Travel 2030: People, Platforms, and New Paths Forward
From geopolitical shifts to the transformative impact of AI on bookings and business models, from evolving growth strategies in hospitality and aviation to the ever-changing consumer mindset in an age of constant disruption - Skift Global Forum is where the future of travel takes shape.
‘Attending the Skift Global Forum this year proved to be THE BEST investment of my time and travel.’
‘The conference was really one of the best I have been to. Very thought provoking.’
‘Awesome food, great venue, interesting educational content, and very good amount of network time vs education time.'
Skift Global Forum 2024 By The Numbers
Agenda
Featured Sessions
Travel’s Strength Amidst Great Change
Staying Ahead in the AI Era
Travel Legends Unplugged
Formats

Skift Stage Panels

Expert-Guided Roundtables

Breakout Sessions
🗓️ 👇 Click to Unlock Each Day’s Agenda
- 
    5:55 pmEvent Welcome
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    6:00 pmCelebrating the 2025 Skift IDEA Awards Winners
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    6:05 pmTravel’s Strength Amidst Great ChangeModeratorDennis Schaal, Founding Editor/Executive Editor, Skift
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    6:30 pmBuilding Airbnb’s Next ChapterModeratorRafat Ali, CEO/Founder, Skift
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    7:00 pmOPENING RECEPTIONLocated at The Glasshouse, 660 12th Ave, 6th Floor, New York, NY 
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    7:30 am
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    8:50 amDay One Welcome
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    9:05 amThe Future of Domestic Air TravelModeratorPeter Greenberg, Travel News Editor, CBS News
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    9:30 amLeading Through Change: Tech, Talent, and Global GrowthModeratorSean O’Neill, Senior Hospitality Editor, Skift
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    9:55 am- 
                        
                                                             Chris HartleyGlobal Hotel AllianceCEO Chris HartleyGlobal Hotel AllianceCEO
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                                                             Dillip RajakarierMinor Hotels and Minor InternationalCEO and Group CEO Dillip RajakarierMinor Hotels and Minor InternationalCEO and Group CEO
 ModeratorDarren Frei, Senior Branded Content Editor, SkiftX
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    10:10 amTravel’s Role in Building Community in this New EraModeratorRafat Ali, CEO/Founder, Skift
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    10:30 amMORNING BREAK
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    11:00 amSkift Research and McKinsey Report: Agentic AI in Travel- 
                        
                                                             Drew PintoMarriott InternationalExecutive Vice President, and Chief Revenue and Technology Officer Drew PintoMarriott InternationalExecutive Vice President, and Chief Revenue and Technology Officer
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                                                             Steve HafnerKAYAKCEO Steve HafnerKAYAKCEO
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                                                             Kelly UngermanMcKinsey & CompanySenior Partner Kelly UngermanMcKinsey & CompanySenior Partner
 ModeratorSeth Borko, Head of Research, Skift
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    11:30 amModeratorRafat Ali, CEO/Founder, Skift
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    11:42 amIndia’s Global ImpactModeratorRafat Ali, CEO/Founder, Skift
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    12:05 pmModeratorJeremy Kressmann, Vice President, SkiftX
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    12:20 pmAsk Me Anything: AI, Trends, and Investing in Travel’s FutureModeratorDennis Schaal, Founding Editor/Executive Editor, Skift
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    12:45 pm
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    1:45 pmModeratorCarolyn Kremins, President, Skift
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    2:00 pmLive Tourism 2.0: From Spectacle to Strategy
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    2:30 pmModeratorCarolyn Kremins, President, Skift
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    2:50 pmReimagining Luxury, Wellness, and Lifestyle HospitalityModeratorColin Nagy, Columnist, Skift
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    3:15 pmModeratorCarolyn Kremins, President, Skift
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    3:27 pmDriving Change from Within: Creating a Better Future for TravelModeratorSarah Kopit, Editor-in-Chief, Skift
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    3:45 pmAFTERNOON BREAK
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    4:15 pmEngineering Tomorrow’s Destinations: A New Playbook for GrowthModeratorRafat Ali, CEO/Founder, Skift
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    4:35 pmModeratorDan Marcec, Research Editor, SkiftX
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    4:50 pmRedefining the Future of VacationsModeratorPeter Greenberg, Travel News Editor, CBS News
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    5:20 pmTravel Legends Unplugged- 
                        
                                                             Manfredi Lefebvre d’OvidioHeritage GroupExecutive Chairman Manfredi Lefebvre d’OvidioHeritage GroupExecutive Chairman
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                                                             Tony FernandesAirAsiaCEO Tony FernandesAirAsiaCEO
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                                                             William E. HeineckeMinor InternationalFounder and Chairman William E. HeineckeMinor InternationalFounder and Chairman
 ModeratorRafat Ali, CEO/Founder, Skift
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    6:00 pm
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    7:30 amBREAKFAST
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    8:50 amDay Two Welcome
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    9:00 amSkift Research: Talent is a Boardroom Issue
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    9:10 amStaying Ahead in the AI EraModeratorRafat Ali, CEO/Founder, Skift
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    9:35 amTaking Stock of the Macro Trends and Travel’s FutureModeratorSean O'Neil, Senior Hospitality Editor, Skift
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    10:00 amModeratorJeremy Kressmann, Vice President, SkiftX
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    10:15 amStreamlining the Traveler ExperienceModeratorSarah Kopit, Editor-in-Chief, Skift
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    10:30 amMORNING BREAK
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    11:00 amRedesigning Destinations for the Decade Ahead- 
                        
                                                             Patrick TorrentCatalan Tourist BoardExecutive Director Patrick TorrentCatalan Tourist BoardExecutive Director
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                                                             Meaghan FerrignoDestination CanadaSenior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Data and Analytics Officer Meaghan FerrignoDestination CanadaSenior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Data and Analytics Officer
 ModeratorSarah Kopit, Editor-in-Chief, Skift
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    11:30 amModeratorDan Marcec, Research Editor, SkiftX
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    11:45 amAI’s Next FrontierModeratorRafat Ali, CEO/Founder, Skift
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    12:05 pmModeratorDarren Frei, Senior Branded Content Editor, SkiftX
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    12:20 pmTravel, Identity, and the Stories We Tell
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    12:35 pmRethinking the Intersection of Food and TravelModeratorRafat Ali, CEO/Founder, Skift
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    1:00 pmEVENT ENDS
Speakers
From top CEOs of the largest travel brands to new entrepreneurs driving innovation, the voices on stage represented the industry’s best leaders.
Tickets
1 PERSON
Online Ticket
From
$299
Subscribers get exclusive discounts on Skift Live events.
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Sponsor Opportunities
Want to be part of the event? Sponsor opportunities include main stage talks, networking, workshops, and more. Reach out to sponsorships@skift.com to learn more.
FAQs
Subscribers receive discounts off full-price tickets to in-person events. The discount codes work following any early-bird or other discount period.
Subscribers can attend online-only events or online versions of hybrid events for free. Login with your subscriber ID and password button at the top right of the registration page to see the free registration. Watch below to see how.
You can also visit our Subscriber Access for even more detail.
The Skift Live app will be available to all attendees a few weeks prior to the event start date. You will then be able to view all attendee names and titles, and message them directly to set up networking opportunities.
We are continuing to follow all state and city guidelines for events in New York City, London, Dubai, and any other destination where we hold our events.
Upon payment for the event, you will receive a confirmation email which will contain the registration link to share with your colleagues. Each person must register separately.
 
                            
 
                                 
                                 
                                 
                         
                                 
                                 
                         
                                 
                         
                                 
                                 
                         
                                 
                                 
                         
                         
                                 
                                 
                                 
                                 
                         
                                 
                                 
                                 
                         
                                 
                                 
                                 
                         
                                 
                                 
                         
                                 
                                 
                                 
                         
                                 
                                 
                         
                                 
                                 
                         
                                 
                                 
                                 
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    