Dennis Schaal

Skift Founding Editor/Executive Editor, member of leadership team: Author of The Definitive Oral History of Online Travel, The Oral History of Travel's Greatest Acquisition, Booking.com, and The Definitive Oral History of Short-Term Rentals. Dennis Schaal also wrote a Skift ebook, The Future of Travel Booking. He has been a reporter focusing on online travel and short-term rentals for more than two decades at Skift, Tnooz, USA Today, and Travel Weekly. Freelance for Boston Globe, Computer Shopper, and Etihad Airways Inflight Magazine. Also worked at The Star-Ledger, Connecticut Post, and was Editor in Chief of Corporate Responsibility Officer Magazine. Known for tough one-on-one interviews on stage at conferences, including CEOs/top execs of Expedia, Airbnb, Uber, Booking Holdings, Priceline, Kayak, Hopper, Marriott, Agoda, Skyscanner, Vacasa, and more.

Latest Stories

Online Travel

What Happened to the Trivago Guy?

Will AI replace the Tim Williams (Trivago Guy) and William Shatner (the Priceline Negotiator) types? Could be. Trivago, meanwhile, is already testing a second AI-infused commercial.

What Happened to the Trivago Guy?

Travel Agents

Hotelbeds Delays IPO Until the End of 2024 at the Earliest: Reports

When it comes to potential IPOs, timing is everything in life, right? Hotelbeds seemingly thinks so.

Hotelbeds Delays IPO Until the End of 2024 at the Earliest: Reports

Short-Term Rentals

Airbnb CEO’s 10-Year Pay Package Could Turn Into $1 Billion or More

The net proceeds of Brian Chesky's 10-year pay package — which he said would be donated to host programs and to charities — would really soar if Airbnb's share price breaches tough-to-reach targets.

Airbnb CEO’s 10-Year Pay Package Could Turn Into $1 Billion or More

Online Travel

What’s Next for Tripadvisor After Viator Chief Resigns?

Viator was a potential spinoff candidate in 2021. But with a potential sale of Tripadvisor, all bets are off for now.

What’s Next for Tripadvisor After Viator Chief Resigns?

Short-Term Rentals

Expedia Is Considering Ways to Introduce Sponsored Listings on Vrbo

Short-term rentals could be the next frontier for sponsored listings. Hotels are difficult enough, but vacation rentals may be even more complex to get right.

Expedia Is Considering Ways to Introduce Sponsored Listings on Vrbo

Short-Term Rentals

Sonder Faces Potential Nasdaq Delisting —Again

Sonder's second notice of potential delisting is for a different reason than the first notice a year earlier. Neither, though, is a good look for the struggling company.

Sonder Faces Potential Nasdaq Delisting —Again

Short-Term Rentals

TravelNet Solutions, Short-Term Rental Software Provider, Lays Off 7% of Employees

There have been a ton of layoffs in various areas of the short-term rental industry over the last year. Facing headwinds, companies are trimming costs and trying to position themselves to new market conditions.

TravelNet Solutions, Short-Term Rental Software Provider, Lays Off 7% of Employees

Online Travel

Expedia Wants New Features With Amadeus NDC Partnership

Very slowly, the New Distribution Capability is enabling online travel agencies to catch up with the services that airlines offer on their own websites.

Expedia Wants New Features With Amadeus NDC Partnership

Online Travel

Trivago Brings the IPO Band Back Together Again

A high-caliber management team is the key to any great company. But bringing this group back together again doesn't guarantee success. Investors will ask, "What have you done for me lately?"

Trivago Brings the IPO Band Back Together Again

Online Travel

How Travel Metasearch Lost Its Mojo

Advertising in travel metasearch used to be near the top of the list for online travel agencies and hotels. But then along came Google Hotels, YouTube, and TikTok, as well as hotel and online travel agency loyalty programs to deflate the value proposition.

How Travel Metasearch Lost Its Mojo