mix.

Travel Agency Giant Flight Centre Notches Record Revenue

Hotels

Selina Sold Out of Insolvency 5 Weeks After Collapse – Exclusive

A fire sale gives a new lease on life to Selina, a brand that reinvented hostels for the TikTok generation but struggled after a debt binge.

Selina Sold Out of Insolvency 5 Weeks After Collapse – Exclusive

Business Travel

Amex GBT Blends AI With Agents to Win Business Travel Share

The travel-management giant is using AI to read and respond to trip requests via emails. The goal is to free up human agents for more critical tasks, like perhaps explaining to executives why they can't expense that "team-building" trip to Vegas.

Amex GBT Blends AI With Agents to Win Business Travel Share