GMH Hotels: Ruby’s US Debut, Airline Cuts, and OTA Worker Backlash
Good Morning Hospitality
09/24/25
•40m
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On this episode of GMH Hotels, Sarah Dandashy is joined by guest-host Katie Cline to unpack a pivotal week in travel and hospitality.
Spirit Airlines prepares to furlough 1,800 flight attendants, raising questions about service, labor relations, and the ripple effects across the travel sector.
Agoda faces growing backlash over its job cuts and controversial employee clauses, highlighting tensions between cost control and workplace trust.
IHG Hotels & Resorts introduces Ruby Hotels to the U.S. market with a focus on compact urban properties, a move that could reshape competition in city centers.
The conversation also examines Booking Holdings (NASDAQ: BKNG) AI strategy and investor unease, drawing comparisons to the dot-com era, alongside Expedia Group’s acknowledgement of sluggish U.S. demand.
Together, these stories reveal the pressures and opportunities that are shaping the next chapter for hotels and the broader travel industry.
Follow the Hosts: Katie Cline – LinkedIn Sarah Dandashy – LinkedIn
Connect with Skift:
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Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
Previous Episode
Skift Global Forum Insights and Vrbo’s New Strategy for Hosts and Guests
September 22, 2025
•36m
Michael Goldin, Jamie Lane, and Wil Slickers unpack the biggest takeaways from Skift Global Forum and Vrbo’s Connect conference while Brandreth Canaley is away preparing for her move to Boston.
Jamie shares his perspective as a speaker at Vrbo’s event, where Expedia Group announced major distribution expansion, stricter listing standards, and new host tools.
The conversation also touches on Airbnb’s tech overhaul and how these shifts are shaping competition, guest expectations, and host opportunities.
Next week, Tim Rosolio, VP of Vacation Rental Partner Success, joins the show for a deeper dive into the changes happening at Vrbo.This episode is brought to you by Guesty!
Next Episode
Vrbo’s Next Chapter in Distribution, Loyalty, and AI with Tim Rosolio
September 29, 2025
•30m
This week on Good Morning Hospitality, Michael Goldin, Brandreth Canaley, and Jamie Lane sit down with Tim Rosolio, VP of Partner Success at Vrbo, to unpack how Expedia Group’s new distribution strategy is reshaping opportunities for vacation rental operators.
From expanded visibility across Expedia platforms to the rollout of One Key, Merchant of Record, and new AI-driven features, the conversation explores what hosts and managers can expect as Vrbo integrates deeper into Expedia’s ecosystem.
We also cover how urban markets may benefit, what loyalty means for vacation rentals, and whether guest-uploaded photos and review summaries will help—or hurt—operators.
This episode is brought to you by Guesty!
Follow the Hosts: Brandy Canaley – LinkedIn Jamie Lane – LinkedIn Michael Goldin – LinkedIn
Connect with Skift:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social
X: https://twitter.com/skift
Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
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