Google’s AI Booking Move and World Cup Demand Signals for STRs
Good Morning Hospitality
11/24/25
•34m
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On today’s Good Morning Hospitality, Wil Slickers, Jamie Lane, Brandreth Canaley, and Michael Goldin break down Google’s latest step into agentic travel planning. This system can build, price, and coordinate full itineraries, yet insists it has "no intention" of becoming an OTA. The crew explores what this means for hotels, short-term rentals, platforms, and anyone competing for consumer discovery and booking flows.
Jamie also unveils brand-new data tracking World Cup demand across short-term rentals, including early signals on ADRs, booking pace, and which cities are heating up faster than expected. As the biggest travel event of 2026 approaches, the team looks at how STR markets are shifting in real time and what operators should be preparing for now.
Plus, quick shoutouts to two recent fundraises from BoomPop and Localbird before diving into the week’s biggest trends shaping hospitality and travel.
Presented by Lodgify
Follow the Hosts: Brandy Canaley – LinkedIn Jamie Lane – LinkedIn Michael Goldin – LinkedIn
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Previous Episode
GMH Hotels: Loyalty Reset, Talent Crunch, Travel AI & That Outrageous Travel Story
November 19, 2025
•33m
On this episode of GMH, Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk break down a lineup of stories shaping the hotel and travel landscape. 🎙️
They start with Hilton’s major loyalty overhaul, a new top-tier status, and lowered thresholds that could reshape how travelers climb the elite ladder.
They then look at how both Hilton and Marriott International are responding to the hotel industry’s ongoing talent crisis as brands compete for workers in a tightening labor market.
Sarah and Steve also explore how the U.S. is prioritizing visa appointments ahead of the World Cup, a move expected to influence visitor flows and demand across major host cities.
Plus, they dig into Google’s push into agentic AI travel booking and what this could mean for hotels, guests, and distribution.
And to close the show, they bring an “outrageous travel story of the week” inspired by two unbelievable real-world incidents, a wild moment you’ll have to tune in for! 🐷
Presented by Lodgify
Follow the Hosts: Sarah Dandashy – LinkedIn Steve Turk – LinkedIn
Connect with Skift:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/
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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.
Next Episode
Hopper Heads to Capital One, Apple & Delta Tracking, CitizenM’s Big Loan
November 26, 2025
•45m
On this episode of GMH Hotels, Wil Slickers and Sarah Dandashy are joined by guest-host Dennis Schaal, Founding Editor at Skift, for an exclusive 10-minute segment on the newly announced deal: Capital One’s planned acquisition of Hopper. They’ll dive into the implications for hotel tech, travel finance, and how key engineering and hotel talent will shift with the deal.
Then, Sarah and Wil break down two other major developments reshaping hospitality: First, the partnership between Apple and Delta Air Lines to extend bag-tracking and item-location services across travel, offering new guest-experience opportunities.
Next, they explore how citizenM hotels CEO is positioning the brand after securing a $685 million loan post-sale by Marriott International, signaling what’s next for one of the fastest-growing lifestyle hotel players.
Tune in for a mix of tech, finance, and brand strategy signals that suggest hospitality is entering a new phase of consolidation, guest empowerment, and capital repositioning.
Presented by Lodgify
Follow the Hosts: Sarah Dandashy – LinkedIn
Wil Slickers - 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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