Skift Global Forum

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Skift Global Forum Skift Global Forum is an annual hospitality and travel industry conference produced by Skift that convenes executives, investors, journalists, and policymakers from across airlines, hotel chains, tourism boards, and online travel agencys to discuss strategic trends, technology, and investment. Established to create a high-profile meeting point for leaders from Marriott International, Hilton Worldwide, Airbnb, Booking Holdings, and Expedia Group, the Forum typically features keynote addresses, panel discussions, and networking sessions that attract executive teams from American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Iberia Airlines, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines and multinational hospitality brands. The event’s profile places it among global gatherings like World Travel Market, ITB Berlin, Phocuswright Conference, WTTC Summit, and Hannover Messe for sector-specific strategy.

Overview

The Forum functions as a focal point for leaders from AccorHotels, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Choice Hotels, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Ctrip (Trip.com Group), TUI Group, Carnival Corporation & plc, Royal Caribbean Group, Expedia Group and Tripadvisor to exchange insights on market consolidation, digital distribution, loyalty programs, and sustainability. Sessions often include representation from Google, Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft, Salesforce, Oracle Corporation, Adobe Inc., and SAP SE to address data, advertising, and cloud infrastructure affecting travel commerce. Attendees include venture capitalists from Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, General Atlantic, Berkshire Partners, T. Rowe Price, and family offices alongside policymakers from United States Department of Transportation, European Commission, UK Civil Aviation Authority, and municipal tourism agencies such as NYC & Company.

Founded by Skift journalists and executives with roots in travel reporting, the Forum debuted in 2013 in New York City to create a counterpoint to long-running trade shows like ITB Berlin and WTM London. Early editions featured leaders from Expedia, Priceline Group (now Booking Holdings), Marriott, and Hilton, and commentators from business outlets such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Bloomberg, Reuters, and CNBC. Over time the agenda expanded to include topics attended by representatives from Uber Technologies, Lyft, Grab (company), OYO Rooms, Hostelworld, Airbnb, and HomeAway as alternative lodging disrupted legacy models, while investment panels brought in speakers from Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., Credit Suisse, and Barclays. The Forum evolved to respond to crises, featuring emergency-response and recovery panels with speakers from World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, International Air Transport Association, and UN World Tourism Organization during global incidents.

Program tracks typically cover distribution and metasearch led by representatives from Kayak, Skyscanner, Priceline, and Trivago; loyalty and revenue management sessions featuring Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, IHG Rewards Club, and World of Hyatt; and technology subjects driven by Amadeus IT Group, Sabre Corporation, Travelport, Sabre Red, Cloudbeds, and Duetto Research. Other recurring themes include sustainability dialogues with activists and NGOs such as Greenpeace, World Wildlife Fund, Conservation International, and corporate sustainability officers from InterContinental Hotels Group, Accor, and Hilton Worldwide. Panels on regulation and policy include speakers from European Commission, Federal Aviation Administration, Transport for London, International Air Transport Association, and consumer groups such as Consumer Reports and Which?. Innovation showcases often feature startups backed by Y Combinator, Techstars, Plug and Play Tech Center, and accelerators tied to MassChallenge.

Keynote rosters have included CEOs and executives from Brian Chesky, Dara Khosrowshahi, Arne Sorenson, Chris Nassetta, Arianna Huffington, Richard Branson, Tony Fernandez (businessman), Gillian Tans, Peter Kern (executive), and senior figures from Google Travel, Amazon Web Services, Apple Inc., and Facebook. Industry analysts and commentators have come from Phocuswright, Deloitte, McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group, Ernst & Young, PwC, KPMG, and Oliver Wyman. The Forum has also attracted investors and activists including representatives from BlackRock, KKR, Bain Capital, Carlyle Group, Elliott Management Corporation, Greenbacker Capital, and environmental advocates from 350.org.

Organizers and participants attribute influence to Forum announcements on mergers, loyalty strategies, digital marketing, and pandemic recovery plans that echo in coverage by The New York Times, Financial Times, Bloomberg, Reuters, and trade outlets such as Travel Weekly, TTG Media, Skift itself, and Phocuswire. Critics from consumer advocacy groups like Which? and Consumer Reports argue that panels skew toward corporate interests represented by hotel and airline executives while underrepresenting labor unions such as UNITE HERE and worker advocacy groups. Environmental NGOs including Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth have called for stronger representation of local community voices found in organizations like Local Progress and U.S. Travel Association’s critics. Academic responses appear from scholars affiliated with Harvard Business School, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Columbia Business School, INSEAD, and London School of Economics.

The Forum is typically held in Manhattan venues including Javits Center, private clubs in Midtown Manhattan, and hotels such as The Plaza (hotel), Mandarin Oriental, New York, and The Peninsula New York with registration tiers for executives, press, and sponsors. Attendance numbers attract senior delegations from Marriott International, Hilton Worldwide, Airbnb, Booking Holdings, Expedia Group, and regional travel bureaus like Visit California, Visit Britain, Tourism Australia, Japan National Tourism Organization, and Spain Tourism Office. Logistics partners have included event-management firms like Reed Exhibitions, Informa PLC, MCI Group, AEO (Association of Event Organizers), and audiovisual providers such as NEC Corporation and Shure Incorporated. The Forum’s sponsorship roster has featured corporate partners from Visa Inc., Mastercard Incorporated, American Express, HSBC, Deutsche Bank, and technology sponsors from Cisco Systems, IBM, Intel Corporation, and NVIDIA Corporation.

Category:Travel conferences