Sean O'Neill

Sean O’Neill is Skift's senior hospitality editor, reporting on hotels. Send him news tips at [email protected]. He's been a full-time journalist for two decades. He lives in Washington, D.C. Stop him before he starts another home improvement project.

Latest Stories

Hotels

Hotel Earnings: What We Learned This Week – in 2 Minutes

IHG saw U.S. hotel revenue normalize. Marriott plans to launch a new midscale brand. Hyatt aims to expand its all-inclusive resort portfolio. And more.

Sean O'Neill | 14 hours ago

Online Travel

Expedia Bosses Say Vrbo Will Drag 2024 Growth

Incoming CEO Ariane Gorin said she plans to focus on driving traffic, lifting conversion rates, and expanding margins after taking the helm from departing chief Peter Kern on May 13.

Sean O'Neill | 1 day ago

Hotels

MGM Resorts Sees Gains From New Marriott Loyalty Tie-up

MGM Resorts is riding high after a record-breaking first quarter. CEO Bill Hornbuckle's bold bet on a Marriott partnership and on expansion in China and Japan appear to be paying off in spades.

Sean O'Neill | 2 days ago

Hotels

Marriott: U.S. Market Is Cooling Amid Global Hotel Boom

Marriott execs cited a "normalization" in domestic U.S. vacation bookings, a potential warning sign for the post-pandemic travel frenzy. Still, with a strong dollar sending Americans overseas and a loyalty program topping 203 million members, Marriott seems well-positioned for a profitable year worldwide.

Sean O'Neill | 3 days ago

Hotels

Hyatt to Add Pelotons at 800 Hotels – and Give Loyalty Points For Workouts

Hyatt has been stepping up its focus on guest wellness. Expect the offer of loyalty points in exchange for guests completing workouts to catch on in the sector.

Sean O'Neill | 3 days ago

Cruises

Viking IPO: Key Facts Behind the Luxury Cruise Operator’s Billion-Dollar Debut

Wednesday's IPO will value Viking, an operator of luxury river and ocean cruises, at roughly $10 billion. Leaders in the luxury travel sector will be eyeing the move closely.

Sean O'Neill | 3 days ago

Hotels

Premier Inn to Grow Hotel Room Count by 25% Before 2030

Premier Inn hotels are like shoeboxes, but their beds have comfy mattresses that come with a "good sleep" guarantee. The profitable brand anticipates strong growth in the UK and Germany.

Sean O'Neill | 4 days ago

Hotels

India’s Hotel Boom: Latest Investments from Marriott, Hilton and Other Chains

Move over, China. The world's hotel giants have a new favorite: India.

Sean O'Neill | 6 days ago

Hotels

Nobu’s Secret: CEO Lays Out Plan to Have 80 Luxury Hotels

Nobu, the posh restaurant chain, is expanding its luxury hotel brand. The secret sauce? Sky-high revenue from their in-house restaurants, Robert De Niro's star power, and a culture that keeps top talent sticking around, says top exec Trevor Horwell.

Sean O'Neill | 7 days ago

Hotels

Hoping for a Paris Olympics Boost? Accor Expects Only a Small Bump

Isn't hosting the Olympics supposed to be a gold mine for hotels? Not for France, at least. Accor warned that it didn't expect a "massive financial uplift" from Paris hosting the Summer Olympic Games.

Sean O'Neill | 1 week ago