EPISODE · Jan 15, 2026 · 38 MIN
Is Travel Headed for Another Shock in 2026?
from The Skift Travel Podcast · host Skift
The travel industry is entering 2026 with more uncertainty than confidence. In this first episode back of the year, Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko break down the forces quietly reshaping travel right now and why many of the industry’s assumptions may already be outdated. From shifting demand patterns and loyalty fatigue to AI hype, border friction, and the growing divide between luxury and mass travel, this episode lays out what actually matters heading into the year ahead. They unpack which trends are real, which are overstated, and where travel brands, destinations, and operators could be caught off guard. Along the way, they debate whether international travel to the U.S. is facing a longer-term problem, why travelers are becoming less loyal, and how 2026 could expose cracks in strategies that worked just a few years ago. If you want a grounded, data-driven reality check on where travel is headed next and who is positioned to win or lose in 2026, this conversation sets the tone for the year. This episode is brought to you by Amazon! To learn more, go to advertising.amazon.com 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.
What this episode covers
The travel industry is entering 2026 with more uncertainty than confidence. In this first episode back of the year, Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko break down the forces quietly reshaping travel right now and why many of the industry’s assumptions may already be outdated. From shifting demand patterns and loyalty fatigue to AI hype, border friction, and the growing divide between luxury and mass travel, this episode lays out what actually matters heading into the year ahead. They unpack which trends are real, which are overstated, and where travel brands, destinations, and operators could be caught off guard. Along the way, they debate whether international travel to the U.S. is facing a longer-term problem, why travelers are becoming less loyal, and how 2026 could expose cracks in strategies that worked just a few years ago. If you want a grounded, data-driven reality check on where travel is headed next and who is positioned to win or lose in 2026, this conversation sets the tone for the year. This episode is brought to you by Amazon! To learn more, go to advertising.amazon.com 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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Is Travel Headed for Another Shock in 2026?
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